diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ libdistrencommon_la_SOURCES = src/common
 	src/common/execio.c src/common/execio.h \
 	src/common/misc.c src/common/misc.h \
 	src/common/options.c src/common/options.h \
-	src/common/protocol.h \
+	src/common/protocol.c src/common/protocol.h \
 	src/common/remoteio.h \
 	src/common/remoteio.c src/common/libremoteio.h
 #see http://sources.redhat.com/autobook/autobook/autobook_91.html
diff --git a/src/common/protocol.c b/src/common/protocol.c
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/common/protocol.c
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/*
+  Copyright 2009 Nathan Phillip Brink
+
+  This file is a part of DistRen.
+
+  DistRen is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+  it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+  the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+  (at your option) any later version.
+
+  DistRen is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+  GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+  You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+  along with DistRen.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*/
+
+#include "protocol.h"
+
+#include <malloc.h>
+
+#define DISTREN_REQUEST_MAGIC (0x32423434)
+
+int distren_request_new(struct distren_request **req, uint32_t len, enum distren_request_type type)
+{
+  struct distren_request *newreq;
+
+  newreq = malloc(sizeof(struct distren_request));
+  if(!newreq)
+    {
+      (*req) = NULL;
+      return 1;
+    }
+
+  newreq->magic = DISTREN_REQUEST_MAGIC;
+  newreq->len = len;
+  newreq->enumsize = sizeof(enum distren_request_type);
+  newreq->type = type;
+
+  (*req) = newreq;
+  return 0;
+}
+
+int distren_request_free(struct distren_request *req)
+{
+  free(req);
+  return 0;
+}
diff --git a/src/common/protocol.h b/src/common/protocol.h
--- a/src/common/protocol.h
+++ b/src/common/protocol.h
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@
   along with DistRen.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 */
 
+#ifndef DISTREN_PROTOCOL_H
+#define DISTREN_PROTOCOL_H
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+
 /**
    Server types:
  */
@@ -63,3 +68,23 @@ enum distren_request_type
     DISTREN_REQUEST_GETWORK = 11,
 
   };
+
+struct distren_request
+{
+  uint32_t magic;
+  uint32_t len;
+  uint8_t enumsize;
+  enum distren_request_type type;
+};
+
+/**
+   initializes request
+ */
+int distren_request_new(struct distren_request **req, uint32_t len, enum distren_request_type type);
+
+/**
+   frees request
+ */
+int distren_request_free(struct distren_request *req);
+
+#endif