diff --git a/src/client/libdistren.h b/src/client/libdistren.h
--- a/src/client/libdistren.h
+++ b/src/client/libdistren.h
@@ -27,20 +27,29 @@
 #include "distren.h"
 
 #include "common/multiio.h"
+#include "common/options.h"
+#include "common/remoteio.h"
 
 struct distren
 {
-  distren_malloc_t malloc;
-  distren_free_t free;
-  struct options_common *options; /*< use a pointer just to avoid #include "options.h"? */
+  struct options_common *options;
   char *server;
 
+  /* if rem is NULL, we're not connected to the server */
+  struct remoteio *rem;
+  /*
+   * for libdistren_remoteio_read_handle(): determine whether or not
+   * we've passed through the server's hacky MOTD
+   */
+  short done_ad;
+
+  /* something on which to call multiio_poll() ;-) */
   multiio_context_t multiio;
 };
 
 struct distren_job
 {
-  char *jobid;
+  char *joburi;
 };
 
 /*
@@ -81,5 +90,19 @@ int _distren_getoptions(distren_t handle
  */
 int _distren_loseoptions(distren_t handle);
 
+/**
+ * Handle newly read data.
+ *
+ * Matches remoteio_read_handle_func_t
+ */
+size_t libdistren_remoteio_read_handle(struct remoteio *rem, void *garbage, void *buf, size_t len, distren_t distren);
+
+/**
+ * React to a remoteio-based connection closing.
+ *
+ * Matches remoteio_close_handle_func_t
+ */
+void libdistren_remoteio_close_handle(void *garbage, distren_t distren);
+
 #endif