diff --git a/src/client/libdistren.h b/src/client/libdistren.h
--- a/src/client/libdistren.h
+++ b/src/client/libdistren.h
@@ -30,12 +30,33 @@
 #include "common/options.h"
 #include "common/remoteio.h"
 
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+enum distren_state
+  {
+    /**
+     * client is waiting for a VERSION packet from the server.
+     */
+    DISTREN_STATE_VERSION,
+    /**
+     * We are waiting to be authenticated.
+     */
+    DISTREN_STATE_AUTH,
+    DISTREN_STATE_NORMAL,
+    DISTREN_STATE_UPLOADING,
+  };
+
 struct distren
 {
   struct options_common *options;
   char *server;
 
-  /* if rem is NULL, we're not connected to the server */
+  enum distren_state state;
+
+  /*
+   * If rem is NULL, we're not connected to the server. This is the
+   * way to detect a communication error.
+   */
   struct remoteio *rem;
   /*
    * for libdistren_remoteio_read_handle(): determine whether or not
@@ -43,8 +64,15 @@ struct distren
    */
   short done_ad;
 
+  /*
+   * The servertype bitmask of the remote server.
+   */
+  uint32_t servertype;
+
   /* something on which to call multiio_poll() ;-) */
   multiio_context_t multiio;
+
+  
 };
 
 struct distren_job