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