diff --git a/src/angel.h b/src/angel.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ad5e81b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/angel.h
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#ifndef _LIGHTTPD_ANGEL_H_
+#define _LIGHTTPD_ANGEL_H_
+
+/* interface to the angel; implementation needs to work without angel too */
+
+
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/chunk.h b/src/chunk.h
index 0b9dbc5..0212f22 100644
--- a/src/chunk.h
+++ b/src/chunk.h
@@ -15,9 +15,12 @@ typedef struct chunkqueue chunkqueue;
 struct chunkiter;
 typedef struct chunkiter chunkiter;
 
+struct server;
+struct connection;
+
 #define CONST_STR_LEN(x) x, x ? sizeof(x) - 1 : 0
 
-#include "base.h"
+#include "settings.h"
 
 /* Open a file only once, so it shouldn't get lost;
  * as a file may get split into many chunks, we
@@ -75,7 +78,7 @@ struct chunkiter {
 /* open the file cf->name if it is not already opened for reading
  * may return HANDLER_GO_ON, HANDLER_ERROR, HANDLER_WAIT_FOR_FD
  */
-LI_API handler_t chunkfile_open(server *srv, connection *con, chunkfile *cf);
+LI_API handler_t chunkfile_open(struct server *srv, struct connection *con, chunkfile *cf);
 
 /******************
  * chunk iterator *
@@ -91,7 +94,7 @@ INLINE goffset chunkiter_length(chunkiter iter);
  * the data is _not_ marked as "done"
  * may return HANDLER_GO_ON, HANDLER_ERROR, HANDLER_WAIT_FOR_FD
  */
-LI_API handler_t chunkiter_read(server *srv, connection *con, chunkiter iter, off_t start, off_t length, char **data_start, off_t *data_len);
+LI_API handler_t chunkiter_read(struct server *srv, struct connection *con, chunkiter iter, off_t start, off_t length, char **data_start, off_t *data_len);
 
 /******************
  *     chunk      *
diff --git a/src/chunk_parser.c b/src/chunk_parser.c
index a5c6ec4..6e038b2 100644
--- a/src/chunk_parser.c
+++ b/src/chunk_parser.c
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 
+#include "base.h"
 #include "chunk_parser.h"
 
 void chunk_parser_init(chunk_parser_ctx *ctx, chunkqueue *cq) {
 	ctx->cq = cq;
+	chunk_parser_reset(ctx);
+}
+
+void chunk_parser_reset(chunk_parser_ctx *ctx) {
 	ctx->bytes_in = 0;
 	ctx->curi.element = NULL;
 	ctx->start = 0;
diff --git a/src/chunk_parser.h b/src/chunk_parser.h
index 498f0dc..cd8f8d2 100644
--- a/src/chunk_parser.h
+++ b/src/chunk_parser.h
@@ -30,12 +30,13 @@ struct chunk_parser_mark {
 };
 
 LI_API void chunk_parser_init(chunk_parser_ctx *ctx, chunkqueue *cq);
+LI_API void chunk_parser_reset(chunk_parser_ctx *ctx);
 LI_API handler_t chunk_parser_prepare(chunk_parser_ctx *ctx);
-LI_API handler_t chunk_parser_next(server *srv, connection *con, chunk_parser_ctx *ctx, char **p, char **pe);
+LI_API handler_t chunk_parser_next(struct server *srv, struct connection *con, chunk_parser_ctx *ctx, char **p, char **pe);
 LI_API void chunk_parser_done(chunk_parser_ctx *ctx, goffset len);
 
-LI_API gboolean chunk_extract_to(server *srv, connection *con, chunk_parser_mark from, chunk_parser_mark to, GString *dest);
-LI_API GString* chunk_extract(server *srv, connection *con, chunk_parser_mark from, chunk_parser_mark to);
+LI_API gboolean chunk_extract_to(struct server *srv, struct connection *con, chunk_parser_mark from, chunk_parser_mark to, GString *dest);
+LI_API GString* chunk_extract(struct server *srv, struct connection *con, chunk_parser_mark from, chunk_parser_mark to);
 
 INLINE chunk_parser_mark chunk_parser_getmark(chunk_parser_ctx *ctx, const char *fpc);
 
diff --git a/src/connection.c b/src/connection.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a47890f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/connection.c
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+
+#include "connection.h"
+#include "network.h"
+#include "log.h"
+
+static void parse_request_body(server *srv, connection *con) {
+	if (con->state == CON_STATE_HANDLE_RESPONSE && !con->in->is_closed) {
+		/* TODO: parse chunked encoded request body */
+		if (con->in->bytes_in < con->request.content_length) {
+			chunkqueue_steal_len(con->in, con->raw_in, con->request.content_length - con->in->bytes_in);
+			if (con->in->bytes_in == con->request.content_length) con->in->is_closed = TRUE;
+		} else if (con->request.content_length == -1) {
+			chunkqueue_steal_all(con->in, con->raw_in);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+static void connection_cb(struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents) {
+	connection_socket *con_sock = (connection_socket*) w->data;
+	server *srv = con_sock->srv;
+	connection *con = con_sock->con;
+
+	if (revents && EV_READ) {
+		if (con->in->is_closed) {
+			/* don't read the next request before current one is done */
+			ev_io_set(w, w->fd, w->events && ~EV_READ);
+		} else {
+			switch(network_read(srv, con, w->fd, con->raw_in)) {
+			case NETWORK_STATUS_SUCCESS:
+				parse_request_body(srv, con);
+				joblist_append(srv, con);
+				break;
+			case NETWORK_STATUS_FATAL_ERROR:
+				connection_set_state(srv, con, CON_STATE_ERROR);
+				joblist_append(srv, con);
+				break;
+			case NETWORK_STATUS_CONNECTION_CLOSE:
+				connection_set_state(srv, con, CON_STATE_CLOSE);
+				joblist_append(srv, con);
+				break;
+			case NETWORK_STATUS_WAIT_FOR_EVENT:
+				break;
+			case NETWORK_STATUS_WAIT_FOR_AIO_EVENT:
+				/* TODO ? */
+				ev_io_set(w, w->fd, w->events && ~EV_READ);
+				break;
+			case NETWORK_STATUS_WAIT_FOR_FD:
+				/* TODO */
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (revents && EV_WRITE) {
+		if (con->raw_out->length > 0) {
+			network_write(srv, con, w->fd, con->raw_out);
+			joblist_append(srv, con);
+		}
+		if (con->raw_out->length == 0) {
+			ev_io_set(w, w->fd, w->events && ~EV_WRITE);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+connection* connection_new(server *srv) {
+	connection *con = g_slice_new0(connection);
+	UNUSED(srv);
+
+	con->raw_in  = chunkqueue_new();
+	con->raw_out = chunkqueue_new();
+	con->in      = chunkqueue_new();
+	con->out     = chunkqueue_new();
+
+	con->sock.srv = srv; con->sock.con = con; con->sock.watcher.data = con;
+	ev_io_init(&con->sock.watcher, connection_cb, -1, 0);
+	con->remote_addr_str = g_string_sized_new(0);
+	con->local_addr_str = g_string_sized_new(0);
+
+	action_stack_init(&con->action_stack);
+
+	request_init(&con->request, con->raw_in);
+
+	return con;
+}
+
+void connection_reset(server *srv, connection *con) {
+	chunkqueue_reset(con->raw_in);
+	chunkqueue_reset(con->raw_out);
+	chunkqueue_reset(con->in);
+	chunkqueue_reset(con->out);
+
+	ev_io_stop(srv->loop, &con->sock.watcher);
+	close(con->sock.watcher.fd);
+	ev_io_set(&con->sock.watcher, -1, 0);
+	g_string_truncate(con->remote_addr_str, 0);
+	g_string_truncate(con->local_addr_str, 0);
+
+	action_stack_reset(srv, &con->action_stack);
+
+	request_reset(&con->request);
+}
+
+void connection_free(server *srv, connection *con) {
+	chunkqueue_free(con->raw_in);
+	chunkqueue_free(con->raw_out);
+	chunkqueue_free(con->in);
+	chunkqueue_free(con->out);
+
+	ev_io_stop(srv->loop, &con->sock.watcher);
+	close(con->sock.watcher.fd);
+	ev_io_set(&con->sock.watcher, -1, 0);
+	g_string_free(con->remote_addr_str, TRUE);
+	g_string_free(con->local_addr_str, TRUE);
+
+	action_stack_clear(srv, &con->action_stack);
+
+	request_clear(&con->request);
+
+	g_slice_free(connection, con);
+}
+
+void connection_set_state(server *srv, connection *con, connection_state_t state) {
+}
+
+void connection_state_machine(server *srv, connection *con) {
+	
+}
diff --git a/src/connection.h b/src/connection.h
index ff13b3d..c68ed20 100644
--- a/src/connection.h
+++ b/src/connection.h
@@ -1,23 +1,54 @@
 #ifndef _LIGHTTPD_CONNECTION_H_
 #define _LIGHTTPD_CONNECTION_H_
 
+#include "base.h"
+
+typedef enum {
+	CON_STATE_REQUEST_START,            /** after the connect, the request is initialized, keep-alive starts here again */
+	CON_STATE_READ_REQUEST_HEADER,      /** loop in the read-request-header until the full header is received */
+	CON_STATE_VALIDATE_REQUEST_HEADER,  /** validate the request-header */
+	CON_STATE_HANDLE_RESPONSE,          /** find a handler for the request */
+	CON_STATE_RESPONSE_END,             /** successful request, connection closed */
+	CON_STATE_ERROR,                    /** fatal error, connection closed */
+	CON_STATE_CLOSE                     /** connection reset by peer */
+} connection_state_t;
+
+struct connection_socket;
+typedef struct connection_socket connection_socket;
+
+struct connection_socket {
+	server *srv;
+	connection *con;
+	ev_io watcher;
+};
+
 struct connection {
+	guint idx; /** index in connection table */
+	connection_state_t state;
+
+	chunkqueue *raw_in, *raw_out;
+	chunkqueue *in, *out;
 
+	connection_socket sock;
 	sock_addr remote_addr, local_addr;
 	GString *remote_addr_str, *local_addr_str;
 	gboolean is_ssl;
 
 	action_stack action_stack;
 
-	gpointer *options;
+	gpointer *options; /* TODO */
 
 	request request;
 	physical physical;
 
-	GMutex *mutex;
-
 	struct log_t *log;
 	gint log_level;
 };
 
+LI_API connection* connection_new(server *srv);
+LI_API void connection_reset(server *srv, connection *con);
+LI_API void connection_free(server *srv, connection *con);
+
+LI_API void connection_set_state(server *srv, connection *con, connection_state_t state);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/src/http_headers.c b/src/http_headers.c
index b86e5e7..82e7d80 100644
--- a/src/http_headers.c
+++ b/src/http_headers.c
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ http_headers* http_headers_new() {
 	return headers;
 }
 
+void http_headers_reset(http_headers* headers) {
+	g_hash_table_remove_all(headers->table);
+}
+
 void http_headers_free(http_headers* headers) {
 	if (!headers) return;
 	g_hash_table_destroy(headers->table);
diff --git a/src/http_headers.h b/src/http_headers.h
index 1bbbbd0..45e13a2 100644
--- a/src/http_headers.h
+++ b/src/http_headers.h
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ struct http_headers {
 /* strings alweays get copied, so you should free key and value yourself */
 
 LI_API http_headers* http_headers_new();
+LI_API void http_headers_reset(http_headers* headers);
 LI_API void http_headers_free(http_headers* headers);
 
 /** If header does not exist, just insert normal header. If it exists, append (", %s", value) */
diff --git a/src/http_request_parser.h b/src/http_request_parser.h
index dc41adf..08e0106 100644
--- a/src/http_request_parser.h
+++ b/src/http_request_parser.h
@@ -5,20 +5,24 @@ struct http_request_ctx;
 typedef struct http_request_ctx http_request_ctx;
 
 #include "chunk_parser.h"
-#include "request.h"
+
+struct request;
 
 struct http_request_ctx {
 	chunk_parser_ctx chunk_ctx;
-	request *request;
+	struct request *request;
 
 	chunk_parser_mark mark;
 	GString *h_key, *h_value;
 };
 
-LI_API http_request_ctx* http_request_parser_new(request *req, chunkqueue *cq);
-LI_API void http_request_parser_free(http_request_ctx *ctx);
+#include "request.h"
+
+LI_API void http_request_parser_init(http_request_ctx* ctx, request *req, chunkqueue *cq);
+LI_API void http_request_parser_reset(http_request_ctx* ctx);
+LI_API void http_request_parser_clear(http_request_ctx *ctx);
 
-LI_API handler_t http_request_parse(server *srv, connection *con, http_request_ctx *ctx);
+LI_API handler_t http_request_parse(struct server *srv, struct connection *con, http_request_ctx *ctx);
 
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/http_request_parser.rl b/src/http_request_parser.rl
index 38068df..7901e73 100644
--- a/src/http_request_parser.rl
+++ b/src/http_request_parser.rl
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 
+#include "base.h"
 #include "http_request_parser.h"
 
 /** Machine **/
@@ -125,25 +126,26 @@ static int http_request_parser_is_finished(http_request_ctx *ctx) {
 	return ctx->chunk_ctx.cs >= http_request_parser_first_final;
 }
 
-http_request_ctx* http_request_parser_new(request *req, chunkqueue *cq) {
-	http_request_ctx *ctx = g_slice_new0(http_request_ctx);
-
-	%% write init;
+void http_request_parser_init(http_request_ctx* ctx, request *req, chunkqueue *cq) {
 	chunk_parser_init(&ctx->chunk_ctx, cq);
 	ctx->request = req;
 	ctx->h_key = g_string_sized_new(0);
 	ctx->h_value = g_string_sized_new(0);
 
-	return ctx;
+	%% write init;
 }
 
-void http_request_parser_free(http_request_ctx *ctx) {
-	if (!ctx) return;
+void http_request_parser_reset(http_request_ctx* ctx) {
+	chunk_parser_reset(&ctx->chunk_ctx);
+	g_string_truncate(ctx->h_key, 0);
+	g_string_truncate(ctx->h_value, 0);
 
+	%% write init;
+}
+
+void http_request_parser_clear(http_request_ctx *ctx) {
 	g_string_free(ctx->h_key, TRUE);
 	g_string_free(ctx->h_value, TRUE);
-
-	g_slice_free(http_request_ctx, ctx);
 }
 
 handler_t http_request_parse(server *srv, connection *con, http_request_ctx *ctx) {
diff --git a/src/log.c b/src/log.c
index a8f3a58..32de73f 100644
--- a/src/log.c
+++ b/src/log.c
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ log_t *log_new(server *srv, log_type_t type, GString *path) {
 	if (log != NULL)
 	{
 		g_atomic_int_inc(&log->refcount);
-		g_mutex_unlock(srv->mutex);
+		g_mutex_unlock(srv->log_mutex);
 		return log;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/network.c b/src/network.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4dc5081
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/network.c
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+
+#include "network.h"
+
+/** repeats write after EINTR */
+static ssize_t net_write(int fd, void *buf, ssize_t nbyte) {
+	ssize_t r;
+	while (-1 == (r = write(fd, buf, nbyte))) {
+		switch (errno) {
+		case EINTR:
+			/* Try again */
+			break;
+		default:
+			/* report error */
+			return r;
+		}
+	}
+	/* return bytes written */
+	return r;
+}
+
+network_status_t network_write(server *srv, connection *con, int fd, chunkqueue *cq) {
+	const ssize_t blocksize = 16*1024; /* 16k */
+	const off_t max_write = 16 * blocksize; /* 256k */
+	char *block_data;
+	off_t block_len;
+	ssize_t r;
+	off_t len;
+	chunkiter ci;
+
+	do {
+		ci = chunkqueue_iter(cq);
+		switch (chunkiter_read(srv, con, ci, 0, blocksize, &block_data, &block_len)) {
+		case HANDLER_GO_ON:
+			break;
+		case HANDLER_WAIT_FOR_FD:
+			return len ? NETWORK_STATUS_SUCCESS : NETWORK_STATUS_WAIT_FOR_EVENT;
+		case HANDLER_ERROR:
+		default:
+			return NETWORK_STATUS_FATAL_ERROR;
+		}
+
+		if (-1 == (r = net_write(fd, block_data, block_len))) {
+			switch (errno) {
+			case EAGAIN:
+#if EWOULDBLOCK != EAGAIN
+			case EWOULDBLOCK
+#endif
+				return len ? NETWORK_STATUS_SUCCESS : NETWORK_STATUS_WAIT_FOR_EVENT;
+			case ECONNRESET:
+				return NETWORK_STATUS_CONNECTION_CLOSE;
+			default:
+				CON_ERROR(srv, con, "oops, read from fd=%d failed: %s (%d)", fd, strerror(errno), errno );
+				return NETWORK_STATUS_FATAL_ERROR;
+			}
+		} else if (0 == r) {
+			return len ? NETWORK_STATUS_SUCCESS : NETWORK_STATUS_WAIT_FOR_EVENT;
+		}
+		chunkqueue_skip(cq, r);
+		len += r;
+	} while (r == blocksize && len < max_write);
+
+	return NETWORK_STATUS_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+/** repeats read after EINTR */
+static ssize_t net_read(int fd, void *buf, ssize_t nbyte) {
+	ssize_t r;
+	while (-1 == (r = read(fd, buf, nbyte))) {
+		switch (errno) {
+		case EINTR:
+			/* Try again */
+			break;
+		default:
+			/* report error */
+			return r;
+		}
+	}
+	/* return bytes read */
+	return r;
+}
+
+network_status_t network_read(server *srv, connection *con, int fd, chunkqueue *cq) {
+	const ssize_t blocksize = 16*1024; /* 16k */
+	const off_t max_read = 16 * blocksize; /* 256k */
+	ssize_t r;
+	off_t len;
+
+	do {
+		GString *buf = g_string_sized_new(blocksize);
+		if (-1 == (r = net_read(fd, buf->str, blocksize))) {
+			g_string_free(buf, TRUE);
+			switch (errno) {
+			case EAGAIN:
+#if EWOULDBLOCK != EAGAIN
+			case EWOULDBLOCK
+#endif
+				return len ? NETWORK_STATUS_SUCCESS : NETWORK_STATUS_WAIT_FOR_EVENT;
+			case ECONNRESET:
+				return NETWORK_STATUS_CONNECTION_CLOSE;
+			default:
+				CON_ERROR(srv, con, "oops, read from fd=%d failed: %s (%d)", fd, strerror(errno), errno );
+				return NETWORK_STATUS_FATAL_ERROR;
+			}
+		} else if (0 == r) {
+			g_string_free(buf, TRUE);
+			return len ? NETWORK_STATUS_SUCCESS : NETWORK_STATUS_CONNECTION_CLOSE;
+		}
+		g_string_truncate(buf, r);
+		chunkqueue_append_string(cq, buf);
+		len += r;
+	} while (r == blocksize && len < max_read);
+
+	return NETWORK_STATUS_SUCCESS;
+}
diff --git a/src/network.h b/src/network.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f76a820
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/network.h
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#ifndef _LIGHTTPD_NETWORK_H_
+#define _LIGHTTPD_NETWORK_H_
+
+#include "base.h"
+
+typedef enum {
+	NETWORK_STATUS_SUCCESS,
+	NETWORK_STATUS_FATAL_ERROR,
+	NETWORK_STATUS_CONNECTION_CLOSE,
+	NETWORK_STATUS_WAIT_FOR_EVENT,
+	NETWORK_STATUS_WAIT_FOR_AIO_EVENT,
+	NETWORK_STATUS_WAIT_FOR_FD,
+} network_status_t;
+
+LI_API network_status_t network_write(server *srv, connection *con, int fd, chunkqueue *cq);
+LI_API network_status_t network_read(server *srv, connection *con, int fd, chunkqueue *cq);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/request.c b/src/request.c
index a3f2049..ef90719 100644
--- a/src/request.c
+++ b/src/request.c
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 
+#include "base.h"
 #include "request.h"
 
-request* request_new() {
-	request *req = g_slice_new0(request);
-
+void request_init(request *req, chunkqueue *in) {
 	req->http_method = HTTP_METHOD_UNSET;
 	req->http_method_str = g_string_sized_new(0);
 	req->http_version = HTTP_VERSION_UNSET;
@@ -19,10 +18,43 @@ request* request_new() {
 	req->host = g_string_sized_new(0);
 	req->content_length = -1;
 
-	return req;
+	http_request_parser_init(&req->parser_ctx, req, in);
 }
 
-void request_free(request *req) {
-	/* TODO */
-	g_slice_free(request, req);
+void request_reset(request *req) {
+	req->http_method = HTTP_METHOD_UNSET;
+	g_string_truncate(req->http_method_str, 0);
+	req->http_version = HTTP_VERSION_UNSET;
+
+	g_string_truncate(req->uri.uri, 0);
+	g_string_truncate(req->uri.orig_uri, 0);
+	g_string_truncate(req->uri.scheme, 0);
+	g_string_truncate(req->uri.path, 0);
+	g_string_truncate(req->uri.query, 0);
+
+	http_headers_reset(req->headers);
+
+	g_string_truncate(req->host, 0);
+	req->content_length = -1;
+
+	http_request_parser_reset(&req->parser_ctx);
+}
+
+void request_clear(request *req) {
+	req->http_method = HTTP_METHOD_UNSET;
+	g_string_free(req->http_method_str, TRUE);
+	req->http_version = HTTP_VERSION_UNSET;
+
+	g_string_free(req->uri.uri, TRUE);
+	g_string_free(req->uri.orig_uri, TRUE);
+	g_string_free(req->uri.scheme, TRUE);
+	g_string_free(req->uri.path, TRUE);
+	g_string_free(req->uri.query, TRUE);
+
+	http_headers_free(req->headers);
+
+	g_string_free(req->host, TRUE);
+	req->content_length = -1;
+
+	http_request_parser_clear(&req->parser_ctx);
 }
diff --git a/src/request.h b/src/request.h
index 7674f77..81d888e 100644
--- a/src/request.h
+++ b/src/request.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ struct physical;
 typedef struct physical physical;
 
 #include "http_headers.h"
+#include "http_request_parser.h"
 
 struct request_uri {
 	GString *uri, *orig_uri;
@@ -76,9 +77,12 @@ struct request {
 	/* Parsed headers: */
 	GString *host;
 	goffset content_length;
+
+	http_request_ctx parser_ctx;
 };
 
-LI_API request* request_new();
-LI_API void request_free(request *req);
+LI_API void request_init(request *req, chunkqueue *in);
+LI_API void request_reset(request *req);
+LI_API void request_clear(request *req);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/server.c b/src/server.c
index 605097a..429f25b 100644
--- a/src/server.c
+++ b/src/server.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 
 #include "base.h"
-#include "log.h"
+#include "utils.h"
 
 static void server_option_free(gpointer _so) {
 	g_slice_free(server_option, _so);
@@ -16,12 +16,27 @@ static void server_setup_free(gpointer _ss) {
 
 server* server_new() {
 	server* srv = g_slice_new0(server);
+
+	srv->magic = LIGHTTPD_SERVER_MAGIC;
+	srv->state = SERVER_STARTING;
+
+	srv->loop = ev_default_loop (0);
+	if (!srv->loop) {
+		fatal ("could not initialise libev, bad $LIBEV_FLAGS in environment?");
+	}
+
+	srv->connections_active = 0;
+	srv->connections = g_array_new(FALSE, TRUE, sizeof(connection*));
+	srv->sockets = g_array_new(FALSE, TRUE, sizeof(server_socket*));
+
 	srv->plugins = g_hash_table_new(g_str_hash, g_str_equal);
 	srv->options = g_hash_table_new_full(g_str_hash, g_str_equal, NULL, server_option_free);
 	srv->actions = g_hash_table_new_full(g_str_hash, g_str_equal, NULL, server_action_free);
 	srv->setups  = g_hash_table_new_full(g_str_hash, g_str_equal, NULL, server_setup_free);
-	srv->mutex = g_mutex_new();
-	srv->mainaction = action_new_list();
+
+	srv->mainaction = NULL;
+
+	srv->exiting = FALSE;
 
 	return srv;
 }
@@ -34,7 +49,6 @@ void server_free(server* srv) {
 	g_hash_table_destroy(srv->actions);
 	g_hash_table_destroy(srv->setups);
 	g_hash_table_destroy(srv->plugins);
-	g_mutex_free(srv->mutex);
 
 	action_release(srv, srv->mainaction);
 
@@ -52,3 +66,109 @@ void server_free(server* srv) {
 
 	g_slice_free(server, srv);
 }
+
+static connection* con_get(server *srv) {
+	connection *con;
+	if (srv->connections_active >= srv->connections->len) {
+		con = connection_new(srv);
+		con->idx = srv->connections_active++;
+		g_array_append_val(srv->connections, con);
+	} else {
+		con = g_array_index(srv->connections, connection*, srv->connections_active++);
+	}
+	return con;
+}
+
+static void con_put(server *srv, connection *con) {
+	connection_reset(srv, con);
+	srv->connections_active--;
+	if (con->idx != srv->connections_active) {
+		/* Swap [con->idx] and [srv->connections_active] */
+		connection *tmp;
+		assert(con->idx < srv->connections_active); /* con must be an active connection) */
+		tmp = g_array_index(srv->connections, connection*, srv->connections_active);
+		tmp->idx = con->idx;
+		con->idx = srv->connections_active;
+		g_array_index(srv->connections, connection*, con->idx) = con;
+		g_array_index(srv->connections, connection*, tmp->idx) = tmp;
+	}
+}
+
+static void server_listen_cb(struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents) {
+	server_socket *sock = (server_socket*) w->data;
+	server *srv = sock->srv;
+	int s;
+	sock_addr remote_addr;
+	socklen_t l = sizeof(remote_addr);
+	UNUSED(loop);
+	UNUSED(revents);
+
+	while (-1 != (s = accept(w->fd, (struct sockaddr*) &remote_addr, &l))) {
+		connection *con = con_get(srv);
+		con->remote_addr = remote_addr;
+		ev_io_set(&con->sock.watcher, s, EV_READ);
+		ev_io_start(srv->loop, &con->sock.watcher);
+	}
+
+#ifdef _WIN32
+	errno = WSAGetLastError();
+#endif
+
+	switch (errno) {
+	case EAGAIN:
+#if EWOULDBLOCK != EAGAIN
+	case EWOULDBLOCK:
+#endif
+	case EINTR:
+		/* we were stopped _before_ we had a connection */
+	case ECONNABORTED: /* this is a FreeBSD thingy */
+		/* we were stopped _after_ we had a connection */
+		break;
+
+	case EMFILE: /* we are out of FDs */
+		/* TODO: server_out_of_fds(srv, NULL); */
+		break;
+	default:
+		ERROR(srv, "accept failed on fd=%d with error: (%d) %s", w->fd, errno, strerror(errno));
+		break;
+	}
+}
+
+void server_listen(server *srv, int fd) {
+	server_socket *sock;
+
+	sock = g_slice_new0(server_socket);
+	sock->srv = srv;
+	sock->watcher.data = sock;
+	fd_init(fd);
+	ev_io_init(&sock->watcher, server_listen_cb, fd, EV_READ);
+	if (srv->state == SERVER_RUNNING) ev_io_start(srv->loop, &sock->watcher);
+
+	g_array_append_val(srv->sockets, sock);
+}
+
+void server_start(server *srv) {
+	guint i;
+	if (srv->state == SERVER_STOPPING || srv->state == SERVER_RUNNING) return; /* no restart after stop */
+	srv->state = SERVER_RUNNING;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < srv->sockets->len; i++) {
+		server_socket *sock = g_array_index(srv->sockets, server_socket*, i);
+		ev_io_start(srv->loop, &sock->watcher);
+	}
+}
+
+void server_stop(server *srv) {
+	guint i;
+	if (srv->state == SERVER_STOPPING) return;
+	srv->state = SERVER_STOPPING;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < srv->sockets->len; i++) {
+		server_socket *sock = g_array_index(srv->sockets, server_socket*, i);
+		ev_io_stop(srv->loop, &sock->watcher);
+	}
+}
+
+void joblist_append(server *srv, connection *con) {
+	/* TODO */
+}
diff --git a/src/server.h b/src/server.h
index 9ddcf35..7378a74 100644
--- a/src/server.h
+++ b/src/server.h
@@ -1,23 +1,45 @@
 #ifndef _LIGHTTPD_SERVER_H_
 #define _LIGHTTPD_SERVER_H_
 
+#ifndef LIGHTTPD_SERVER_MAGIC
+#define LIGHTTPD_SERVER_MAGIC ((guint)0x12AB34CD)
+#endif
+
+typedef enum {
+	SERVER_STARTING,         /** start up: don't write log files, don't accept connections */
+	SERVER_RUNNING,          /** running: write logs, accept connections */
+	SERVER_STOPPING          /** stopping: flush logs, don't accept new connections */
+} server_state;
+
+struct server_socket;
+typedef struct server_socket server_socket;
+
+struct server_socket {
+	server *srv;
+	ev_io watcher;
+};
 
 struct server {
-	guint version;
+	guint32 magic;            /** server magic version, check against LIGHTTPD_SERVER_MAGIC in plugins */
+	server_state state;
 
-	GHashTable *plugins;
+	struct ev_loop *loop;
 
+	guint connections_active; /** 0..con_act-1: active connections, con_act..used-1: free connections */
+	GArray *connections;      /** array of (connection*) */
+	GArray *sockets;          /** array of (server_socket*) */
+
+	GHashTable *plugins;      /**< const gchar* => (plugin*) */
 
 	/* registered by plugins */
-	GHashTable *options;    /**< const gchar* => server_option* */
-	GHashTable *actions;    /**< const gchar* => server_action* */
-	GHashTable *setups;     /**< const gchar* => server_setup* */
+	GHashTable *options;      /**< const gchar* => (server_option*) */
+	GHashTable *actions;      /**< const gchar* => (server_action*) */
+	GHashTable *setups;       /**< const gchar* => (server_setup*) */
 
-	gpointer *option_def_values;
+	gpointer *option_def_values; /* TODO */
 	struct action *mainaction;
 
 	gboolean exiting;
-	GMutex *mutex; /* general mutex for accessing the various members */
 
 	/* logs */
 	gboolean rotate_logs;
@@ -30,7 +52,13 @@ struct server {
 };
 
 
-server* server_new();
-void server_free(server* srv);
+LI_API server* server_new();
+LI_API void server_free(server* srv);
+
+LI_API void server_listen(server *srv, int fd);
+
+LI_API void server_start(server *srv);
+
+LI_API void joblist_append(server *srv, connection *con);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/tests.c b/src/tests.c
index cab7ddc..02b60ed 100644
--- a/src/tests.c
+++ b/src/tests.c
@@ -9,14 +9,11 @@
 
 int request_test() {
 	chunkqueue *cq;
-	request *req;
-	http_request_ctx *ctx;
+	request req;
 	handler_t res;
 
 	cq = chunkqueue_new();
-	req = request_new();
-
-	ctx = http_request_parser_new(req, cq);
+	request_init(&req, cq);
 
 	chunkqueue_append_mem(cq, CONST_STR_LEN(
 		"GET / HTTP/1.1\r\n"
@@ -25,15 +22,16 @@ int request_test() {
 		"abc"
 	));
 
-	res = http_request_parse(NULL, NULL, ctx);
+	res = http_request_parse(NULL, NULL, &req.parser_ctx);
 	if (res != HANDLER_GO_ON) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Parser return %i", res);
 	}
 
-	assert(req->http_method == HTTP_METHOD_GET);
+	assert(req.http_method == HTTP_METHOD_GET);
 	assert(cq->length == 3);
 
-	http_request_parser_free(ctx);
+	request_clear(&req);
+	chunkqueue_free(cq);
 
 	return res == HANDLER_GO_ON ? 0 : 1;
 }
diff --git a/src/utils.c b/src/utils.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4f242c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils.c
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+
+#include "utils.h"
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+void fatal(const gchar* msg) {
+	fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", msg);
+	abort();
+}
+
+void fd_init(int fd) {
+#ifdef _WIN32
+	int i = 1;
+#endif
+#ifdef FD_CLOEXEC
+	/* close fd on exec (cgi) */
+	fcntl(fd, F_SETFD, FD_CLOEXEC);
+#endif
+#ifdef O_NONBLOCK
+	fcntl(fd, F_SETFL, O_NONBLOCK | O_RDWR);
+#elif defined _WIN32
+	ioctlsocket(fd, FIONBIO, &i);
+#endif
+}
diff --git a/src/utils.h b/src/utils.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9acecbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils.h
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#ifndef _LIGHTTPD_UTILS_H_
+#define _LIGHTTPD_UTILS_H_
+
+#include "settings.h"
+
+LI_API void fatal(const gchar* msg);
+
+/* set O_NONBLOCK and FD_CLOEXEC */
+LI_API void fd_init(int fd);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/wscript b/src/wscript
index ed57f51..d0b90ba 100644
--- a/src/wscript
+++ b/src/wscript
@@ -14,15 +14,18 @@ common_source='''
 	condition.c
 	condition_parsers.rl
 	config_parser.rl
+	connection.c
 	http_headers.c
 	http_request_parser.rl
 	log.c
+	network.c
 	options.c
 	plugin.c
 	request.c
 	server.c
 	sys-files.c
 	sys-socket.c
+	utils.c
 
 	plugin_core.c
 '''
@@ -143,7 +146,7 @@ def build(bld):
 	if env['LIB_lua']:
 		tests.source += common_source_lua
 	tests.target = 'tests'
-	tests.uselib += 'lighty dl openssl pcre lua ' + common_uselib
+	tests.uselib += 'lighty dl ev openssl pcre lua ' + common_uselib
 
 def configure(conf):
 	env = conf.env