diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index f719490..5f02f85 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -60,5 +60,8 @@ target_compile_features(mesy_nng_sub_consumer PRIVATE cxx_std_17)
 target_link_libraries(mesy_nng_sub_consumer PRIVATE mesytec-mvlc PRIVATE nng)
 target_compile_options(mesy_nng_sub_consumer PRIVATE ${MVLC_NNG_NODE_WARN_FLAGS})
 
+add_executable(mnode-proto-test1 mnode_proto_test1.cc thread_name.cc)
+target_link_libraries(mnode-proto-test1 PRIVATE mnode-proto)
+
 #unset(CMAKE_C_CLANG_TIDY)
 #unset(CMAKE_CXX_CLANG_TIDY)
diff --git a/src/mesy_nng.h b/src/mesy_nng.h
index a7cb1f9..2b9b45a 100644
--- a/src/mesy_nng.h
+++ b/src/mesy_nng.h
@@ -1,9 +1,145 @@
-#pragma once
+#ifndef B18E3651_CA9A_43BC_AA25_810EA16533CD
+#define B18E3651_CA9A_43BC_AA25_810EA16533CD
 
 #include <nng/nng.h>
+#include <nng/protocol/pair0/pair.h>
+#include <nng/protocol/pipeline0/pull.h>
+#include <nng/protocol/pipeline0/push.h>
 #include <nng/protocol/pubsub0/pub.h>
 #include <nng/protocol/pubsub0/sub.h>
-#include "common.h"
+#include <spdlog/spdlog.h>
+
+#include <optional>
+#include "thread_name.h"
+
+namespace mesytec::nng
+{
+
+inline void mesy_nng_fatal(const char *const msg, int rv)
+{
+    spdlog::error("{} ({})", msg, nng_strerror(rv));
+    std::abort();
+}
+
+inline void mesy_nng_error(const std::string &msg, int rv)
+{
+    spdlog::error("{} ({})", msg, nng_strerror(rv));
+}
+
+inline nng_msg *alloc_message(size_t size)
+{
+    nng_msg *msg = {};
+    if (int res = nng_msg_alloc(&msg, size))
+    {
+        mesy_nng_error("nng_msg_alloc", res);
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+    return msg;
+}
+
+inline int receive_message(nng_socket sock, nng_msg **msg_ptr, int flags = 0)
+{
+    if (auto res = nng_recvmsg(sock, msg_ptr, flags))
+    {
+        nng_msg_free(*msg_ptr);
+        *msg_ptr = NULL;
+        return res;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+inline int allocate_reserve_message(nng_msg **msg, size_t reserve = 0)
+{
+    assert(msg);
+
+    if (auto res = nng_msg_alloc(msg, 0))
+    {
+        mesy_nng_error("nng_msg_alloc", res);
+        return res;
+    }
+
+    if (auto res = nng_msg_reserve(*msg, reserve))
+    {
+        mesy_nng_error("nng_msg_reserve", res);
+        return res;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+inline size_t allocated_free_space(nng_msg *msg)
+{
+    auto capacity = nng_msg_capacity(msg);
+    auto used = nng_msg_len(msg);
+    assert(capacity >= used);
+    return capacity - used;
+}
+
+static nng_duration DefaultTimeout = 16;
+
+inline int set_socket_timeouts(nng_socket socket, nng_duration timeout = DefaultTimeout)
+{
+    if (int res = nng_socket_set(socket, NNG_OPT_RECVTIMEO, &timeout, sizeof(timeout)))
+    {
+        mesy_nng_error("nng_socket_set", res);
+        return res;
+    }
+
+    if (int res = nng_socket_set(socket, NNG_OPT_SENDTIMEO, &timeout, sizeof(timeout)))
+    {
+        mesy_nng_error("nng_socket_set", res);
+        return res;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+using socket_factory = std::function<int (nng_socket *)>;
+
+inline nng_socket make_socket(socket_factory factory, nng_duration timeout = DefaultTimeout)
+{
+    nng_socket socket;
+
+    if (int res = factory(&socket))
+    {
+        mesy_nng_error("make_socket", res);
+        return NNG_SOCKET_INITIALIZER;
+    }
+
+    if (set_socket_timeouts(socket, timeout) != 0)
+    {
+        nng_close(socket);
+        return NNG_SOCKET_INITIALIZER;
+    }
+
+    return socket;
+}
+
+inline nng_socket make_pair_socket(nng_duration timeout = DefaultTimeout)
+{
+    return make_socket(nng_pair0_open, timeout);
+}
+
+inline nng_socket make_push_socket(nng_duration timeout = DefaultTimeout)
+{
+    return make_socket(nng_push0_open, timeout);
+}
+
+inline nng_socket make_pull_socket(nng_duration timeout = DefaultTimeout)
+{
+    return make_socket(nng_pull0_open, timeout);
+}
+
+inline nng_socket make_pub_socket(nng_duration timeout = DefaultTimeout)
+{
+    return make_socket(nng_pub0_open, timeout);
+}
+
+inline nng_socket make_sub_socket(nng_duration timeout = DefaultTimeout)
+{
+    return make_socket(nng_sub0_open, timeout);
+}
 
 inline std::string socket_get_string_opt(nng_socket s, const char *opt)
 {
@@ -40,6 +176,11 @@ inline void log_socket_info(nng_socket s, const char *info)
     spdlog::info("{}: {}={}", info, NNG_OPT_REMADDR, remoteAddress);
 }
 
+inline std::string get_local_address(nng_socket s)
+{
+    return socket_get_string_opt(s, NNG_OPT_LOCADDR);
+}
+
 inline void log_pipe_info(nng_pipe p, const char *info)
 {
     auto sockName = pipe_get_string_opt(p, NNG_OPT_SOCKNAME);
@@ -51,10 +192,28 @@ inline void log_pipe_info(nng_pipe p, const char *info)
     spdlog::info("{}: {}={}", info, NNG_OPT_REMADDR, remoteAddress);
 }
 
-inline int send_message_retry(nng_socket socket, nng_msg *msg, size_t maxTries = 0, const char *debugInfo = "")
+using retry_predicate = std::function<bool ()>;
+
+class RetryNTimes
+{
+    public:
+        RetryNTimes(size_t maxTries = 3)
+            : maxTries_(maxTries)
+        {}
+
+        bool operator()()
+        {
+            return attempt_++ < maxTries_;
+        }
+
+    private:
+        size_t maxTries_;
+        size_t attempt_ = 0u;
+};
+
+inline int send_message_retry(nng_socket socket, nng_msg *msg, retry_predicate rp, const char *debugInfo = "")
 {
     int res = 0;
-    size_t attempt = 0u;
 
     do
     {
@@ -63,17 +222,206 @@ inline int send_message_retry(nng_socket socket, nng_msg *msg, size_t maxTries =
         if (res)
         {
             if (res != NNG_ETIMEDOUT)
+            {
+                spdlog::warn("send_message_retry: {} - send failed: {} (msg={})", debugInfo, nng_strerror(res), fmt::ptr(msg));
                 return res;
+            }
 
             if (res == NNG_ETIMEDOUT)
-                spdlog::warn("send_message_retry: {} - send timeout", debugInfo);
+                spdlog::trace("send_message_retry: {} - send timeout (msg={})", debugInfo, fmt::ptr(msg));
 
-            if (maxTries > 0 && attempt >= maxTries)
+            if (!rp())
                 return res;
-
-            ++attempt;
         }
     } while (res == NNG_ETIMEDOUT);
 
     return 0;
 }
+
+inline int send_message_retry(nng_socket socket, nng_msg *msg, size_t maxTries = 3, const char *debugInfo = "")
+{
+    RetryNTimes retryPredicate(maxTries);
+
+    return send_message_retry(socket, msg, retryPredicate, debugInfo);
+}
+
+inline int send_empty_message(nng_socket socket, retry_predicate rp)
+{
+    nng_msg *msg = nullptr;
+
+    if (int res = allocate_reserve_message(&msg, 0))
+        return res;
+
+    if (int res = send_message_retry(socket, msg, rp, "send_empty_message"))
+    {
+        nng_msg_free(msg);
+        return res;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+inline int send_empty_message(nng_socket socket, size_t maxTries = 3)
+{
+    RetryNTimes retryPredicate(maxTries);
+
+    return send_empty_message(socket, retryPredicate);
+}
+
+// Read type T from the front of msg and trim the message by sizeof(T).
+template<typename T>
+std::optional<T> msg_trim_read(nng_msg *msg)
+{
+    const auto oldlen = nng_msg_len(msg); (void) oldlen;
+    if (nng_msg_len(msg) < sizeof(T))
+        return {};
+
+    T result = *reinterpret_cast<T *>(nng_msg_body(msg));
+    nng_msg_trim(msg, sizeof(T));
+    const auto newlen = nng_msg_len(msg); (void) newlen;
+    assert(newlen + sizeof(T) == oldlen);
+    return result;
+}
+
+inline const char *nng_stat_unit_to_string(int unit)
+{
+    switch (unit)
+    {
+        case NNG_UNIT_BYTES:
+            return "B";
+        case NNG_UNIT_MESSAGES:
+            return "msgs";
+        case NNG_UNIT_MILLIS:
+            return "ms";
+        case NNG_UNIT_EVENTS:
+            return "events";
+    }
+
+    return "";
+}
+
+inline const char *nng_stat_type_to_string(int type)
+{
+    switch (type)
+    {
+        case NNG_STAT_SCOPE:
+            return "scope";
+        case NNG_STAT_LEVEL:
+            return "level";
+        case NNG_STAT_COUNTER:
+            return "counter";
+        case NNG_STAT_STRING:
+            return "string";
+        case NNG_STAT_BOOLEAN:
+            return "bool";
+        case NNG_STAT_ID:
+            return "id";
+    }
+
+    return "";
+}
+
+// Important: as of nng-1.8.0 sockets stats are only implemented for pair1 type
+// sockets!
+
+template<typename Visitor>
+void visit_nng_stats(nng_stat *stat, Visitor visitor, unsigned depth=0)
+{
+    visitor(stat, depth);
+
+    auto statType = nng_stat_type(stat);
+
+    if (statType == NNG_STAT_SCOPE)
+    {
+        for (auto child = nng_stat_child(stat); child; child = nng_stat_next(child))
+        {
+            visit_nng_stats(child, visitor, depth+1);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+template<typename Value>
+std::string format_stat(int type, const char *name, const char *desc, std::uint64_t ts, Value value, int unit)
+{
+    return fmt::format("type={}, name={}, desc={}, ts={}, value={}, unit={}",
+        nng::nng_stat_type_to_string(type),
+        name, desc, ts, value,
+        nng::nng_stat_unit_to_string(unit));
+}
+
+inline std::string format_stat(nng_stat *stat)
+{
+    switch (nng_stat_type(stat))
+    {
+        case NNG_STAT_BOOLEAN:
+            return format_stat(nng_stat_type(stat), nng_stat_name(stat), nng_stat_desc(stat), nng_stat_timestamp(stat), nng_stat_value(stat), nng_stat_unit(stat));
+        default:
+            return format_stat(nng_stat_type(stat), nng_stat_name(stat), nng_stat_desc(stat), nng_stat_timestamp(stat), nng_stat_value(stat), nng_stat_unit(stat));
+    }
+}
+
+static void custom_nng_msg_free(nng_msg *msg)
+{
+    //spdlog::warn("custom_nng_msg_free: msg={}", fmt::ptr(msg));
+    nng_msg_free(msg);
+}
+
+using unique_msg = std::unique_ptr<nng_msg, decltype(&nng_msg_free)>;
+
+inline unique_msg make_unique_msg(nng_msg *msg = nullptr, decltype(&nng_msg_free) deleter = custom_nng_msg_free)
+{
+    return unique_msg(msg, deleter);
+}
+
+inline std::pair<unique_msg, int> receive_message(nng_socket sock, int flags = 0)
+{
+    nng_msg *msg = nullptr;
+
+    if (auto res = nng_recvmsg(sock, &msg, flags))
+    {
+        return { make_unique_msg(), res };
+    }
+
+    return { make_unique_msg(msg), 0 };
+}
+
+inline unique_msg allocate_reserve_message(size_t reserve = 0)
+{
+    nng_msg *msg = nullptr;
+
+    if (auto res = nng_msg_alloc(&msg, 0))
+    {
+        mesy_nng_error("allocate_reserve_message", res);
+        return make_unique_msg();
+    }
+
+    if (auto res = nng_msg_reserve(msg, reserve))
+    {
+        mesy_nng_error("allocate_reserve_message", res);
+        nng_msg_free(msg);
+        return make_unique_msg();
+    }
+
+    return make_unique_msg(msg);
+}
+
+inline int marry_listen_dial(nng_socket listen, nng_socket dial, const char *url)
+{
+    if (int res = nng_listen(listen, url, nullptr, 0))
+    {
+        mesy_nng_error("nng_listen", res);
+        return res;
+    }
+
+    if (int res = nng_dial(dial, url, nullptr, 0))
+    {
+        mesy_nng_error("nng_dial", res);
+        return res;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+}
+
+#endif /* B18E3651_CA9A_43BC_AA25_810EA16533CD */
diff --git a/src/mesy_nng_pipeline_main.cc b/src/mesy_nng_pipeline_main.cc
index cfe6515..766ae55 100644
--- a/src/mesy_nng_pipeline_main.cc
+++ b/src/mesy_nng_pipeline_main.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #include <future>
 #include "mesy_nng.h"
 
+using namespace mesytec::nng;
+
 struct PipelineElement
 {
     nng_socket inputSocket = NNG_SOCKET_INITIALIZER;
@@ -380,4 +382,4 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         mesy_nng_fatal("main close_pipeline", res);
 
     return ret;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/mesy_nng_push_pull_main.cc b/src/mesy_nng_push_pull_main.cc
index 24da0f1..355d755 100644
--- a/src/mesy_nng_push_pull_main.cc
+++ b/src/mesy_nng_push_pull_main.cc
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
-#include "common.h"
+#include "mesy_nng.h"
 #include <nng/protocol/pipeline0/push.h>
 #include <nng/protocol/pipeline0/pull.h>
 #include <thread>
 
+#include "test_producer_consumer.h"
+
+using namespace mesytec::nng;
+
 struct Header
 {
     unsigned id;
diff --git a/src/mnode_proto_test1.cc b/src/mnode_proto_test1.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85ea08c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mnode_proto_test1.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#include "proto/service.pb.h"
+
+int main()
+{
+    mesytec::mnode::SearchRequest request;
+    request.set_query("query");
+    request.set_page_number(42);
+    request.set_results_per_page(10);
+
+    mesytec::mnode::Ping pingRequest;
+}
diff --git a/src/mvlc_nng_replay.cc b/src/mvlc_nng_replay.cc
index 244deb8..7fdc8e8 100644
--- a/src/mvlc_nng_replay.cc
+++ b/src/mvlc_nng_replay.cc
@@ -3,32 +3,13 @@
 #include <mesytec-mvlc/mesytec-mvlc.h>
 #include <nng/nng.h>
 #include <sys/prctl.h>
-#include "common.h"
 #include "mesy_nng.h"
 
 using namespace mesytec;
 using namespace mesytec::mvlc;
+using namespace mesytec::nng;
 
-int allocate_reserve_message(nng_msg **msg, size_t reserve = 0)
-{
-    assert(msg);
-
-    if (auto res = nng_msg_alloc(msg, 0))
-    {
-        spdlog::error("nng_msg_alloc: {}", nng_strerror(res));
-        return res;
-    }
-
-    if (auto res = nng_msg_reserve(*msg, reserve))
-    {
-        spdlog::error("nng_msg_reserve: {}", nng_strerror(res));
-        return res;
-    }
-
-    return 0;
-}
-
-static const size_t DefaultOutputMessageReserve = util::Megabytes(1);
+static const size_t DefaultOutputMessageReserve = mvlc::util::Megabytes(1);
 
 enum class BufferType: u32
 {
@@ -159,7 +140,7 @@ void listfile_reader_producer(
         }
 
         spdlog::info("listfile_reader_producer: done, sent {} messages, totalSize={:.2f} MiB",
-            bufferNumber, 1.0 * totalBytesSent / util::Megabytes(1));
+            bufferNumber, 1.0 * totalBytesSent / mvlc::util::Megabytes(1));
     }
     catch(const std::exception& e)
     {
@@ -439,7 +420,7 @@ void listfile_parser_nng(
     auto log_stats = [&]
     {
         spdlog::info("listfile_parser_nng: lastInputMessageNumber={}, inputBuffersLost={}, totalInput={:.2f} MiB",
-            lastInputMessageNumber, inputBuffersLost, 1.0 * totalInputBytes / util::Megabytes(1));
+            lastInputMessageNumber, inputBuffersLost, 1.0 * totalInputBytes / mvlc::util::Megabytes(1));
         spdlog::info("listfile_parser_nng: time budget: "
                     "  tReceive = {} ms, "
                     "  tProcess = {} ms, "
@@ -565,20 +546,6 @@ void listfile_parser_nng(
     }
 }
 
-template<typename T>
-std::optional<T> msg_trim_read(nng_msg *msg)
-{
-    const auto oldlen = nng_msg_len(msg);
-    if (nng_msg_len(msg) < sizeof(T))
-        return {};
-
-    T result = *reinterpret_cast<T *>(nng_msg_body(msg));
-    nng_msg_trim(msg, sizeof(T));
-    const auto newlen = nng_msg_len(msg);
-    assert(newlen + sizeof(T) == oldlen);
-    return result;
-}
-
 void analysis_nng(
     nng_socket inputSocket
     )
@@ -672,10 +639,10 @@ void analysis_nng(
     }
 
     spdlog::info("analysis_nng: lastInputMessageNumber={}, inputBuffersLost={}, totalInput={:.2f} MiB",
-        lastInputMessageNumber, inputBuffersLost, 1.0 * totalInputBytes / util::Megabytes(1));
+        lastInputMessageNumber, inputBuffersLost, 1.0 * totalInputBytes / mvlc::util::Megabytes(1));
 }
 
-void pipe_cb(nng_pipe p, nng_pipe_ev event, void *arg)
+void pipe_cb(nng_pipe p, nng_pipe_ev event, void */*arg*/)
 {
     switch (event)
     {
diff --git a/src/pair_consumer.cc b/src/pair_consumer.cc
index e10c46c..02c0383 100644
--- a/src/pair_consumer.cc
+++ b/src/pair_consumer.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-#include "common.h"
+#include "test_producer_consumer.h"
 
-int main(int argc, char *argv[])
+int main()
 {
     spdlog::set_level(spdlog::level::info);
     auto consumerSocket = make_pair_socket();
diff --git a/src/pair_inproc.cc b/src/pair_inproc.cc
index 5d9cc1d..8e4cd6b 100644
--- a/src/pair_inproc.cc
+++ b/src/pair_inproc.cc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "common.h"
+#include "test_producer_consumer.h"
 
 #include <mesytec-mvlc/mesytec-mvlc.h>
 
diff --git a/src/pair_producer.cc b/src/pair_producer.cc
index 32e4b76..a8d1db0 100644
--- a/src/pair_producer.cc
+++ b/src/pair_producer.cc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "common.h"
+#include "test_producer_consumer.h"
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
diff --git a/src/pub_producer.cc b/src/pub_producer.cc
index 9115224..9e04953 100644
--- a/src/pub_producer.cc
+++ b/src/pub_producer.cc
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
-#include "common.h"
+#include "test_producer_consumer.h"
 #include <nng/protocol/pubsub0/pub.h>
 #include <thread>
 #include <iostream>
 
-int main(int argc, char *argv[])
+
+int main()
 {
     spdlog::set_level(spdlog::level::info);
 
diff --git a/src/sub_consumer.cc b/src/sub_consumer.cc
index 1a61fd0..55e07d6 100644
--- a/src/sub_consumer.cc
+++ b/src/sub_consumer.cc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "common.h"
+#include "test_producer_consumer.h"
 #include <nng/protocol/pubsub0/sub.h>
 #include <thread>
 #include <iostream>
diff --git a/src/common.h b/src/test_producer_consumer.h
similarity index 73%
rename from src/common.h
rename to src/test_producer_consumer.h
index 75f1c8c..d793f91 100644
--- a/src/common.h
+++ b/src/test_producer_consumer.h
@@ -1,57 +1,13 @@
-#ifndef __MESYTEC_MVLC_NNG_NODE_COMMON_H__
-#define __MESYTEC_MVLC_NNG_NODE_COMMON_H__
+#ifndef E6EFFE63_EB2C_4573_B723_61840850BBF6
+#define E6EFFE63_EB2C_4573_B723_61840850BBF6
 
-#include <nng/nng.h>
-#include <nng/protocol/pair0/pair.h>
-#include <spdlog/spdlog.h>
+#include "mesy_nng.h"
+
+using namespace mesytec::nng; // to make the old code compile. for test code only.
 
 static const size_t BufferSize = 1024u * 1024u;
 static const size_t BuffersToSend = 100000u;
 
-inline void mesy_nng_fatal(const char *const msg, int rv)
-{
-    spdlog::error("{} ({})", msg, nng_strerror(rv));
-    abort();
-}
-
-inline nng_msg *alloc_message(size_t size)
-{
-    nng_msg *msg = {};
-    if (int res = nng_msg_alloc(&msg, size))
-        mesy_nng_fatal("nng_msg_alloc", res);
-    return msg;
-}
-
-inline int receive_message(nng_socket sock, nng_msg **msg_ptr, int flags = 0)
-{
-    if (auto res = nng_recvmsg(sock, msg_ptr, flags))
-    {
-        nng_msg_free(*msg_ptr);
-        *msg_ptr = NULL;
-        return res;
-    }
-
-    return 0;
-}
-
-inline nng_socket make_pair_socket()
-{
-    nng_socket socket;
-
-    if (int res = nng_pair0_open(&socket))
-        mesy_nng_fatal("nng_pair0_open", res);
-
-    nng_duration timeout = 100;
-
-    if (int res = nng_socket_set(socket, NNG_OPT_RECVTIMEO, &timeout, sizeof(timeout)))
-        mesy_nng_fatal("nng_socket_set", res);
-
-    if (int res = nng_socket_set(socket, NNG_OPT_SENDTIMEO, &timeout, sizeof(timeout)))
-        mesy_nng_fatal("nng_socket_set", res);
-
-    return socket;
-}
-
 inline void producer(nng_socket socket)
 {
     while (true)
@@ -165,4 +121,4 @@ inline void consumer(nng_socket socket)
     spdlog::info("consumer received {} messages, {:.2f} MiB/s, {:.2f} buffers/s", recvCount, MiBs, bufs);
 }
 
-#endif /* __MESYTEC_MVLC_NNG_NODE_COMMON_H__ */
+#endif /* BD81CA64_A8E6_4938_9E27_773D6E7C4E9B */
diff --git a/src/thread_name.cc b/src/thread_name.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..005e237
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/thread_name.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#include "thread_name.h"
+#ifdef __linux__
+#include <sys/prctl.h>
+#endif
+
+namespace mesytec::util
+{
+
+#ifdef __linux__
+void set_thread_name(const char *name)
+{
+    prctl(PR_SET_NAME,name,0,0,0);
+}
+
+#else
+
+void set_thread_name(const char *)
+{
+}
+
+#endif
+}
diff --git a/src/thread_name.h b/src/thread_name.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0500f27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/thread_name.h
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#ifndef CAF8B988_F0C9_475A_8E38_8789949859DB
+#define CAF8B988_F0C9_475A_8E38_8789949859DB
+
+namespace mesytec::util
+{
+void set_thread_name(const char *name);
+}
+
+#endif /* CAF8B988_F0C9_475A_8E38_8789949859DB */