diff --git a/source3/lib/messages_util.c b/source3/lib/messages_util.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..24c364c145e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source3/lib/messages_util.c
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+/*
+ * Unix SMB/CIFS implementation.
+ * Samba internal messaging functions
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 by Volker Lendecke
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#include "replace.h"
+#include "lib/util/samba_util.h"
+#include "librpc/gen_ndr/server_id.h"
+#include "lib/util/byteorder.h"
+#include "messages_util.h"
+
+void message_hdr_put(uint8_t buf[MESSAGE_HDR_LENGTH], uint32_t msg_type,
+		     struct server_id src, struct server_id dst)
+{
+	server_id_put(buf, dst);
+	server_id_put(buf + 24, src);
+	SIVAL(buf, 48, msg_type);
+}
+
+void message_hdr_get(uint32_t *msg_type, struct server_id *src,
+		     struct server_id *dst,
+		     const uint8_t buf[MESSAGE_HDR_LENGTH])
+{
+	server_id_get(dst, buf);
+	server_id_get(src, buf + 24);
+	*msg_type = IVAL(buf, 48);
+}
diff --git a/source3/lib/messages_util.h b/source3/lib/messages_util.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5b22f5e9865
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source3/lib/messages_util.h
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+/*
+ * Unix SMB/CIFS implementation.
+ * Samba internal messaging functions
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 by Volker Lendecke
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#ifndef _MESSAGES_UTIL_H_
+#define _MESSAGES_UTIL_H_
+
+struct message_hdr;
+
+#define MESSAGE_HDR_LENGTH 52
+
+void message_hdr_put(uint8_t buf[MESSAGE_HDR_LENGTH], uint32_t msg_type,
+		     struct server_id src, struct server_id dst);
+void message_hdr_get(uint32_t *msg_type, struct server_id *src,
+		     struct server_id *dst,
+		     const uint8_t buf[MESSAGE_HDR_LENGTH]);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/source3/wscript_build b/source3/wscript_build
index cb17ab49772..ce8ee13cfea 100755
--- a/source3/wscript_build
+++ b/source3/wscript_build
@@ -313,6 +313,11 @@ bld.SAMBA3_LIBRARY('messages_dgm',
                    deps='talloc UNIX_MSG POLL_FUNCS_TEVENT samba-debug',
                    private_library=True)
 
+bld.SAMBA3_LIBRARY('messages_util',
+                   source='''lib/messages_util.c''',
+                   deps='samba-util',
+                   private_library=True)
+
 bld.SAMBA3_SUBSYSTEM('samba3core',
                    source='''lib/messages.c
                    lib/util_cluster.c