diff --git a/src/remsim_client_fsm.h b/src/remsim_client_fsm.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1e46a80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/remsim_client_fsm.h
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <osmocom/core/fsm.h>
+#include <osmocom/abis/ipa.h>
+#include <osmocom/rspro/RsproPDU.h>
+
+enum server_conn_fsm_event {
+	SRVC_E_TCP_UP,
+	SRVC_E_TCP_DOWN,
+	SRVC_E_KA_TIMEOUT,
+	SRVC_E_CLIENT_CONN_RES,
+};
+
+struct rspro_server_conn;
+
+/* representing a client-side connection to a RSPRO server */
+struct rspro_server_conn {
+	/* state */
+	struct ipa_client_conn *conn;
+	struct osmo_fsm_inst *fi;
+	struct osmo_fsm_inst *keepalive_fi;
+	int (*handle_rx)(struct rspro_server_conn *conn, const RsproPDU_t *pdu);
+	/* IPA protocol identity */
+	struct ipaccess_unit ipa_dev;
+
+	/* our own component ID */
+	struct app_comp_id own_comp_id;
+	/* remote component ID */
+	struct app_comp_id peer_comp_id;
+
+	/* client id and slot number */
+	ClientSlot_t *clslot;
+
+	/* configuration */
+	char *server_host;
+	uint16_t server_port;
+};
+
+int server_conn_fsm_alloc(void *ctx, struct rspro_server_conn *srvc);
+extern struct osmo_fsm remsim_client_server_fsm;