diff --git a/0615c6f b/db55009
index 0615c6f..db55009 100644
--- a/0615c6f
+++ b/db55009
@@ -26,6 +26,17 @@ int i, fd_max;
 FILE *io[max_client_fd];
 enum { CLOSED, HEADER, CHATTING } state[max_client_fd];
 char *nick[max_client_fd];
+char *auth[max_client_fd];
+enum { ECHO = 1 } opts[max_client_fd];
+typedef enum { RAW=0, LINE=1, FROM=2, FULL=3 } proto_t;
+proto_t proto_in[max_client_fd];
+proto_t proto_out[max_client_fd];
+
+// protocols:
+// 0: raw
+// 1: line                 (default for client->server)
+// 2: from: line           (default for server->client)
+// 3: time from: to, line  (default for server->server)
 
 void error(const char *format, ...)
 {
@@ -145,6 +156,8 @@ int accept_new_client(void)
 	if (client >= fd_max)
 		fd_max = client + 1;
 	state[client] = HEADER;
+	proto_in[client] = LINE;
+	proto_out[client] = FROM;
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -190,6 +203,18 @@ void header(int client, char *line)
 		value);
 	if (!strcmp(key, "nick")) {
 		nick[client] = strdup(value);
+	} else if (!strcmp(key, "auth")) {
+		auth[client] = strdup(value);
+	} else if (!strcmp(key, "echo")) {
+		opts[client] |= atoi(value) ? ECHO : 0;
+	} else if (!strcmp(key, "proto")) {
+		char *proto_out = strchr(value, ' ');
+		if (!proto_out) {
+			fprintf(stderr, "bad proto header from client %d: %s\n", client, value);
+			return;
+		}
+		proto_in[client] = atoi(value);
+		proto_out[client] = atoi(proto_out + 1);
 	}
 }