diff --git a/src/cas/generic/caNetAddr.h b/src/cas/generic/caNetAddr.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b578e62e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cas/generic/caNetAddr.h
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+//
+// caNetAddr
+//
+// special cas specific network address class so:
+// 1) we dont drag BSD socket headers into 
+//	the server tool
+// 2) we are able to use other networking services
+//	besides sockets in the future
+//
+// get() will assert fail if the init flag has not been
+//	set
+//
+
+#ifndef caNetAddrH
+#define caNetAddrH
+
+#ifdef caNetAddrSock
+#include <osiSock.h>
+#endif
+
+#include <assert.h>
+
+class verifyCANetAddr {
+public:
+	inline void checkSize(); 
+};
+
+enum caNetAddrType {casnaUDF, casnaSock}; // only IP addresses (and undefined) supported at this time
+class caNetAddr {
+	friend class verifyCANetAddr;
+public:
+
+	// 
+	// clear()
+	//
+	inline void clear ()
+	{
+		this->type = casnaUDF;
+	}
+
+	//
+	// caNetAddr()
+	//
+	inline caNetAddr ()
+	{	
+		this->clear();
+	}
+
+	inline int isSock () const
+	{
+		return this->type == casnaSock;
+	}
+
+	//
+	// conditionally drag BSD socket headers into the server
+	// and server tool
+	//
+	// to use this #define caNetAddrSock
+	//
+#	ifdef caNetAddrSock
+		inline void setSockIP(unsigned long inaIn, unsigned short portIn)
+		{
+			this->type = casnaSock;
+			this->addr.sock.sin_family = AF_INET;
+			this->addr.sock.sin_addr.s_addr = inaIn;
+			this->addr.sock.sin_port = portIn;
+		}	
+
+		inline void setSockIP(const struct sockaddr_in &sockIPIn)
+		{
+			this->type = casnaSock;
+			assert(sockIPIn.sin_family == AF_INET);
+			this->addr.sock = sockIPIn;
+		}	
+
+		inline void setSock(const struct sockaddr &sock)
+		{
+			this->type = casnaSock;
+			struct sockaddr_in *psip = (struct sockaddr_in *) &sock;
+			assert(sizeof(sock)==sizeof(this->addr.sock));
+			this->addr.sock = *psip;
+		}	
+
+		inline caNetAddr(const struct sockaddr_in &sockIPIn)
+		{
+			this->setSockIP(sockIPIn);
+		}
+
+		inline caNetAddr operator = (const struct sockaddr_in &sockIPIn)
+		{
+			this->setSockIP(sockIPIn);
+			return *this;
+		}			
+
+		inline caNetAddr operator = (const struct sockaddr &sockIn)
+		{
+			this->setSock(sockIn);
+			return *this;
+		}		
+
+		inline struct sockaddr_in getSockIP() const
+		{
+			assert (this->type==casnaSock);
+			return this->addr.sock;
+		}
+
+		inline struct sockaddr getSock() const
+		{
+			struct sockaddr sa;
+			assert (this->type==casnaSock);
+			assert (sizeof(sa)==sizeof(this->addr.sock));
+			struct sockaddr_in *psain = (struct sockaddr_in *) &sa;
+			*psain = this->addr.sock;
+
+			return sa;
+		}
+
+		inline operator sockaddr_in () const
+		{
+			return this->getSockIP();
+		}
+
+		inline operator sockaddr () const
+		{
+			return this->getSock();
+		}
+
+	#	endif // caNetAddrSock
+
+private:
+	union {	
+#		ifdef caNetAddrSock		
+			struct sockaddr_in sock;
+#		endif
+		//
+		// this must be as big or bigger 
+		// than the largest field
+		//
+		// see checkDummySize() above
+		//
+		unsigned char dummy[16];	
+	}addr;
+
+	caNetAddrType type;
+
+	static verifyCANetAddr verify;
+};
+
+inline void verifyCANetAddr::checkSize()
+{
+	//
+	// temp used because brain dead
+	// ms compiler does not allow
+	// use of scope res operator
+	//
+	caNetAddr t;
+	size_t ds = sizeof (t.addr.dummy);
+	size_t as = sizeof (t.addr);
+	assert (ds==as);
+}
+
+
+#endif // caNetAddrH