diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index dcdf17e1c964a2e9537366794f3a9cb520f19ac6..1eaba4b1b20bf225456f31d0253a44f556e54a5a 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ httpdir = $(pkgpythondir)/http
 masterddir = $(pkgpythondir)/masterd
 confddir = $(pkgpythondir)/confd
 rapidir = $(pkgpythondir)/rapi
+impexpddir = $(pkgpythondir)/impexpd
 toolsdir = $(pkglibdir)/tools
 docdir = $(datadir)/doc/$(PACKAGE)
 
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ DIRS = \
 	lib/confd \
 	lib/http \
 	lib/hypervisor \
+	lib/impexpd \
 	lib/masterd \
 	lib/rapi \
 	man \
@@ -148,6 +150,9 @@ masterd_PYTHON = \
 	lib/masterd/__init__.py \
 	lib/masterd/instance.py
 
+impexpd_PYTHON = \
+	lib/impexpd/__init__.py
+
 docrst = \
 	doc/admin.rst \
 	doc/design-2.0.rst \
@@ -350,6 +355,7 @@ python_tests = \
 	test/ganeti.errors_unittest.py \
 	test/ganeti.hooks_unittest.py \
 	test/ganeti.http_unittest.py \
+	test/ganeti.impexpd_unittest.py \
 	test/ganeti.locking_unittest.py \
 	test/ganeti.luxi_unittest.py \
 	test/ganeti.masterd.instance_unittest.py \
@@ -397,6 +403,7 @@ all_python_code = \
 	$(http_PYTHON) \
 	$(confd_PYTHON) \
 	$(masterd_PYTHON) \
+	$(impexpd_PYTHON) \
 	$(noinst_PYTHON)
 
 srclink_files = \
diff --git a/daemons/import-export b/daemons/import-export
index 7e9b265a3dfc9db6a0b3829020d2847b23823dbd..29386d1fe6deee95cd0035fa45fcd6d00b536d9e 100755
--- a/daemons/import-export
+++ b/daemons/import-export
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ import socket
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import time
-from cStringIO import StringIO
 
 from ganeti import constants
 from ganeti import cli
@@ -45,6 +44,7 @@ from ganeti import utils
 from ganeti import serializer
 from ganeti import objects
 from ganeti import locking
+from ganeti import impexpd
 
 
 #: Used to recognize point at which socat(1) starts to listen on its socket.
@@ -71,9 +71,6 @@ SOCAT_LOG_IGNORE = frozenset([
   SOCAT_LOG_NOTICE,
   ])
 
-#: Socat buffer size: at most this many bytes are transferred per step
-SOCAT_BUFSIZE = 1024 * 1024
-
 #: How many lines to keep in the status file
 MAX_RECENT_OUTPUT_LINES = 20
 
@@ -86,10 +83,6 @@ CHILD_LINGER_TIMEOUT = 5.0
 #: How long to wait for a connection to be established
 DEFAULT_CONNECT_TIMEOUT = 60
 
-# Common options for socat
-SOCAT_TCP_OPTS = ["keepalive", "keepidle=60", "keepintvl=10", "keepcnt=5"]
-SOCAT_OPENSSL_OPTS = ["verify=1", "cipher=HIGH", "method=TLSv1"]
-
 
 # Global variable for options
 options = None
@@ -291,150 +284,6 @@ def ProcessOutput(line, status_file, logger, socat):
   status_file.Update(force_update)
 
 
-class CommandBuilder(object):
-  def __init__(self, mode, opts, socat_stderr_fd):
-    """Initializes this class.
-
-    @param mode: Daemon mode (import or export)
-    @param opts: Options object
-    @type socat_stderr_fd: int
-    @param socat_stderr_fd: File descriptor socat should write its stderr to
-
-    """
-    self._opts = opts
-    self._mode = mode
-    self._socat_stderr_fd = socat_stderr_fd
-
-  @staticmethod
-  def GetBashCommand(cmd):
-    """Prepares a command to be run in Bash.
-
-    """
-    return ["bash", "-o", "errexit", "-o", "pipefail", "-c", cmd]
-
-  def _GetSocatCommand(self):
-    """Returns the socat command.
-
-    """
-    common_addr_opts = SOCAT_TCP_OPTS + SOCAT_OPENSSL_OPTS + [
-      "key=%s" % self._opts.key,
-      "cert=%s" % self._opts.cert,
-      "cafile=%s" % self._opts.ca,
-      ]
-
-    if self._opts.bind is not None:
-      common_addr_opts.append("bind=%s" % self._opts.bind)
-
-    if self._mode == constants.IEM_IMPORT:
-      if self._opts.port is None:
-        port = 0
-      else:
-        port = self._opts.port
-
-      addr1 = [
-        "OPENSSL-LISTEN:%s" % port,
-        "reuseaddr",
-
-        # Retry to listen if connection wasn't established successfully, up to
-        # 100 times a second. Note that this still leaves room for DoS attacks.
-        "forever",
-        "intervall=0.01",
-        ] + common_addr_opts
-      addr2 = ["stdout"]
-
-    elif self._mode == constants.IEM_EXPORT:
-      addr1 = ["stdin"]
-      addr2 = [
-        "OPENSSL:%s:%s" % (self._opts.host, self._opts.port),
-
-        # How long to wait per connection attempt
-        "connect-timeout=%s" % self._opts.connect_timeout,
-
-        # Retry a few times before giving up to connect (once per second)
-        "retry=%s" % self._opts.connect_retries,
-        "intervall=1",
-        ] + common_addr_opts
-
-    else:
-      raise Error("Invalid mode '%s'" % self._mode)
-
-    for i in [addr1, addr2]:
-      for value in i:
-        if "," in value:
-          raise Error("Comma not allowed in socat option value: %r" % value)
-
-    return [
-      constants.SOCAT_PATH,
-
-      # Log to stderr
-      "-ls",
-
-      # Log level
-      "-d", "-d",
-
-      # Buffer size
-      "-b%s" % SOCAT_BUFSIZE,
-
-      # Unidirectional mode, the first address is only used for reading, and the
-      # second address is only used for writing
-      "-u",
-
-      ",".join(addr1), ",".join(addr2)
-      ]
-
-  def _GetTransportCommand(self):
-    """Returns the command for the transport part of the daemon.
-
-    """
-    socat_cmd = ("%s 2>&%d" %
-                 (utils.ShellQuoteArgs(self._GetSocatCommand()),
-                  self._socat_stderr_fd))
-
-    compr = self._opts.compress
-
-    assert compr in constants.IEC_ALL
-
-    if self._mode == constants.IEM_IMPORT:
-      if compr == constants.IEC_GZIP:
-        transport_cmd = "%s | gunzip -c" % socat_cmd
-      else:
-        transport_cmd = socat_cmd
-    elif self._mode == constants.IEM_EXPORT:
-      if compr == constants.IEC_GZIP:
-        transport_cmd = "gzip -c | %s" % socat_cmd
-      else:
-        transport_cmd = socat_cmd
-    else:
-      raise Error("Invalid mode '%s'" % self._mode)
-
-    # TODO: Use "dd" to measure processed data (allows to give an ETA)
-
-    # TODO: Run transport as separate user
-    # The transport uses its own shell to simplify running it as a separate user
-    # in the future.
-    return self.GetBashCommand(transport_cmd)
-
-  def GetCommand(self):
-    """Returns the complete child process command.
-
-    """
-    transport_cmd = self._GetTransportCommand()
-
-    buf = StringIO()
-
-    if self._opts.cmd_prefix:
-      buf.write(self._opts.cmd_prefix)
-      buf.write(" ")
-
-    buf.write(utils.ShellQuoteArgs(transport_cmd))
-
-    if self._opts.cmd_suffix:
-      buf.write(" ")
-      buf.write(self._opts.cmd_suffix)
-
-    return self.GetBashCommand(buf.getvalue())
-
-
 def ProcessChildIO(child, socat_stderr_read_fd, status_file, child_logger,
                    signal_notify, signal_handler, mode):
   """Handles the child processes' output.
@@ -673,7 +522,8 @@ def main():
       (socat_stderr_read_fd, socat_stderr_write_fd) = os.pipe()
 
       # Get child process command
-      cmd = CommandBuilder(mode, options, socat_stderr_write_fd).GetCommand()
+      cmd_builder = impexpd.CommandBuilder(mode, options, socat_stderr_write_fd)
+      cmd = cmd_builder.GetCommand()
 
       logging.debug("Starting command %r", cmd)
 
diff --git a/lib/impexpd/__init__.py b/lib/impexpd/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8a57c4f4448c85f67cf0c31b11384423f2b5623c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/impexpd/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+#
+#
+
+# Copyright (C) 2010 Google Inc.
+#
+# 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 2 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, write to the Free Software
+# Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA
+# 02110-1301, USA.
+
+
+"""Classes and functions for import/export daemon.
+
+"""
+
+from cStringIO import StringIO
+
+from ganeti import constants
+from ganeti import errors
+from ganeti import utils
+
+
+#: Buffer size: at most this many bytes are transferred at once
+BUFSIZE = 1024 * 1024
+
+# Common options for socat
+SOCAT_TCP_OPTS = ["keepalive", "keepidle=60", "keepintvl=10", "keepcnt=5"]
+SOCAT_OPENSSL_OPTS = ["verify=1", "cipher=HIGH", "method=TLSv1"]
+
+
+class CommandBuilder(object):
+  def __init__(self, mode, opts, socat_stderr_fd):
+    """Initializes this class.
+
+    @param mode: Daemon mode (import or export)
+    @param opts: Options object
+    @type socat_stderr_fd: int
+    @param socat_stderr_fd: File descriptor socat should write its stderr to
+
+    """
+    self._opts = opts
+    self._mode = mode
+    self._socat_stderr_fd = socat_stderr_fd
+
+  @staticmethod
+  def GetBashCommand(cmd):
+    """Prepares a command to be run in Bash.
+
+    """
+    return ["bash", "-o", "errexit", "-o", "pipefail", "-c", cmd]
+
+  def _GetSocatCommand(self):
+    """Returns the socat command.
+
+    """
+    common_addr_opts = SOCAT_TCP_OPTS + SOCAT_OPENSSL_OPTS + [
+      "key=%s" % self._opts.key,
+      "cert=%s" % self._opts.cert,
+      "cafile=%s" % self._opts.ca,
+      ]
+
+    if self._opts.bind is not None:
+      common_addr_opts.append("bind=%s" % self._opts.bind)
+
+    if self._mode == constants.IEM_IMPORT:
+      if self._opts.port is None:
+        port = 0
+      else:
+        port = self._opts.port
+
+      addr1 = [
+        "OPENSSL-LISTEN:%s" % port,
+        "reuseaddr",
+
+        # Retry to listen if connection wasn't established successfully, up to
+        # 100 times a second. Note that this still leaves room for DoS attacks.
+        "forever",
+        "intervall=0.01",
+        ] + common_addr_opts
+      addr2 = ["stdout"]
+
+    elif self._mode == constants.IEM_EXPORT:
+      addr1 = ["stdin"]
+      addr2 = [
+        "OPENSSL:%s:%s" % (self._opts.host, self._opts.port),
+
+        # How long to wait per connection attempt
+        "connect-timeout=%s" % self._opts.connect_timeout,
+
+        # Retry a few times before giving up to connect (once per second)
+        "retry=%s" % self._opts.connect_retries,
+        "intervall=1",
+        ] + common_addr_opts
+
+    else:
+      raise errors.GenericError("Invalid mode '%s'" % self._mode)
+
+    for i in [addr1, addr2]:
+      for value in i:
+        if "," in value:
+          raise errors.GenericError("Comma not allowed in socat option"
+                                    " value: %r" % value)
+
+    return [
+      constants.SOCAT_PATH,
+
+      # Log to stderr
+      "-ls",
+
+      # Log level
+      "-d", "-d",
+
+      # Buffer size
+      "-b%s" % BUFSIZE,
+
+      # Unidirectional mode, the first address is only used for reading, and the
+      # second address is only used for writing
+      "-u",
+
+      ",".join(addr1), ",".join(addr2)
+      ]
+
+  def _GetTransportCommand(self):
+    """Returns the command for the transport part of the daemon.
+
+    """
+    socat_cmd = ("%s 2>&%d" %
+                 (utils.ShellQuoteArgs(self._GetSocatCommand()),
+                  self._socat_stderr_fd))
+
+    compr = self._opts.compress
+
+    assert compr in constants.IEC_ALL
+
+    if self._mode == constants.IEM_IMPORT:
+      if compr == constants.IEC_GZIP:
+        transport_cmd = "%s | gunzip -c" % socat_cmd
+      else:
+        transport_cmd = socat_cmd
+    elif self._mode == constants.IEM_EXPORT:
+      if compr == constants.IEC_GZIP:
+        transport_cmd = "gzip -c | %s" % socat_cmd
+      else:
+        transport_cmd = socat_cmd
+    else:
+      raise errors.GenericError("Invalid mode '%s'" % self._mode)
+
+    # TODO: Use "dd" to measure processed data (allows to give an ETA)
+
+    # TODO: Run transport as separate user
+    # The transport uses its own shell to simplify running it as a separate user
+    # in the future.
+    return self.GetBashCommand(transport_cmd)
+
+  def GetCommand(self):
+    """Returns the complete child process command.
+
+    """
+    transport_cmd = self._GetTransportCommand()
+
+    buf = StringIO()
+
+    if self._opts.cmd_prefix:
+      buf.write(self._opts.cmd_prefix)
+      buf.write(" ")
+
+    buf.write(utils.ShellQuoteArgs(transport_cmd))
+
+    if self._opts.cmd_suffix:
+      buf.write(" ")
+      buf.write(self._opts.cmd_suffix)
+
+    return self.GetBashCommand(buf.getvalue())
diff --git a/test/ganeti.impexpd_unittest.py b/test/ganeti.impexpd_unittest.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e4a82b6644e3a246ca32c4c89e415b764a8579e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/ganeti.impexpd_unittest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+#
+
+# Copyright (C) 2010 Google Inc.
+#
+# 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 2 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, write to the Free Software
+# Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA
+# 02110-1301, USA.
+
+
+"""Script for testing ganeti.impexpd"""
+
+import os
+import sys
+import re
+import unittest
+
+from ganeti import constants
+from ganeti import objects
+from ganeti import compat
+from ganeti import utils
+from ganeti import errors
+from ganeti import impexpd
+
+import testutils
+
+
+class CmdBuilderConfig(objects.ConfigObject):
+  __slots__ = [
+    "bind",
+    "key",
+    "cert",
+    "ca",
+    "host",
+    "port",
+    "compress",
+    "connect_timeout",
+    "connect_retries",
+    "cmd_prefix",
+    "cmd_suffix",
+    ]
+
+
+def CheckCmdWord(cmd, word):
+  wre = re.compile(r"\b%s\b" % re.escape(word))
+  return compat.any(wre.search(i) for i in cmd)
+
+
+class TestCommandBuilder(unittest.TestCase):
+  def test(self):
+    for mode in [constants.IEM_IMPORT, constants.IEM_EXPORT]:
+      if mode == constants.IEM_IMPORT:
+        comprcmd = "gunzip"
+      elif mode == constants.IEM_EXPORT:
+        comprcmd = "gzip"
+
+      for compress in [constants.IEC_NONE, constants.IEC_GZIP]:
+        for host in ["localhost", "1.2.3.4", "192.0.2.99"]:
+          for port in [0, 1, 1234, 7856, 45452]:
+            for cmd_prefix in [None, "PrefixCommandGoesHere|",
+                               "dd if=/dev/hda bs=1048576 |"]:
+              for cmd_suffix in [None, "< /some/file/name",
+                                 "| dd of=/dev/null"]:
+                opts = CmdBuilderConfig(host=host, port=port, compress=compress,
+                                        cmd_prefix=cmd_prefix,
+                                        cmd_suffix=cmd_suffix)
+
+                builder = impexpd.CommandBuilder(mode, opts, 1)
+
+                # Check complete command
+                cmd = builder.GetCommand()
+                self.assert_(isinstance(cmd, list))
+
+                if compress == constants.IEC_GZIP:
+                  self.assert_(CheckCmdWord(cmd, comprcmd))
+
+                if cmd_prefix is not None:
+                  self.assert_(cmd_prefix in i for i in cmd)
+
+                if cmd_suffix is not None:
+                  self.assert_(cmd_suffix in i for i in cmd)
+
+                # Check socat command
+                socat_cmd = builder._GetSocatCommand()
+
+                if mode == constants.IEM_IMPORT:
+                  ssl_addr = socat_cmd[-2].split(",")
+                  self.assert_(("OPENSSL-LISTEN:%s" % port) in ssl_addr)
+                elif mode == constants.IEM_EXPORT:
+                  ssl_addr = socat_cmd[-1].split(",")
+                  self.assert_(("OPENSSL:%s:%s" % (host, port)) in ssl_addr)
+
+                self.assert_("verify=1" in ssl_addr)
+
+  def testCommaError(self):
+    opts = CmdBuilderConfig(host="localhost", port=1234,
+                            ca="/some/path/with,a/,comma")
+
+    for mode in [constants.IEM_IMPORT, constants.IEM_EXPORT]:
+      builder = impexpd.CommandBuilder(mode, opts, 1)
+      self.assertRaises(errors.GenericError, builder.GetCommand)
+
+  def testModeError(self):
+    mode = "foobarbaz"
+
+    assert mode not in [constants.IEM_IMPORT, constants.IEM_EXPORT]
+
+    opts = CmdBuilderConfig(host="localhost", port=1234)
+    builder = impexpd.CommandBuilder(mode, opts, 1)
+    self.assertRaises(errors.GenericError, builder.GetCommand)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+  testutils.GanetiTestProgram()