diff --git a/src/libventi/srvhello.c b/src/libventi/srvhello.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..20aedbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libventi/srvhello.c
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#include <u.h>
+#include <libc.h>
+#include <venti.h>
+
+int
+vtsrvhello(VtConn *z)
+{
+	VtFcall tx, rx;
+	Packet *p;
+
+	if((p = vtrecv(z)) == nil)
+		return 0;
+
+	if(vtfcallunpack(&tx, p) < 0){
+		packetfree(p);
+		return 0;
+	}
+	packetfree(p);
+
+	if(tx.type != VtThello){
+		vtfcallclear(&tx);
+		werrstr("bad packet type %d; want Thello %d", tx.type, VtThello);
+		return 0;
+	}
+	if(tx.tag != 0){
+		vtfcallclear(&tx);
+		werrstr("bad tag in hello");
+		return 0;
+	}
+	if(strcmp(tx.version, z->version) != 0){
+		vtfcallclear(&tx);
+		werrstr("bad version in hello");
+		return 0;
+	}
+	vtfree(z->uid);
+	z->uid = tx.uid;
+	tx.uid = nil;
+	vtfcallclear(&tx);
+
+	memset(&rx, 0, sizeof rx);
+	rx.type = VtRhello;
+	rx.tag = tx.tag;
+	rx.sid = "anonymous";
+	if((p = vtfcallpack(&rx)) == nil)
+		return 0;
+	if(vtsend(z, p) < 0)
+		return 0;
+
+	return 1;
+}