diff --git a/py_gen/codegen.py b/py_gen/codegen.py
index 9c741d2..aa7141a 100644
--- a/py_gen/codegen.py
+++ b/py_gen/codegen.py
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@
     render('__init__.py', template_name='toplevel_init.py')
     render('pp.py')
     render('generic_util.py')
+    render('connection.py')
 
     for version in loxi_globals.OFVersions.all_supported:
         subdir = 'of' + version.version.replace('.', '')
diff --git a/py_gen/templates/connection.py b/py_gen/templates/connection.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f0648be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/py_gen/templates/connection.py
@@ -0,0 +1,264 @@
+:: # Copyright 2015, Big Switch Networks, Inc.
+:: #
+:: # LoxiGen is licensed under the Eclipse Public License, version 1.0 (EPL), with
+:: # the following special exception:
+:: #
+:: # LOXI Exception
+:: #
+:: # As a special exception to the terms of the EPL, you may distribute libraries
+:: # generated by LoxiGen (LoxiGen Libraries) under the terms of your choice, provided
+:: # that copyright and licensing notices generated by LoxiGen are not altered or removed
+:: # from the LoxiGen Libraries and the notice provided below is (i) included in
+:: # the LoxiGen Libraries, if distributed in source code form and (ii) included in any
+:: # documentation for the LoxiGen Libraries, if distributed in binary form.
+:: #
+:: # Notice: "Copyright 2013, Big Switch Networks, Inc. This library was generated by the LoxiGen Compiler."
+:: #
+:: # You may not use this file except in compliance with the EPL or LOXI Exception. You may obtain
+:: # a copy of the EPL at:
+:: #
+:: # http://www.eclipse.org/legal/epl-v10.html
+:: #
+:: # Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+:: # distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+:: # WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+:: # EPL for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+:: # under the EPL.
+::
+# Copyright 2015, Big Switch Networks, Inc.
+
+"""
+OpenFlow connection class
+
+This class creates a thread which continually parses OpenFlow messages off the
+supplied socket and places them in a queue. The class has methods for reading messages
+from the RX queue, sending messages, and higher level operations like request-response
+and multipart transactions.
+"""
+
+import loxi
+import loxi.of14
+import logging
+import time
+import socket
+import errno
+import os
+import select
+from threading import Condition, Lock, Thread
+
+DEFAULT_TIMEOUT = 1
+
+class TransactionError(Exception):
+    def __str__(self):
+        return self.args[0]
+
+    @property
+    def msg(self):
+        return self.args[1]
+
+class Connection(Thread):
+    def __init__(self, sock):
+        Thread.__init__(self)
+        self.sock = sock
+        self.logger = logging.getLogger("connection")
+        self.rx = []
+        self.rx_cv = Condition()
+        self.tx_lock = Lock()
+        self.next_xid = 1
+        self.wakeup_rd, self.wakeup_wr = os.pipe()
+        self.finished = False
+        self.read_buffer = None
+
+    def run(self):
+        while not self.finished:
+            rd, wr, err = select.select([self.sock, self.wakeup_rd], [], [])
+            if self.sock in rd:
+                self.process_read()
+            if self.wakeup_rd in rd:
+                os.read(self.wakeup_rd, 1)
+        self.logger.debug("Exited event loop")
+
+    def process_read(self):
+        recvd = self.sock.recv(4096)
+
+        self.logger.debug("Received %d bytes", len(recvd))
+
+        buf = self.read_buffer
+        if buf:
+            buf += recvd
+        else:
+            buf = recvd
+
+        offset = 0
+        while offset < len(buf):
+            if offset + 8 > len(buf):
+                # Not enough data for the OpenFlow header
+                break
+
+            # Parse the header to get type
+            hdr_version, hdr_type, hdr_msglen, hdr_xid = loxi.of14.message.parse_header(buf[offset:])
+
+            # Use loxi to resolve ofp of matching version
+            ofp = loxi.protocol(hdr_version)
+
+            # Extract the raw message bytes
+            if (offset + hdr_msglen) > len(buf):
+                # Not enough data for the body
+                break
+            rawmsg = buf[offset : offset + hdr_msglen]
+            offset += hdr_msglen
+
+            msg = ofp.message.parse_message(rawmsg)
+            if not msg:
+                self.logger.warn("Could not parse message")
+                continue
+
+            self.logger.debug("Received message %s.%s xid %d length %d",
+                              type(msg).__module__, type(msg).__name__, hdr_xid, hdr_msglen)
+
+            with self.rx_cv:
+                self.rx.append(msg)
+                self.rx_cv.notify_all()
+
+        if offset == len(buf):
+            self.read_buffer = None
+        else:
+            self.read_buffer = buf[offset:]
+            self.logger.debug("%d bytes remaining", len(self.read_buffer))
+
+    def recv(self, predicate, timeout=DEFAULT_TIMEOUT):
+        """
+        Remove and return the first message in the RX queue for
+        which 'predicate' returns true
+        """
+        assert self.is_alive()
+
+        deadline = time.time() + timeout
+        while True:
+            with self.rx_cv:
+                for i, msg in enumerate(self.rx):
+                    if predicate(msg):
+                        return self.rx.pop(i)
+
+                now = time.time()
+                if now > deadline:
+                    return None
+                else:
+                    self.rx_cv.wait(deadline - now)
+
+    def recv_any(self, timeout=DEFAULT_TIMEOUT):
+        """
+        Return the first message in the RX queue
+        """
+        return self.recv(lambda msg: True, timeout)
+
+    def recv_xid(self, xid, timeout=DEFAULT_TIMEOUT):
+        """
+        Return the first message in the RX queue with XID 'xid'
+        """
+        return self.recv(lambda msg: msg.xid == xid, timeout)
+
+    def recv_class(self, klass, timeout=DEFAULT_TIMEOUT):
+        """
+        Return the first message in the RX queue which is an instance of 'klass'
+        """
+        return self.recv(lambda msg: isinstance(msg, klass), timeout)
+
+    def send_raw(self, buf):
+        """
+        Send raw bytes on the socket
+        """
+        assert self.is_alive()
+        self.logger.debug("Sending raw message length %d", len(buf))
+        with self.tx_lock:
+            if self.sock.sendall(buf) is not None:
+                raise RuntimeError("failed to send message to switch")
+
+    def send(self, msg):
+        """
+        Send a message
+        """
+        assert self.is_alive()
+
+        if msg.xid is None:
+            msg.xid = self._gen_xid()
+        buf = msg.pack()
+        self.logger.debug("Sending message %s.%s xid %d length %d",
+                          type(msg).__module__, type(msg).__name__, msg.xid, len(buf))
+        with self.tx_lock:
+            if self.sock.sendall(buf) is not None:
+                raise RuntimeError("failed to send message to switch")
+
+    def transact(self, msg, timeout=DEFAULT_TIMEOUT):
+        """
+        Send a message and return the reply
+        """
+        self.send(msg)
+        reply = self.recv_xid(msg.xid, timeout)
+        if reply is None:
+            raise TransactionError("no reply for %s" % type(msg).__name__, None)
+        elif isinstance(reply, loxi.protocol(reply.version).message.error_msg):
+            raise TransactionError("received %s in response to %s" % (type(reply).__name__, type(msg).__name__), reply)
+        return reply
+
+    def transact_multipart_generator(self, msg, timeout=DEFAULT_TIMEOUT):
+        """
+        Send a multipart request and yield each entry from the replies
+        """
+        self.send(msg)
+        finished = False
+        while not finished:
+            reply = self.recv_xid(msg.xid, timeout)
+            if reply is None:
+                raise TransactionError("no reply for %s" % type(msg).__name__, None)
+            elif not isinstance(reply, loxi.protocol(reply.version).message.stats_reply):
+                raise TransactionError("received %s in response to %s" % (type(reply).__name__, type(msg).__name__), reply)
+            for entry in reply.entries:
+                yield entry
+            finished = reply.flags & loxi.protocol(reply.version).OFPSF_REPLY_MORE == 0
+
+    def transact_multipart(self, msg, timeout=DEFAULT_TIMEOUT):
+        """
+        Send a multipart request and return all entries from the replies
+        """
+        entries = []
+        for entry in self.transact_multipart_generator(msg, timeout):
+            entries.append(entry)
+        return entries
+
+    def stop(self):
+        """
+        Signal the thread to exit and wait for it
+        """
+        assert not self.finished
+        self.logger.debug("Stopping connection")
+        self.finished = True
+        os.write(self.wakeup_wr, "x")
+        self.join()
+        self.sock.close()
+        os.close(self.wakeup_rd)
+        os.close(self.wakeup_wr)
+        self.logger.debug("Stopped connection")
+
+    def _gen_xid(self):
+        xid = self.next_xid
+        self.next_xid += 1
+        return xid
+
+def connect(ip, port=6653, daemon=True, ofp=loxi.of14):
+    """
+    Actively connect to a switch
+    """
+    soc = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+    soc.connect((ip, port))
+    soc.setsockopt(socket.IPPROTO_TCP, socket.TCP_NODELAY, True)
+    cxn = Connection(soc)
+    cxn.daemon = daemon
+    cxn.logger.debug("Connected to %s:%d", ip, port)
+    cxn.start()
+
+    cxn.send(ofp.message.hello())
+    if not cxn.recv(lambda msg: msg.type == ofp.OFPT_HELLO):
+        raise Exception("Did not receive HELLO")
+
+    return cxn