diff --git a/config.h.meson b/config.h.meson
index dffa8d7..d7a16f7 100644
--- a/config.h.meson
+++ b/config.h.meson
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@
 #mesondefine ENABLE_MINIGBM_ALLOCATION
 #mesondefine ENABLE_VENUS
 #mesondefine ENABLE_VENUS_VALIDATE
+#mesondefine ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER
+#mesondefine ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_PROCESS
+#mesondefine ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD
+#mesondefine ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_MINIJAIL
+#mesondefine RENDER_SERVER_EXEC_PATH
 #mesondefine HAVE_FUNC_ATTRIBUTE_VISIBILITY
 #mesondefine HAVE_EVENTFD_H
 #mesondefine HAVE_DLFCN_H
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index e452517..5d34f1b 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -246,6 +246,30 @@ if with_venus
    endif
 endif
 
+with_render_server = get_option('render-server')
+with_render_server_worker = get_option('render-server-worker')
+render_server_install_dir = get_option('prefix') / get_option('libexecdir')
+if with_render_server
+   if not with_venus
+      error('render server makes no sense without venus currently')
+   endif
+
+   conf_data.set('ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER', 1)
+   conf_data.set('RENDER_SERVER_EXEC_PATH',
+                 '"' + render_server_install_dir / 'virgl_render_server' + '"')
+
+   if with_render_server_worker == 'process'
+      conf_data.set('ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_PROCESS', 1)
+   elif with_render_server_worker == 'thread'
+      conf_data.set('ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD', 1)
+   elif with_render_server_worker == 'minijail'
+      conf_data.set('ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_MINIJAIL', 1)
+      minijail_dep = dependency('libminijail')
+   else
+     error('unknown render server worker ' + with_render_server_worker)
+   endif
+endif
+
 if cc.compiles('void __attribute__((hidden)) func() {}')
    conf_data.set('HAVE_FUNC_ATTRIBUTE_VISIBILITY', 1)
 endif
@@ -280,6 +304,10 @@ with_valgrind = get_option('valgrind')
 subdir('src')
 subdir('vtest')
 
+if with_render_server
+subdir('server')
+endif
+
 if with_tests
    assert(have_egl, 'Tests require EGL, but it is not available')
    subdir('tests')
@@ -301,6 +329,11 @@ lines += 'minigbm_alloc: ' + (with_minigbm_allocation ? 'yes' : 'no' )
 lines += ''
 lines += 'venus:     ' + (with_venus ? 'yes' : 'no' )
 lines += ''
+lines += 'render server: ' + (with_render_server ? 'yes' : 'no')
+if with_render_server
+lines += 'render server worker: ' + with_render_server_worker
+endif
+lines += ''
 lines += 'tests:     ' + (with_tests ? 'yes' : 'no' )
 lines += 'fuzzer:    ' + (with_fuzzer ? 'yes' : 'no' )
 lines += 'tracing:   ' + with_tracing
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 52b8df4..d3a99bb 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -52,6 +52,21 @@ option(
   description : 'enable the validation layer for venus'
 )
 
+option(
+  'render-server',
+  type : 'boolean',
+  value : 'false',
+  description : 'enable support for render server'
+)
+
+option(
+  'render-server-worker',
+  type : 'combo',
+  value : 'process',
+  choices : ['process', 'thread', 'minijail'],
+  description : 'how a context in render server is serviced'
+)
+
 option(
   'tests',
   type : 'boolean',
diff --git a/server/main.c b/server/main.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..556609c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/main.c
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#include "render_context.h"
+#include "render_server.h"
+
+/* The main process is the server process.  It enters render_server_main and
+ * never returns except on fatal errors.
+ *
+ * The server process supports only one connection currently.  It creates a
+ * render_client to manage the connection.  There is a client process at the
+ * other end of the connection.  When the client process requests a new
+ * context to be created, the server process creates a worker.  It also sets
+ * up a socket pair, with one end owned by the worker and the other end sent
+ * to and owned by the client process.
+ *
+ * A worker can be a subprocess forked from the server process, or a thread
+ * created by the server process.  When a worker is a subprocess, the
+ * subprocess returns from render_server_main and enters render_context_main.
+ *
+ * When a worker is a thread, the thread enters render_context_main directly
+ * from its start function.  In this case, render_context_main must be
+ * thread-safe.
+ */
+int
+main(int argc, char **argv)
+{
+   struct render_context_args ctx_args;
+
+   bool ok = render_server_main(argc, argv, &ctx_args);
+
+   /* this is a subprocess */
+   if (ok && ctx_args.valid)
+      ok = render_context_main(&ctx_args);
+
+   return ok ? 0 : -1;
+}
diff --git a/server/meson.build b/server/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d491496
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+# Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+virgl_render_server_sources = [
+   'main.c',
+   'render_client.c',
+   'render_common.c',
+   'render_context.c',
+   'render_server.c',
+   'render_socket.c',
+   'render_virgl.c',
+   'render_worker.c',
+]
+
+virgl_render_server_depends = [libvirglrenderer_dep]
+
+if with_render_server_worker == 'thread'
+   virgl_render_server_depends += [thread_dep]
+elif with_render_server_worker == 'minijail'
+   virgl_render_server_depends += [minijail_dep]
+endif
+
+virgl_render_server = executable(
+   'virgl_render_server',
+   virgl_render_server_sources,
+   dependencies : virgl_render_server_depends,
+   install : true,
+   install_dir : render_server_install_dir,
+)
diff --git a/server/render_client.c b/server/render_client.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8f993d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/render_client.c
@@ -0,0 +1,345 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#include "render_client.h"
+
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+#include "render_context.h"
+#include "render_server.h"
+#include "render_virgl.h"
+#include "render_worker.h"
+
+/* There is a render_context_record for each worker.
+ *
+ * When the client process destroys a context, it closes the connection to the
+ * worker, which leads to worker termination.  It also sends a
+ * RENDER_CLIENT_OP_DESTROY_CONTEXT to us to remove the record.  Because we
+ * are responsible for cleaning up the worker, we don't care if the worker has
+ * terminated or not.  We always kill, reap, and remove the record.
+ *
+ * TODO We reap with WNOHANG in render_client_dispatch currently.  We should
+ * use SIGCHLD instead.
+ */
+struct render_context_record {
+   uint32_t ctx_id;
+   struct render_worker *worker;
+
+   struct list_head head;
+};
+
+static struct render_context_record *
+render_client_find_record(struct render_client *client, uint32_t ctx_id)
+{
+   list_for_each_entry (struct render_context_record, rec, &client->context_records,
+                        head) {
+      if (rec->ctx_id == ctx_id)
+         return rec;
+   }
+   return NULL;
+}
+
+static void
+render_client_kill_one_record(struct render_client *client,
+                              struct render_context_record *rec)
+{
+   render_worker_kill(rec->worker);
+
+   list_del(&rec->head);
+   list_addtail(&rec->head, &client->reap_records);
+}
+
+static void
+render_client_kill_all_records(struct render_client *client)
+{
+   list_for_each_entry (struct render_context_record, rec, &client->context_records, head)
+      render_worker_kill(rec->worker);
+
+   list_splicetail(&client->context_records, &client->reap_records);
+   list_inithead(&client->context_records);
+}
+
+static void
+render_client_reap_all_records(struct render_client *client, bool wait)
+{
+   struct render_server *srv = client->server;
+
+   list_for_each_entry_safe (struct render_context_record, rec, &client->reap_records,
+                             head) {
+      if (!render_worker_reap(rec->worker, wait))
+         continue;
+
+      render_worker_destroy(rec->worker);
+      list_del(&rec->head);
+      free(rec);
+
+      srv->current_worker_count--;
+   }
+}
+
+static void
+init_context_args(struct render_context_args *ctx_args,
+                  uint32_t init_flags,
+                  const struct render_client_op_create_context_request *req,
+                  int ctx_fd)
+{
+   *ctx_args = (struct render_context_args){
+      .valid = true,
+      .init_flags = init_flags,
+      .ctx_id = req->ctx_id,
+      .ctx_fd = ctx_fd,
+   };
+
+   static_assert(sizeof(ctx_args->ctx_name) == sizeof(req->ctx_name), "");
+   memcpy(ctx_args->ctx_name, req->ctx_name, sizeof(req->ctx_name) - 1);
+}
+
+#ifdef ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD
+
+static int
+render_client_worker_thread(void *thread_data)
+{
+   const struct render_context_args *ctx_args = thread_data;
+   return render_context_main(ctx_args) ? 0 : -1;
+}
+
+#endif /* ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD */
+
+static bool
+render_client_create_context(struct render_client *client,
+                             const struct render_client_op_create_context_request *req,
+                             int *out_remote_fd)
+{
+   struct render_server *srv = client->server;
+
+   if (srv->current_worker_count >= srv->max_worker_count) {
+      render_log("too many context workers");
+      return false;
+   }
+
+   struct render_context_record *rec = calloc(1, sizeof(*rec));
+   if (!rec)
+      return false;
+
+   int socket_fds[2];
+   if (!render_socket_pair(socket_fds)) {
+      free(rec);
+      return false;
+   }
+   int ctx_fd = socket_fds[0];
+   int remote_fd = socket_fds[1];
+
+   struct render_context_args ctx_args;
+   init_context_args(&ctx_args, client->init_flags, req, ctx_fd);
+
+#ifdef ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD
+   rec->worker = render_worker_create(srv->worker_jail, render_client_worker_thread,
+                                      &ctx_args, sizeof(ctx_args));
+   if (rec->worker)
+      ctx_fd = -1; /* ownership transferred */
+#else
+   rec->worker = render_worker_create(srv->worker_jail, NULL, NULL, 0);
+#endif
+   if (!rec->worker) {
+      render_log("failed to create a context worker");
+      close(ctx_fd);
+      close(remote_fd);
+      free(rec);
+      return false;
+   }
+
+   if (!render_worker_is_record(rec->worker)) {
+      /* this is the child process */
+      render_worker_destroy(rec->worker);
+      free(rec);
+
+      srv->state = RENDER_SERVER_STATE_SUBPROCESS;
+      *srv->context_args = ctx_args;
+
+      /* ctx_fd ownership transferred */
+      assert(srv->context_args->ctx_fd == ctx_fd);
+
+      close(remote_fd);
+      *out_remote_fd = -1;
+
+      return true;
+   }
+
+   /* this is the parent process */
+   rec->ctx_id = req->ctx_id;
+   list_addtail(&rec->head, &client->context_records);
+   srv->current_worker_count++;
+
+   if (ctx_fd >= 0)
+      close(ctx_fd);
+   *out_remote_fd = remote_fd;
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_client_dispatch_destroy_context(struct render_client *client,
+                                       const union render_client_op_request *req)
+{
+   const uint32_t ctx_id = req->destroy_context.ctx_id;
+   struct render_context_record *rec = render_client_find_record(client, ctx_id);
+   if (rec)
+      render_client_kill_one_record(client, rec);
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_client_dispatch_create_context(struct render_client *client,
+                                      const union render_client_op_request *req)
+{
+   struct render_server *srv = client->server;
+
+   int remote_fd;
+   bool ok = render_client_create_context(client, &req->create_context, &remote_fd);
+   if (!ok)
+      return false;
+
+   if (srv->state == RENDER_SERVER_STATE_SUBPROCESS) {
+      assert(remote_fd < 0);
+      return true;
+   }
+
+   const struct render_client_op_create_context_reply reply = {
+      .ok = ok,
+   };
+   if (!ok)
+      return render_socket_send_reply(&client->socket, &reply, sizeof(reply));
+
+   ok = render_socket_send_reply_with_fds(&client->socket, &reply, sizeof(reply),
+                                          &remote_fd, 1);
+   close(remote_fd);
+
+   return ok;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_client_dispatch_reset(struct render_client *client,
+                             UNUSED const union render_client_op_request *req)
+{
+   render_client_kill_all_records(client);
+   render_client_reap_all_records(client, true /* wait */);
+   return true;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_client_dispatch_init(struct render_client *client,
+                            const union render_client_op_request *req)
+{
+   client->init_flags = req->init.flags;
+
+   /* init now to avoid doing it in each worker
+    *
+    * TODO this does very little, and might confuse perfetto.  It might be
+    * more interesting to preload Vulkan ICDs, by calling
+    * vkEnumerateInstanceExtensionProperties.
+    */
+   render_virgl_init(client->init_flags);
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_client_dispatch_nop(UNUSED struct render_client *client,
+                           UNUSED const union render_client_op_request *req)
+{
+   return true;
+}
+
+struct render_client_dispatch_entry {
+   size_t expect_size;
+   bool (*dispatch)(struct render_client *client,
+                    const union render_client_op_request *req);
+};
+
+static const struct render_client_dispatch_entry
+   render_client_dispatch_table[RENDER_CLIENT_OP_COUNT] = {
+#define RENDER_CLIENT_DISPATCH(NAME, name)                                               \
+   [RENDER_CLIENT_OP_##                                                                  \
+      NAME] = { .expect_size = sizeof(struct render_client_op_##name##_request),         \
+                .dispatch = render_client_dispatch_##name }
+      RENDER_CLIENT_DISPATCH(NOP, nop),
+      RENDER_CLIENT_DISPATCH(INIT, init),
+      RENDER_CLIENT_DISPATCH(RESET, reset),
+      RENDER_CLIENT_DISPATCH(CREATE_CONTEXT, create_context),
+      RENDER_CLIENT_DISPATCH(DESTROY_CONTEXT, destroy_context),
+#undef RENDER_CLIENT_DISPATCH
+   };
+
+bool
+render_client_dispatch(struct render_client *client)
+{
+   union render_client_op_request req;
+   size_t req_size;
+   if (!render_socket_receive_request(&client->socket, &req, sizeof(req), &req_size))
+      return false;
+
+   if (req.header.op >= RENDER_CLIENT_OP_COUNT) {
+      render_log("invalid client op %d", req.header.op);
+      return false;
+   }
+
+   const struct render_client_dispatch_entry *entry =
+      &render_client_dispatch_table[req.header.op];
+   if (entry->expect_size != req_size) {
+      render_log("invalid request size %zu for client op %d", req_size, req.header.op);
+      return false;
+   }
+
+   if (!entry->dispatch(client, &req))
+      render_log("failed to dispatch client op %d", req.header.op);
+
+   /* TODO this should be triggered by SIGCHLD */
+   render_client_reap_all_records(client, false /* wait */);
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+void
+render_client_destroy(struct render_client *client)
+{
+   struct render_server *srv = client->server;
+
+   if (srv->state == RENDER_SERVER_STATE_SUBPROCESS) {
+      /* destroy all records without killing nor reaping */
+      list_splicetail(&client->context_records, &client->reap_records);
+      list_for_each_entry_safe (struct render_context_record, rec, &client->reap_records,
+                                head) {
+         render_worker_destroy(rec->worker);
+         free(rec);
+         srv->current_worker_count--;
+      }
+   } else {
+      render_client_kill_all_records(client);
+      render_client_reap_all_records(client, true /* wait */);
+
+      render_virgl_fini();
+   }
+
+   render_socket_fini(&client->socket);
+   free(client);
+}
+
+struct render_client *
+render_client_create(struct render_server *srv, int client_fd)
+{
+   struct render_client *client = calloc(1, sizeof(*client));
+
+   if (!client)
+      return NULL;
+
+   client->server = srv;
+   render_socket_init(&client->socket, client_fd);
+
+   list_inithead(&client->context_records);
+   list_inithead(&client->reap_records);
+
+   return client;
+}
diff --git a/server/render_client.h b/server/render_client.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9d9fb4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/render_client.h
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#ifndef RENDER_CLIENT_H
+#define RENDER_CLIENT_H
+
+#include "render_common.h"
+
+struct render_client {
+   struct render_server *server;
+   struct render_socket socket;
+
+   uint32_t init_flags;
+
+   struct list_head context_records;
+   struct list_head reap_records;
+};
+
+struct render_client *
+render_client_create(struct render_server *srv, int client_fd);
+
+void
+render_client_destroy(struct render_client *client);
+
+bool
+render_client_dispatch(struct render_client *client);
+
+#endif /* RENDER_CLIENT_H */
diff --git a/server/render_common.c b/server/render_common.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3498dff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/render_common.c
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#include "render_common.h"
+
+#include <stdarg.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+void
+render_log(const char *fmt, ...)
+{
+   va_list va;
+
+   va_start(va, fmt);
+
+   fprintf(stderr, "render: ");
+   vfprintf(stderr, fmt, va);
+   fprintf(stderr, "\n");
+
+   va_end(va);
+}
diff --git a/server/render_common.h b/server/render_common.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3510fa1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/render_common.h
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#ifndef RENDER_COMMON_H
+#define RENDER_COMMON_H
+
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <stddef.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+#include "util/compiler.h"
+#include "util/list.h"
+#include "util/macros.h"
+#include "util/u_pointer.h"
+
+#include "render_protocol.h"
+#include "render_socket.h"
+
+struct render_client;
+struct render_context;
+struct render_context_args;
+struct render_server;
+struct render_virgl;
+struct render_worker;
+struct render_worker_jail;
+
+void
+render_log(const char *fmt, ...);
+
+#endif /* RENDER_COMMON_H */
diff --git a/server/render_context.c b/server/render_context.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..19dd5b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/render_context.c
@@ -0,0 +1,510 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#include "render_context.h"
+
+#include <sys/mman.h>
+
+#include "util/u_thread.h"
+#include "virgl_util.h"
+#include "virglrenderer.h"
+#include "vrend_iov.h"
+
+#include "render_virgl.h"
+
+struct render_context_resource {
+   uint32_t res_id;
+   struct list_head head;
+};
+
+/* XXX we need a unique res_id to export a blob
+ *
+ * virglrenderer.h does not have the right APIs for us.  We should use vkr
+ * (and vrend, if that makes sense) directly.
+ */
+#define BLOB_RES_ID (~0u)
+
+static void
+render_context_resource_destroy(struct render_context_resource *res)
+{
+   list_del(&res->head);
+
+   virgl_renderer_resource_unref(res->res_id);
+   free(res);
+}
+
+static struct render_context_resource *
+render_context_resource_import(uint32_t res_id,
+                               enum virgl_resource_fd_type fd_type,
+                               int res_fd,
+                               uint64_t size)
+{
+   /* TODO pool alloc if resources come and go frequently */
+   struct render_context_resource *res = calloc(1, sizeof(*res));
+   if (!res)
+      return NULL;
+
+   res->res_id = res_id;
+
+   uint32_t import_fd_type;
+   switch (fd_type) {
+   case VIRGL_RESOURCE_FD_DMABUF:
+      import_fd_type = VIRGL_RENDERER_BLOB_FD_TYPE_DMABUF;
+      break;
+   case VIRGL_RESOURCE_FD_OPAQUE:
+      import_fd_type = VIRGL_RENDERER_BLOB_FD_TYPE_OPAQUE;
+      break;
+   case VIRGL_RESOURCE_FD_SHM:
+      import_fd_type = VIRGL_RENDERER_BLOB_FD_TYPE_SHM;
+      break;
+   default:
+      import_fd_type = 0;
+      break;
+   }
+   const struct virgl_renderer_resource_import_blob_args import_args = {
+      .res_handle = res->res_id,
+      .blob_mem = VIRGL_RENDERER_BLOB_MEM_HOST3D,
+      .fd_type = import_fd_type,
+      .fd = res_fd,
+      .size = size,
+   };
+
+   int ret = virgl_renderer_resource_import_blob(&import_args);
+   if (ret) {
+      free(res);
+      return NULL;
+   }
+
+   return res;
+}
+
+void
+render_context_update_timeline(struct render_context *ctx,
+                               uint32_t ring_idx,
+                               uint32_t seqno)
+{
+   /* this can be called by the context's main thread and sync threads */
+   atomic_store(&ctx->shmem_timelines[ring_idx], seqno);
+   if (ctx->fence_eventfd >= 0)
+      write_eventfd(ctx->fence_eventfd, 1);
+}
+
+static struct render_context_resource *
+render_context_find_resource(struct render_context *ctx, uint32_t res_id)
+{
+   list_for_each_entry (struct render_context_resource, res, &ctx->resources, head) {
+      if (res->res_id == res_id)
+         return res;
+   }
+
+   return NULL;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_context_init_virgl_context(struct render_context *ctx,
+                                  const struct render_context_op_init_request *req,
+                                  int shmem_fd,
+                                  int fence_eventfd)
+{
+   const int timeline_count = req->shmem_size / sizeof(*ctx->shmem_timelines);
+
+   void *shmem_ptr = mmap(NULL, req->shmem_size, PROT_WRITE, MAP_SHARED, shmem_fd, 0);
+   if (shmem_ptr == MAP_FAILED)
+      return false;
+
+   int ret = virgl_renderer_context_create_with_flags(ctx->ctx_id, req->flags,
+                                                      ctx->name_len, ctx->name);
+   if (ret) {
+      munmap(shmem_ptr, req->shmem_size);
+      return false;
+   }
+
+   ctx->shmem_fd = shmem_fd;
+   ctx->shmem_size = req->shmem_size;
+   ctx->shmem_ptr = shmem_ptr;
+   ctx->shmem_timelines = shmem_ptr;
+
+   for (int i = 0; i < timeline_count; i++)
+      atomic_store(&ctx->shmem_timelines[i], 0);
+
+   ctx->timeline_count = timeline_count;
+
+   ctx->fence_eventfd = fence_eventfd;
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_context_export_blob(struct render_context *ctx,
+                           const struct render_context_op_get_blob_request *req,
+                           enum virgl_resource_fd_type *out_fd_type,
+                           uint32_t *out_map_info,
+                           int *out_res_fd)
+{
+   const uint32_t res_id = BLOB_RES_ID;
+   const struct virgl_renderer_resource_create_blob_args blob_args = {
+      .res_handle = res_id,
+      .ctx_id = ctx->ctx_id,
+      .blob_mem = VIRGL_RENDERER_BLOB_MEM_HOST3D,
+      .blob_flags = req->blob_flags,
+      .blob_id = req->blob_id,
+      .size = req->blob_size,
+   };
+   int ret = virgl_renderer_resource_create_blob(&blob_args);
+   if (ret) {
+      render_log("failed to create blob resource");
+      return false;
+   }
+
+   uint32_t map_info;
+   virgl_renderer_resource_get_map_info(res_id, &map_info);
+
+   uint32_t fd_type;
+   int res_fd;
+   ret = virgl_renderer_resource_export_blob(res_id, &fd_type, &res_fd);
+   virgl_renderer_resource_unref(res_id);
+
+   if (ret)
+      return false;
+
+   switch (fd_type) {
+   case VIRGL_RENDERER_BLOB_FD_TYPE_DMABUF:
+      *out_fd_type = VIRGL_RESOURCE_FD_DMABUF;
+      break;
+   case VIRGL_RENDERER_BLOB_FD_TYPE_OPAQUE:
+      *out_fd_type = VIRGL_RESOURCE_FD_OPAQUE;
+      break;
+   case VIRGL_RENDERER_BLOB_FD_TYPE_SHM:
+      *out_fd_type = VIRGL_RESOURCE_FD_SHM;
+      break;
+   default:
+      *out_fd_type = 0;
+   }
+
+   *out_map_info = map_info;
+   *out_res_fd = res_fd;
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_context_dispatch_submit_fence(struct render_context *ctx,
+                                     const union render_context_op_request *req,
+                                     UNUSED const int *fds,
+                                     UNUSED int fd_count)
+{
+   /* always merge fences */
+   assert(!(req->submit_fence.flags & ~VIRGL_RENDERER_FENCE_FLAG_MERGEABLE));
+   const uint32_t flags = VIRGL_RENDERER_FENCE_FLAG_MERGEABLE;
+   const uint32_t ring_idx = req->submit_fence.ring_index;
+   const uint32_t seqno = req->submit_fence.seqno;
+
+   assert(ring_idx < (uint32_t)ctx->timeline_count);
+   int ret = virgl_renderer_context_create_fence(ctx->ctx_id, flags, ring_idx,
+                                                 uintptr_to_pointer(seqno));
+
+   return !ret;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_context_dispatch_submit_cmd(struct render_context *ctx,
+                                   const union render_context_op_request *req,
+                                   UNUSED const int *fds,
+                                   UNUSED int fd_count)
+{
+   const int ndw = req->submit_cmd.size / sizeof(uint32_t);
+   void *cmd = (void *)req->submit_cmd.cmd;
+   if (req->submit_cmd.size > sizeof(req->submit_cmd.cmd)) {
+      cmd = malloc(req->submit_cmd.size);
+      if (!cmd)
+         return true;
+
+      const size_t inlined = sizeof(req->submit_cmd.cmd);
+      const size_t remain = req->submit_cmd.size - inlined;
+
+      memcpy(cmd, req->submit_cmd.cmd, inlined);
+      if (!render_socket_receive_data(&ctx->socket, (char *)cmd + inlined, remain)) {
+         free(cmd);
+         return false;
+      }
+   }
+
+   int ret = virgl_renderer_submit_cmd(cmd, ctx->ctx_id, ndw);
+
+   if (cmd != req->submit_cmd.cmd)
+      free(cmd);
+
+   const struct render_context_op_submit_cmd_reply reply = {
+      .ok = !ret,
+   };
+   if (!render_socket_send_reply(&ctx->socket, &reply, sizeof(reply)))
+      return false;
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_context_dispatch_get_blob(struct render_context *ctx,
+                                 const union render_context_op_request *req,
+                                 UNUSED const int *fds,
+                                 UNUSED int fd_count)
+{
+   struct render_context_op_get_blob_reply reply = {
+      .fd_type = VIRGL_RESOURCE_FD_INVALID,
+   };
+   int res_fd;
+   bool ok = render_context_export_blob(ctx, &req->get_blob, &reply.fd_type,
+                                        &reply.map_info, &res_fd);
+   if (!ok)
+      return render_socket_send_reply(&ctx->socket, &reply, sizeof(reply));
+
+   ok =
+      render_socket_send_reply_with_fds(&ctx->socket, &reply, sizeof(reply), &res_fd, 1);
+   close(res_fd);
+
+   return ok;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_context_dispatch_detach_resource(struct render_context *ctx,
+                                        const union render_context_op_request *req,
+                                        UNUSED const int *fds,
+                                        UNUSED int fd_count)
+{
+   const uint32_t res_id = req->detach_resource.res_id;
+
+   struct render_context_resource *res = render_context_find_resource(ctx, res_id);
+   if (res)
+      render_context_resource_destroy(res);
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_context_dispatch_attach_resource(struct render_context *ctx,
+                                        const union render_context_op_request *req,
+                                        const int *fds,
+                                        int fd_count)
+{
+   const uint32_t res_id = req->attach_resource.res_id;
+   const enum virgl_resource_fd_type fd_type = req->attach_resource.fd_type;
+   const uint64_t size = req->attach_resource.size;
+
+   if (res_id == BLOB_RES_ID) {
+      render_log("XXX res_id is %u, which is reserved for blob export", res_id);
+      return false;
+   }
+   if (fd_type == VIRGL_RESOURCE_FD_INVALID || !size || fd_count != 1) {
+      render_log("failed to attach invalid resource %d", res_id);
+      return false;
+   }
+
+   struct render_context_resource *res =
+      render_context_resource_import(res_id, fd_type, fds[0], size);
+   if (!res) {
+      render_log("failed to import resource %d", res_id);
+      return false;
+   }
+
+   list_addtail(&res->head, &ctx->resources);
+   virgl_renderer_ctx_attach_resource(ctx->ctx_id, res_id);
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_context_dispatch_init(struct render_context *ctx,
+                             const union render_context_op_request *req,
+                             const int *fds,
+                             int fd_count)
+{
+   if (fd_count != 1 && fd_count != 2)
+      return false;
+
+   const int shmem_fd = fds[0];
+   const int fence_eventfd = fd_count == 2 ? fds[1] : -1;
+   return render_context_init_virgl_context(ctx, &req->init, shmem_fd, fence_eventfd);
+}
+
+static bool
+render_context_dispatch_nop(UNUSED struct render_context *ctx,
+                            UNUSED const union render_context_op_request *req,
+                            UNUSED const int *fds,
+                            UNUSED int fd_count)
+{
+   return true;
+}
+
+struct render_context_dispatch_entry {
+   size_t expect_size;
+   int max_fd_count;
+   bool (*dispatch)(struct render_context *ctx,
+                    const union render_context_op_request *req,
+                    const int *fds,
+                    int fd_count);
+};
+
+static const struct render_context_dispatch_entry
+   render_context_dispatch_table[RENDER_CONTEXT_OP_COUNT] = {
+#define RENDER_CONTEXT_DISPATCH(NAME, name, max_fd)                                      \
+   [RENDER_CONTEXT_OP_##                                                                 \
+      NAME] = { .expect_size = sizeof(struct render_context_op_##name##_request),        \
+                .max_fd_count = (max_fd),                                                \
+                .dispatch = render_context_dispatch_##name }
+      RENDER_CONTEXT_DISPATCH(NOP, nop, 0),
+      RENDER_CONTEXT_DISPATCH(INIT, init, 2),
+      RENDER_CONTEXT_DISPATCH(ATTACH_RESOURCE, attach_resource, 1),
+      RENDER_CONTEXT_DISPATCH(DETACH_RESOURCE, detach_resource, 0),
+      RENDER_CONTEXT_DISPATCH(GET_BLOB, get_blob, 0),
+      RENDER_CONTEXT_DISPATCH(SUBMIT_CMD, submit_cmd, 0),
+      RENDER_CONTEXT_DISPATCH(SUBMIT_FENCE, submit_fence, 0),
+#undef RENDER_CONTEXT_DISPATCH
+   };
+
+static bool
+render_context_dispatch(struct render_context *ctx)
+{
+   union render_context_op_request req;
+   size_t req_size;
+   int req_fds[8];
+   int req_fd_count;
+   if (!render_socket_receive_request_with_fds(&ctx->socket, &req, sizeof(req), &req_size,
+                                               req_fds, ARRAY_SIZE(req_fds),
+                                               &req_fd_count))
+      return false;
+
+   assert((unsigned int)req_fd_count <= ARRAY_SIZE(req_fds));
+
+   if (req.header.op >= RENDER_CONTEXT_OP_COUNT) {
+      render_log("invalid context op %d", req.header.op);
+      goto fail;
+   }
+
+   const struct render_context_dispatch_entry *entry =
+      &render_context_dispatch_table[req.header.op];
+   if (entry->expect_size != req_size || entry->max_fd_count < req_fd_count) {
+      render_log("invalid request size (%zu) or fd count (%d) for context op %d",
+                 req_size, req_fd_count, req.header.op);
+      goto fail;
+   }
+
+   render_virgl_lock_dispatch();
+   const bool ok = entry->dispatch(ctx, &req, req_fds, req_fd_count);
+   render_virgl_unlock_dispatch();
+   if (!ok) {
+      render_log("failed to dispatch context op %d", req.header.op);
+      goto fail;
+   }
+
+   return true;
+
+fail:
+   for (int i = 0; i < req_fd_count; i++)
+      close(req_fds[i]);
+   return false;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_context_run(struct render_context *ctx)
+{
+   while (true) {
+      if (!render_context_dispatch(ctx))
+         return false;
+   }
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+static void
+render_context_fini(struct render_context *ctx)
+{
+   render_virgl_lock_dispatch();
+
+   /* destroy the context first to join its sync threads and ring threads */
+   virgl_renderer_context_destroy(ctx->ctx_id);
+
+   list_for_each_entry_safe (struct render_context_resource, res, &ctx->resources, head)
+      render_context_resource_destroy(res);
+
+   render_virgl_unlock_dispatch();
+
+   render_virgl_remove_context(ctx);
+
+   if (ctx->shmem_ptr)
+      munmap(ctx->shmem_ptr, ctx->shmem_size);
+   if (ctx->shmem_fd >= 0)
+      close(ctx->shmem_fd);
+
+   if (ctx->fence_eventfd >= 0)
+      close(ctx->fence_eventfd);
+
+   if (ctx->name)
+      free(ctx->name);
+
+   render_socket_fini(&ctx->socket);
+}
+
+static bool
+render_context_init_name(struct render_context *ctx,
+                         uint32_t ctx_id,
+                         const char *ctx_name)
+{
+   const size_t name_size = strlen(ctx_name) + 16;
+   ctx->name = malloc(name_size);
+   if (!ctx->name)
+      return false;
+
+   ctx->name_len = snprintf(ctx->name, name_size, "virgl-%d-%s", ctx_id, ctx_name);
+   if (ctx->name_len >= name_size)
+      ctx->name_len = name_size - 1;
+
+   u_thread_setname(ctx->name);
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_context_init(struct render_context *ctx, const struct render_context_args *args)
+{
+   memset(ctx, 0, sizeof(*ctx));
+   ctx->ctx_id = args->ctx_id;
+   render_socket_init(&ctx->socket, args->ctx_fd);
+   list_inithead(&ctx->resources);
+   ctx->shmem_fd = -1;
+   ctx->fence_eventfd = -1;
+
+   if (!render_context_init_name(ctx, args->ctx_id, args->ctx_name))
+      return false;
+
+   render_virgl_add_context(ctx);
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+bool
+render_context_main(const struct render_context_args *args)
+{
+   struct render_context ctx;
+
+   assert(args->valid && args->ctx_id && args->ctx_fd >= 0);
+
+   if (!render_virgl_init(args->init_flags)) {
+      close(args->ctx_fd);
+      return false;
+   }
+
+   if (!render_context_init(&ctx, args)) {
+      render_virgl_fini();
+      close(args->ctx_fd);
+      return false;
+   }
+
+   const bool ok = render_context_run(&ctx);
+   render_context_fini(&ctx);
+
+   render_virgl_fini();
+
+   return ok;
+}
diff --git a/server/render_context.h b/server/render_context.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ffe0d20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/render_context.h
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#ifndef RENDER_CONTEXT_H
+#define RENDER_CONTEXT_H
+
+#include "render_common.h"
+
+#include <stdatomic.h>
+
+struct render_context {
+   uint32_t ctx_id;
+   struct render_socket socket;
+   struct list_head head;
+
+   char *name;
+   size_t name_len;
+
+   struct list_head resources;
+
+   int shmem_fd;
+   size_t shmem_size;
+   void *shmem_ptr;
+   atomic_uint *shmem_timelines;
+
+   int timeline_count;
+
+   /* optional */
+   int fence_eventfd;
+};
+
+struct render_context_args {
+   bool valid;
+
+   uint32_t init_flags;
+
+   uint32_t ctx_id;
+   char ctx_name[32];
+
+   /* render_context_main always takes ownership even on errors */
+   int ctx_fd;
+};
+
+bool
+render_context_main(const struct render_context_args *args);
+
+void
+render_context_update_timeline(struct render_context *ctx,
+                               uint32_t ring_idx,
+                               uint32_t val);
+
+#endif /* RENDER_CONTEXT_H */
diff --git a/server/render_protocol.h b/server/render_protocol.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..822523d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/render_protocol.h
@@ -0,0 +1,218 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#ifndef RENDER_PROTOCOL_H
+#define RENDER_PROTOCOL_H
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+#include "virgl_resource.h"
+#include "virglrenderer.h"
+#include "virglrenderer_hw.h"
+
+/* this covers the command line options and the socket type */
+#define RENDER_SERVER_VERSION 0
+
+/* The protocol itself is internal to virglrenderer.  There is no backward
+ * compatibility to be kept.
+ */
+
+/* client ops, which are handled by the server process */
+enum render_client_op {
+   RENDER_CLIENT_OP_NOP = 0,
+   RENDER_CLIENT_OP_INIT,
+   RENDER_CLIENT_OP_RESET,
+   RENDER_CLIENT_OP_CREATE_CONTEXT,
+   RENDER_CLIENT_OP_DESTROY_CONTEXT,
+
+   RENDER_CLIENT_OP_COUNT,
+};
+
+/* context ops, which are handled by workers (subprocesses or threads) created
+ * by the server process
+ */
+enum render_context_op {
+   RENDER_CONTEXT_OP_NOP = 0,
+   RENDER_CONTEXT_OP_INIT,
+   RENDER_CONTEXT_OP_ATTACH_RESOURCE,
+   RENDER_CONTEXT_OP_DETACH_RESOURCE,
+   RENDER_CONTEXT_OP_GET_BLOB,
+   RENDER_CONTEXT_OP_SUBMIT_CMD,
+   RENDER_CONTEXT_OP_SUBMIT_FENCE,
+
+   RENDER_CONTEXT_OP_COUNT,
+};
+
+struct render_client_op_header {
+   enum render_client_op op;
+};
+
+struct render_client_op_nop_request {
+   struct render_client_op_header header;
+};
+
+/* Initialize virglrenderer.
+ *
+ * This roughly corresponds to virgl_renderer_init.
+ */
+struct render_client_op_init_request {
+   struct render_client_op_header header;
+   uint32_t flags; /* VIRGL_RENDERER_USE_* and others */
+};
+
+/* Remove all contexts.
+ *
+ * This roughly corresponds to virgl_renderer_reset.
+ */
+struct render_client_op_reset_request {
+   struct render_client_op_header header;
+};
+
+/* Create a context, which will be serviced by a worker.
+ *
+ * See also the comment before main() for the process model.
+ *
+ * This roughly corresponds to virgl_renderer_context_create_with_flags.
+ */
+struct render_client_op_create_context_request {
+   struct render_client_op_header header;
+   uint32_t ctx_id;
+   char ctx_name[32];
+};
+
+struct render_client_op_create_context_reply {
+   bool ok;
+   /* followed by 1 socket fd if ok */
+};
+
+/* Destroy a context, including the worker.
+ *
+ * This roughly corresponds to virgl_renderer_context_destroy.
+ */
+struct render_client_op_destroy_context_request {
+   struct render_client_op_header header;
+   uint32_t ctx_id;
+};
+
+union render_client_op_request {
+   struct render_client_op_header header;
+   struct render_client_op_nop_request nop;
+   struct render_client_op_init_request init;
+   struct render_client_op_reset_request reset;
+   struct render_client_op_create_context_request create_context;
+   struct render_client_op_destroy_context_request destroy_context;
+};
+
+struct render_context_op_header {
+   enum render_context_op op;
+};
+
+struct render_context_op_nop_request {
+   struct render_context_op_header header;
+};
+
+/* Initialize the context.
+ *
+ * The shmem is required and currently holds an array of atomic_uint.  Each
+ * atomic_uint represents the current sequence number of a ring (as defined by
+ * the virtio-gpu spec).
+ *
+ * The eventfd is optional.  When given, it will be written to when there are
+ * changes to any of the sequence numbers.
+ *
+ * This roughly corresponds to virgl_renderer_context_create_with_flags.
+ */
+struct render_context_op_init_request {
+   struct render_context_op_header header;
+   uint32_t flags; /* VIRGL_RENDERER_CONTEXT_FLAG_*/
+   size_t shmem_size;
+   /* followed by 1 shmem fd and optionally 1 eventfd */
+};
+
+/* Attach a resource to the context.
+ *
+ * This roughly corresponds to virgl_renderer_ctx_attach_resource.
+ */
+struct render_context_op_attach_resource_request {
+   struct render_context_op_header header;
+   uint32_t res_id;
+   enum virgl_resource_fd_type fd_type;
+   uint64_t size;
+   /* followed by 1 fd */
+};
+
+/* Detach a resource from the context.
+ *
+ * This roughly corresponds to virgl_renderer_ctx_detach_resource.
+ */
+struct render_context_op_detach_resource_request {
+   struct render_context_op_header header;
+   uint32_t res_id;
+};
+
+/* Export a blob from the context.
+ *
+ * This roughly corresponds to virgl_renderer_resource_create_blob.
+ */
+struct render_context_op_get_blob_request {
+   struct render_context_op_header header;
+   uint64_t blob_id;
+   uint64_t blob_size;
+   uint32_t blob_flags; /* VIRGL_RENDERER_BLOB_FLAG_* */
+};
+
+struct render_context_op_get_blob_reply {
+   enum virgl_resource_fd_type fd_type;
+   uint32_t map_info; /* VIRGL_RENDERER_MAP_* */
+   /* followed by 1 fd if not VIRGL_RESOURCE_FD_INVALID */
+};
+
+/* Submit a small command stream to the context.
+ *
+ * The size limit depends on the socket type.  Currently, SOCK_SEQPACKET is
+ * used and the size limit is best treated as one page.
+ *
+ * This roughly corresponds to virgl_renderer_submit_cmd.
+ */
+struct render_context_op_submit_cmd_request {
+   struct render_context_op_header header;
+   size_t size;
+   char cmd[256];
+   /* if size > sizeof(cmd), followed by (size - sizeof(cmd)) bytes in another
+    * message; size still must be small
+    */
+};
+
+struct render_context_op_submit_cmd_reply {
+   bool ok;
+};
+
+/* Submit a fence to the context.
+ *
+ * This submits a fence to the specified ring.  When the fence signals, the
+ * current sequence number of the ring in the shmem is updated.
+ *
+ * This roughly corresponds to virgl_renderer_context_create_fence.
+ */
+struct render_context_op_submit_fence_request {
+   struct render_context_op_header header;
+   uint32_t flags; /* VIRGL_RENDERER_FENCE_FLAG_* */
+   /* TODO fix virgl_renderer_context_create_fence to use ring_index */
+   uint32_t ring_index;
+   uint32_t seqno;
+};
+
+union render_context_op_request {
+   struct render_context_op_header header;
+   struct render_context_op_nop_request nop;
+   struct render_context_op_init_request init;
+   struct render_context_op_attach_resource_request attach_resource;
+   struct render_context_op_detach_resource_request detach_resource;
+   struct render_context_op_get_blob_request get_blob;
+   struct render_context_op_submit_cmd_request submit_cmd;
+   struct render_context_op_submit_fence_request submit_fence;
+};
+
+#endif /* RENDER_PROTOCOL_H */
diff --git a/server/render_server.c b/server/render_server.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b38df26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/render_server.c
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#include "render_server.h"
+
+#include <getopt.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+#include "render_client.h"
+#include "render_worker.h"
+
+#define RENDER_SERVER_MAX_WORKER_COUNT 256
+
+static bool
+render_server_run(struct render_server *srv)
+{
+   while (srv->state == RENDER_SERVER_STATE_RUN) {
+      /* TODO handle SIGCHLD */
+      struct render_client *client = srv->client;
+      if (!render_client_dispatch(client))
+         return false;
+   }
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+static void
+render_server_fini(struct render_server *srv)
+{
+   if (srv->client)
+      render_client_destroy(srv->client);
+   assert(srv->current_worker_count == 0);
+
+   if (srv->worker_jail)
+      render_worker_jail_destroy(srv->worker_jail);
+
+   if (srv->client_fd >= 0)
+      close(srv->client_fd);
+}
+
+static bool
+render_server_parse_options(struct render_server *srv, int argc, char **argv)
+{
+   enum {
+      OPT_SOCKET_FD = 'a',
+      OPT_WORKER_SECCOMP_BPF,
+      OPT_WORKER_SECCOMP_MINIJAIL_POLICY,
+      OPT_WORKER_SECCOMP_MINIJAIL_LOG,
+      OPT_COUNT,
+   };
+   static const struct option options[] = {
+      { "socket-fd", required_argument, NULL, OPT_SOCKET_FD },
+      { "worker-seccomp-bpf", required_argument, NULL, OPT_WORKER_SECCOMP_BPF },
+      { "worker-seccomp-minijail-policy", required_argument, NULL,
+        OPT_WORKER_SECCOMP_MINIJAIL_POLICY },
+      { "worker-seccomp-minijail-log", no_argument, NULL,
+        OPT_WORKER_SECCOMP_MINIJAIL_LOG },
+      { NULL, 0, NULL, 0 }
+   };
+   static_assert(OPT_COUNT <= 'z', "");
+
+   while (true) {
+      const int ret = getopt_long(argc, argv, "", options, NULL);
+      if (ret == -1)
+         break;
+
+      switch (ret) {
+      case OPT_SOCKET_FD:
+         srv->client_fd = atoi(optarg);
+         break;
+      case OPT_WORKER_SECCOMP_BPF:
+         srv->worker_seccomp_bpf = optarg;
+         break;
+      case OPT_WORKER_SECCOMP_MINIJAIL_POLICY:
+         srv->worker_seccomp_minijail_policy = optarg;
+         break;
+      case OPT_WORKER_SECCOMP_MINIJAIL_LOG:
+         srv->worker_seccomp_minijail_log = true;
+         break;
+      default:
+         render_log("unknown option specified");
+         return false;
+         break;
+      }
+   }
+
+   if (optind < argc) {
+      render_log("non-option arguments specified");
+      return false;
+   }
+
+   if (srv->client_fd < 0 || !render_socket_is_seqpacket(srv->client_fd)) {
+      render_log("no valid client fd specified");
+      return false;
+   }
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_server_init(struct render_server *srv,
+                   int argc,
+                   char **argv,
+                   struct render_context_args *ctx_args)
+{
+   memset(srv, 0, sizeof(*srv));
+   srv->state = RENDER_SERVER_STATE_RUN;
+   srv->context_args = ctx_args;
+   srv->client_fd = -1;
+   srv->max_worker_count = RENDER_SERVER_MAX_WORKER_COUNT;
+
+   if (!render_server_parse_options(srv, argc, argv))
+      return false;
+
+   enum render_worker_jail_seccomp_filter seccomp_filter =
+      RENDER_WORKER_JAIL_SECCOMP_NONE;
+   const char *seccomp_path = NULL;
+   if (srv->worker_seccomp_minijail_log && srv->worker_seccomp_minijail_policy) {
+      seccomp_filter = RENDER_WORKER_JAIL_SECCOMP_MINIJAIL_POLICY_LOG;
+      seccomp_path = srv->worker_seccomp_minijail_policy;
+   } else if (srv->worker_seccomp_bpf) {
+      seccomp_filter = RENDER_WORKER_JAIL_SECCOMP_BPF;
+      seccomp_path = srv->worker_seccomp_bpf;
+   } else if (srv->worker_seccomp_minijail_policy) {
+      seccomp_filter = RENDER_WORKER_JAIL_SECCOMP_MINIJAIL_POLICY;
+      seccomp_path = srv->worker_seccomp_minijail_policy;
+   }
+
+   srv->worker_jail = render_worker_jail_create(seccomp_filter, seccomp_path);
+   if (!srv->worker_jail) {
+      render_log("failed to create worker jail");
+      goto fail;
+   }
+
+   srv->client = render_client_create(srv, srv->client_fd);
+   if (!srv->client) {
+      render_log("failed to create client");
+      goto fail;
+   }
+   /* ownership transferred */
+   srv->client_fd = -1;
+
+   return true;
+
+fail:
+   render_server_fini(srv);
+   return false;
+}
+
+bool
+render_server_main(int argc, char **argv, struct render_context_args *ctx_args)
+{
+   struct render_server srv;
+   if (!render_server_init(&srv, argc, argv, ctx_args))
+      return false;
+
+   const bool ok = render_server_run(&srv);
+   render_server_fini(&srv);
+
+   return ok;
+}
diff --git a/server/render_server.h b/server/render_server.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ec74c0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/render_server.h
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#ifndef RENDER_SERVER_H
+#define RENDER_SERVER_H
+
+#include "render_common.h"
+
+enum render_server_state {
+   RENDER_SERVER_STATE_RUN,
+   RENDER_SERVER_STATE_SUBPROCESS,
+};
+
+struct render_server {
+   enum render_server_state state;
+
+   /* only initialized in subprocesses */
+   struct render_context_args *context_args;
+
+   /* options */
+   int client_fd;
+   const char *worker_seccomp_bpf;
+   const char *worker_seccomp_minijail_policy;
+   bool worker_seccomp_minijail_log;
+
+   struct render_worker_jail *worker_jail;
+   int max_worker_count;
+   int current_worker_count;
+
+   /* only one client in the current design */
+   struct render_client *client;
+};
+
+bool
+render_server_main(int argc, char **argv, struct render_context_args *ctx_args);
+
+#endif /* RENDER_SERVER_H */
diff --git a/server/render_socket.c b/server/render_socket.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..58edcf4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/render_socket.c
@@ -0,0 +1,262 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#include "render_socket.h"
+
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <sys/socket.h>
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+#define RENDER_SOCKET_MAX_FD_COUNT 8
+
+/* The socket pair between the server process and the client process is set up
+ * by the client process (or yet another process).  Because render_server_run
+ * does not poll yet, the fd is expected to be blocking.
+ *
+ * We also expect the fd to be always valid.  If the client process dies, the
+ * fd becomes invalid and is considered a fatal error.
+ *
+ * There is also a socket pair between each context worker and the client
+ * process.  The pair is set up by render_socket_pair here.
+ *
+ * The fd is also expected to be blocking.  When the client process closes its
+ * end of the socket pair, the context worker terminates.
+ */
+bool
+render_socket_pair(int out_fds[static 2])
+{
+   int ret = socketpair(AF_UNIX, SOCK_SEQPACKET | SOCK_CLOEXEC, 0, out_fds);
+   if (ret) {
+      render_log("failed to create socket pair");
+      return false;
+   }
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+bool
+render_socket_is_seqpacket(int fd)
+{
+   int type;
+   socklen_t len = sizeof(type);
+   if (getsockopt(fd, SOL_SOCKET, SO_TYPE, &type, &len))
+      return false;
+   return type == SOCK_SEQPACKET;
+}
+
+void
+render_socket_init(struct render_socket *socket, int fd)
+{
+   assert(fd >= 0);
+   *socket = (struct render_socket){
+      .fd = fd,
+   };
+}
+
+void
+render_socket_fini(struct render_socket *socket)
+{
+   close(socket->fd);
+}
+
+static const int *
+get_received_fds(const struct msghdr *msg, int *out_count)
+{
+   const struct cmsghdr *cmsg = CMSG_FIRSTHDR(msg);
+   if (unlikely(!cmsg || cmsg->cmsg_level != SOL_SOCKET ||
+                cmsg->cmsg_type != SCM_RIGHTS || cmsg->cmsg_len < CMSG_LEN(0))) {
+      *out_count = 0;
+      return NULL;
+   }
+
+   *out_count = (cmsg->cmsg_len - CMSG_LEN(0)) / sizeof(int);
+   return (const int *)CMSG_DATA(cmsg);
+}
+
+static bool
+render_socket_recvmsg(struct render_socket *socket, struct msghdr *msg, size_t *out_size)
+{
+   do {
+      const ssize_t s = recvmsg(socket->fd, msg, MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC);
+      if (unlikely(s <= 0)) {
+         if (!s)
+            return false;
+
+         if (errno == EAGAIN || errno == EINTR)
+            continue;
+
+         render_log("failed to receive message: %s", strerror(errno));
+         return false;
+      }
+
+      if (unlikely(msg->msg_flags & (MSG_TRUNC | MSG_CTRUNC))) {
+         render_log("failed to receive message: truncated");
+
+         int fd_count;
+         const int *fds = get_received_fds(msg, &fd_count);
+         for (int i = 0; i < fd_count; i++)
+            close(fds[i]);
+
+         return false;
+      }
+
+      *out_size = s;
+      return true;
+   } while (true);
+}
+
+static bool
+render_socket_receive_request_internal(struct render_socket *socket,
+                                       void *data,
+                                       size_t max_size,
+                                       size_t *out_size,
+                                       int *fds,
+                                       int max_fd_count,
+                                       int *out_fd_count)
+{
+   assert(data && max_size);
+   struct msghdr msg = {
+      .msg_iov =
+         &(struct iovec){
+            .iov_base = data,
+            .iov_len = max_size,
+         },
+      .msg_iovlen = 1,
+   };
+
+   char cmsg_buf[CMSG_SPACE(sizeof(*fds) * RENDER_SOCKET_MAX_FD_COUNT)];
+   if (max_fd_count) {
+      assert(fds && max_fd_count <= RENDER_SOCKET_MAX_FD_COUNT);
+      msg.msg_control = cmsg_buf;
+      msg.msg_controllen = CMSG_SPACE(sizeof(*fds) * max_fd_count);
+
+      struct cmsghdr *cmsg = CMSG_FIRSTHDR(&msg);
+      memset(cmsg, 0, sizeof(*cmsg));
+   }
+
+   if (!render_socket_recvmsg(socket, &msg, out_size))
+      return false;
+
+   if (max_fd_count) {
+      int received_fd_count;
+      const int *received_fds = get_received_fds(&msg, &received_fd_count);
+      assert(received_fd_count <= max_fd_count);
+
+      memcpy(fds, received_fds, sizeof(*fds) * received_fd_count);
+      *out_fd_count = received_fd_count;
+   } else if (out_fd_count) {
+      *out_fd_count = 0;
+   }
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+bool
+render_socket_receive_request(struct render_socket *socket,
+                              void *data,
+                              size_t max_size,
+                              size_t *out_size)
+{
+   return render_socket_receive_request_internal(socket, data, max_size, out_size, NULL,
+                                                 0, NULL);
+}
+
+bool
+render_socket_receive_request_with_fds(struct render_socket *socket,
+                                       void *data,
+                                       size_t max_size,
+                                       size_t *out_size,
+                                       int *fds,
+                                       int max_fd_count,
+                                       int *out_fd_count)
+{
+   return render_socket_receive_request_internal(socket, data, max_size, out_size, fds,
+                                                 max_fd_count, out_fd_count);
+}
+
+bool
+render_socket_receive_data(struct render_socket *socket, void *data, size_t size)
+{
+   size_t received_size;
+   if (!render_socket_receive_request(socket, data, size, &received_size))
+      return false;
+
+   if (size != received_size) {
+      render_log("failed to receive data: expected %zu but received %zu", size,
+                 received_size);
+      return false;
+   }
+
+   return true;
+}
+
+static bool
+render_socket_sendmsg(struct render_socket *socket, const struct msghdr *msg)
+{
+   do {
+      const ssize_t s = sendmsg(socket->fd, msg, MSG_NOSIGNAL);
+      if (unlikely(s < 0)) {
+         if (errno == EAGAIN || errno == EINTR)
+            continue;
+
+         render_log("failed to send message: %s", strerror(errno));
+         return false;
+      }
+
+      /* no partial send since the socket type is SOCK_SEQPACKET */
+      assert(msg->msg_iovlen == 1 && msg->msg_iov[0].iov_len == (size_t)s);
+      return true;
+   } while (true);
+}
+
+static inline bool
+render_socket_send_reply_internal(struct render_socket *socket,
+                                  const void *data,
+                                  size_t size,
+                                  const int *fds,
+                                  int fd_count)
+{
+   assert(data && size);
+   struct msghdr msg = {
+      .msg_iov =
+         &(struct iovec){
+            .iov_base = (void *)data,
+            .iov_len = size,
+         },
+      .msg_iovlen = 1,
+   };
+
+   char cmsg_buf[CMSG_SPACE(sizeof(*fds) * RENDER_SOCKET_MAX_FD_COUNT)];
+   if (fd_count) {
+      assert(fds && fd_count <= RENDER_SOCKET_MAX_FD_COUNT);
+      msg.msg_control = cmsg_buf;
+      msg.msg_controllen = CMSG_SPACE(sizeof(*fds) * fd_count);
+
+      struct cmsghdr *cmsg = CMSG_FIRSTHDR(&msg);
+      cmsg->cmsg_level = SOL_SOCKET;
+      cmsg->cmsg_type = SCM_RIGHTS;
+      cmsg->cmsg_len = CMSG_LEN(sizeof(*fds) * fd_count);
+      memcpy(CMSG_DATA(cmsg), fds, sizeof(*fds) * fd_count);
+   }
+
+   return render_socket_sendmsg(socket, &msg);
+}
+
+bool
+render_socket_send_reply(struct render_socket *socket, const void *data, size_t size)
+{
+   return render_socket_send_reply_internal(socket, data, size, NULL, 0);
+}
+
+bool
+render_socket_send_reply_with_fds(struct render_socket *socket,
+                                  const void *data,
+                                  size_t size,
+                                  const int *fds,
+                                  int fd_count)
+{
+   return render_socket_send_reply_internal(socket, data, size, fds, fd_count);
+}
diff --git a/server/render_socket.h b/server/render_socket.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ead1f8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/render_socket.h
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#ifndef RENDER_SOCKET_H
+#define RENDER_SOCKET_H
+
+#include "render_common.h"
+
+struct render_socket {
+   int fd;
+};
+
+bool
+render_socket_pair(int out_fds[static 2]);
+
+bool
+render_socket_is_seqpacket(int fd);
+
+void
+render_socket_init(struct render_socket *socket, int fd);
+
+void
+render_socket_fini(struct render_socket *socket);
+
+bool
+render_socket_receive_request(struct render_socket *socket,
+                              void *data,
+                              size_t max_size,
+                              size_t *out_size);
+
+bool
+render_socket_receive_request_with_fds(struct render_socket *socket,
+                                       void *data,
+                                       size_t max_size,
+                                       size_t *out_size,
+                                       int *fds,
+                                       int max_fd_count,
+                                       int *out_fd_count);
+
+bool
+render_socket_receive_data(struct render_socket *socket, void *data, size_t size);
+
+bool
+render_socket_send_reply(struct render_socket *socket, const void *data, size_t size);
+
+bool
+render_socket_send_reply_with_fds(struct render_socket *socket,
+                                  const void *data,
+                                  size_t size,
+                                  const int *fds,
+                                  int fd_count);
+
+#endif /* RENDER_SOCKET_H */
diff --git a/server/render_virgl.c b/server/render_virgl.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b83caba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/render_virgl.c
@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#include "render_virgl.h"
+
+#include "virglrenderer.h"
+
+#include "render_context.h"
+
+struct render_virgl render_virgl_internal = {
+#ifdef ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD
+   .struct_mutex = _MTX_INITIALIZER_NP,
+   .dispatch_mutex = _MTX_INITIALIZER_NP,
+#endif
+   .init_count = 0,
+};
+
+static struct render_virgl *
+render_virgl_lock_struct(void)
+{
+#ifdef ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD
+   mtx_lock(&render_virgl_internal.struct_mutex);
+#endif
+   return &render_virgl_internal;
+}
+
+static void
+render_virgl_unlock_struct(void)
+{
+#ifdef ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD
+   mtx_unlock(&render_virgl_internal.struct_mutex);
+#endif
+}
+
+static struct render_context *
+render_virgl_lookup_context(uint32_t ctx_id)
+{
+   const struct render_virgl *virgl = render_virgl_lock_struct();
+   struct render_context *ctx = NULL;
+
+#ifdef ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD
+   list_for_each_entry (struct render_context, iter, &virgl->contexts, head) {
+      if (iter->ctx_id == ctx_id) {
+         ctx = iter;
+         break;
+      }
+   }
+#else
+   assert(list_is_singular(&virgl->contexts));
+   ctx = list_first_entry(&virgl->contexts, struct render_context, head);
+   assert(ctx->ctx_id == ctx_id);
+   (void)ctx_id;
+#endif
+
+   render_virgl_unlock_struct();
+
+   return ctx;
+}
+
+static void
+render_virgl_cb_write_context_fence(UNUSED void *cookie,
+                                    uint32_t ctx_id,
+                                    uint64_t queue_id,
+                                    void *fence_cookie)
+{
+   struct render_context *ctx = render_virgl_lookup_context(ctx_id);
+   assert(ctx);
+
+   const uint32_t ring_idx = queue_id;
+   const uint32_t seqno = (uint32_t)pointer_to_uintptr(fence_cookie);
+   render_context_update_timeline(ctx, ring_idx, seqno);
+}
+
+static const struct virgl_renderer_callbacks render_virgl_cbs = {
+   .version = VIRGL_RENDERER_CALLBACKS_VERSION,
+   .write_context_fence = render_virgl_cb_write_context_fence,
+};
+
+void
+render_virgl_add_context(struct render_context *ctx)
+{
+   struct render_virgl *virgl = render_virgl_lock_struct();
+   list_addtail(&ctx->head, &virgl->contexts);
+   render_virgl_unlock_struct();
+}
+
+void
+render_virgl_remove_context(struct render_context *ctx)
+{
+   render_virgl_lock_struct();
+   list_del(&ctx->head);
+   render_virgl_unlock_struct();
+}
+
+void
+render_virgl_fini(void)
+{
+   struct render_virgl *virgl = render_virgl_lock_struct();
+
+   if (virgl->init_count) {
+      virgl->init_count--;
+      if (!virgl->init_count) {
+         render_virgl_lock_dispatch();
+         virgl_renderer_cleanup(virgl);
+         render_virgl_unlock_dispatch();
+      }
+   }
+
+   render_virgl_unlock_struct();
+}
+
+bool
+render_virgl_init(uint32_t init_flags)
+{
+   /* we only care if virgl and/or venus are enabled */
+   init_flags &= VIRGL_RENDERER_VENUS | VIRGL_RENDERER_NO_VIRGL;
+
+   /* always use sync thread and async fence cb for low latency */
+   init_flags |= VIRGL_RENDERER_THREAD_SYNC | VIRGL_RENDERER_ASYNC_FENCE_CB |
+                 VIRGL_RENDERER_USE_EXTERNAL_BLOB;
+
+   struct render_virgl *virgl = render_virgl_lock_struct();
+
+   if (virgl->init_count) {
+      if (virgl->init_flags != init_flags) {
+         render_log("failed to re-initialize with flags 0x%x", init_flags);
+         goto fail;
+      }
+   } else {
+      render_virgl_lock_dispatch();
+      int ret = virgl_renderer_init(virgl, init_flags,
+                                    (struct virgl_renderer_callbacks *)&render_virgl_cbs);
+      render_virgl_unlock_dispatch();
+      if (ret) {
+         render_log("failed to initialize virglrenderer");
+         goto fail;
+      }
+
+      list_inithead(&virgl->contexts);
+      virgl->init_flags = init_flags;
+   }
+
+   virgl->init_count++;
+
+   render_virgl_unlock_struct();
+
+   return true;
+
+fail:
+   render_virgl_unlock_struct();
+   return false;
+}
diff --git a/server/render_virgl.h b/server/render_virgl.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cb362f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/render_virgl.h
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#ifndef RENDER_VIRGL_H
+#define RENDER_VIRGL_H
+
+#include "render_common.h"
+
+#ifdef ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD
+#include "c11/threads.h"
+#endif
+
+/* Workers call into virglrenderer.  When they are processes, not much care is
+ * required.  We just want to be careful that the server process might have
+ * initialized viglrenderer before workers are forked.
+ *
+ * But when workers are threads, we need to grab a lock to protect
+ * virglrenderer.
+ *
+ * TODO skip virglrenderer.h and go straight to vkr_renderer.h.  That allows
+ * us to remove this file.
+ */
+struct render_virgl {
+#ifdef ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD
+   /* this protects the struct */
+   mtx_t struct_mutex;
+   /* this protects virglrenderer */
+   mtx_t dispatch_mutex;
+#endif
+
+   /* for nested initialization */
+   int init_count;
+   uint32_t init_flags;
+
+   struct list_head contexts;
+};
+
+extern struct render_virgl render_virgl_internal;
+
+bool
+render_virgl_init(uint32_t init_flags);
+
+void
+render_virgl_fini(void);
+
+void
+render_virgl_add_context(struct render_context *ctx);
+
+void
+render_virgl_remove_context(struct render_context *ctx);
+
+static inline void
+render_virgl_lock_dispatch(void)
+{
+#ifdef ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD
+   mtx_lock(&render_virgl_internal.dispatch_mutex);
+#endif
+}
+
+static inline void
+render_virgl_unlock_dispatch(void)
+{
+#ifdef ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD
+   mtx_unlock(&render_virgl_internal.dispatch_mutex);
+#endif
+}
+
+#endif /* RENDER_VIRGL_H */
diff --git a/server/render_worker.c b/server/render_worker.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f74bd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/render_worker.c
@@ -0,0 +1,254 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#include "render_worker.h"
+
+/* One and only one of ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_* must be set.
+ *
+ * With ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_PROCESS, each worker is a subprocess
+ * forked from the server process.
+ *
+ * With ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD, each worker is a thread of the
+ * server process.
+ *
+ * With ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_MINIJAIL, each worker is a subprocess
+ * forked from the server process, jailed with minijail.
+ */
+#if (ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_PROCESS + ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD +          \
+     ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_MINIJAIL) != 1
+#error "no worker defined"
+#endif
+
+#include <fcntl.h>
+#include <signal.h>
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <sys/wait.h>
+#include <threads.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+struct render_worker {
+#ifdef ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD
+   thrd_t thread;
+#else
+   pid_t pid;
+#endif
+   bool reaped;
+
+   char thread_data[];
+};
+
+#ifdef ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_MINIJAIL
+
+#include <fcntl.h>
+#include <libminijail.h>
+#include <linux/filter.h>
+#include <linux/seccomp.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+
+static bool
+load_bpf_program(struct sock_fprog *prog, const char *path)
+{
+   int fd = -1;
+   void *data = NULL;
+
+   fd = open(path, O_RDONLY);
+   if (fd < 0)
+      goto fail;
+
+   const off_t size = lseek(fd, 0, SEEK_END);
+   if (size <= 0 || size % sizeof(struct sock_filter))
+      goto fail;
+   lseek(fd, 0, SEEK_SET);
+
+   data = malloc(size);
+   if (!data)
+      goto fail;
+
+   off_t cur = 0;
+   while (cur < size) {
+      const ssize_t r = read(fd, (char *)data + cur, size - cur);
+      if (r <= 0)
+         goto fail;
+      cur += r;
+   }
+
+   close(fd);
+
+   prog->len = size / sizeof(struct sock_filter);
+   prog->filter = data;
+
+   return true;
+
+fail:
+   if (data)
+      free(data);
+   if (fd >= 0)
+      close(fd);
+   return false;
+}
+
+static struct render_worker_jail *
+create_minijail(enum render_worker_jail_seccomp_filter seccomp_filter,
+                const char *seccomp_path)
+{
+   struct minijail *j = minijail_new();
+
+   /* TODO namespaces and many more */
+   minijail_no_new_privs(j);
+
+   if (seccomp_filter != RENDER_WORKER_JAIL_SECCOMP_NONE) {
+      if (seccomp_filter == RENDER_WORKER_JAIL_SECCOMP_BPF) {
+         struct sock_fprog prog;
+         if (!load_bpf_program(&prog, seccomp_path)) {
+            minijail_destroy(j);
+            return NULL;
+         }
+
+         minijail_set_seccomp_filters(j, &prog);
+         free(prog.filter);
+      } else {
+         if (seccomp_filter == RENDER_WORKER_JAIL_SECCOMP_POLICY_LOG)
+            minijail_log_seccomp_filter_failures(j);
+         minijail_parse_seccomp_filters(j, seccomp_path);
+      }
+
+      minijail_use_seccomp_filter(j);
+   }
+
+   return (struct render_worker_jail *)j;
+}
+
+static pid_t
+fork_minijail(const struct render_worker_jail *jail)
+{
+   struct minijail *j = minijail_new();
+   if (!j)
+      return -1;
+
+   /* is this faster? */
+   if (minijail_copy_jail((const struct minijail *)jail, j)) {
+      minijail_destroy(j);
+      return -1;
+   }
+
+   pid_t pid = minijail_fork(j);
+   minijail_destroy(j);
+
+   return pid;
+}
+
+#endif /* ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_MINIJAIL */
+
+struct render_worker_jail *
+render_worker_jail_create(enum render_worker_jail_seccomp_filter seccomp_filter,
+                          const char *seccomp_path)
+{
+#if defined(ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_MINIJAIL)
+   return create_minijail(seccomp_filter, seccomp_path);
+#else
+   /* TODO RENDER_WORKER_JAIL_SECCOMP_BPF */
+   if (seccomp_filter != RENDER_WORKER_JAIL_SECCOMP_NONE)
+      return NULL;
+   (void)seccomp_path;
+   return (void *)1;
+#endif
+}
+
+void
+render_worker_jail_destroy(struct render_worker_jail *jail)
+{
+#if defined(ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_MINIJAIL)
+   minijail_destroy((struct minijail *)jail);
+#else
+   (void)jail;
+#endif
+}
+
+struct render_worker *
+render_worker_create(struct render_worker_jail *jail,
+                     int (*thread_func)(void *thread_data),
+                     void *thread_data,
+                     size_t thread_data_size)
+{
+   struct render_worker *worker = calloc(1, sizeof(*worker) + thread_data_size);
+   if (!worker)
+      return NULL;
+
+   memcpy(worker->thread_data, thread_data, thread_data_size);
+
+   bool ok;
+#if defined(ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_PROCESS)
+   worker->pid = fork();
+   ok = worker->pid >= 0;
+   (void)jail;
+   (void)thread_func;
+#elif defined(ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD)
+   ok = thrd_create(&worker->thread, thread_func, worker->thread_data) == thrd_success;
+   (void)jail;
+#elif defined(ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_MINIJAIL)
+   worker->pid = fork_minijail(jail);
+   ok = worker->pid >= 0;
+   (void)thread_func;
+#endif
+   if (!ok) {
+      free(worker);
+      return NULL;
+   }
+
+   return worker;
+}
+
+bool
+render_worker_is_record(const struct render_worker *worker)
+{
+   /* return false if called from the worker itself */
+#ifdef ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD
+   return !thrd_equal(worker->thread, thrd_current());
+#else
+   return worker->pid > 0;
+#endif
+}
+
+void
+render_worker_kill(struct render_worker *worker)
+{
+   assert(render_worker_is_record(worker));
+
+#ifdef ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD
+   /* we trust the thread to clean up and exit in finite time */
+#else
+   kill(worker->pid, SIGKILL);
+#endif
+}
+
+bool
+render_worker_reap(struct render_worker *worker, bool wait)
+{
+   assert(render_worker_is_record(worker));
+
+   if (worker->reaped)
+      return true;
+
+   bool ok;
+#ifdef ENABLE_RENDER_SERVER_WORKER_THREAD
+   (void)wait;
+   ok = thrd_join(worker->thread, NULL) == thrd_success;
+#else
+   const int options = WEXITED | (wait ? 0 : WNOHANG);
+   siginfo_t siginfo = { 0 };
+   const int ret = waitid(P_PID, worker->pid, &siginfo, options);
+   ok = !ret && siginfo.si_pid == worker->pid;
+#endif
+
+   worker->reaped = ok;
+   return ok;
+}
+
+void
+render_worker_destroy(struct render_worker *worker)
+{
+   free(worker);
+}
diff --git a/server/render_worker.h b/server/render_worker.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..158dc7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/render_worker.h
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#ifndef RENDER_WORKER_H
+#define RENDER_WORKER_H
+
+#include "render_common.h"
+
+enum render_worker_jail_seccomp_filter {
+   /* seccomp_path is ignored and seccomp is disabled */
+   RENDER_WORKER_JAIL_SECCOMP_NONE,
+   /* seccomp_path is a file containing a BPF program */
+   RENDER_WORKER_JAIL_SECCOMP_BPF,
+   /* seccomp_path is a file containing a minijail policy */
+   RENDER_WORKER_JAIL_SECCOMP_MINIJAIL_POLICY,
+   RENDER_WORKER_JAIL_SECCOMP_MINIJAIL_POLICY_LOG,
+};
+
+struct render_worker_jail *
+render_worker_jail_create(enum render_worker_jail_seccomp_filter seccomp_filter,
+                          const char *seccomp_path);
+
+void
+render_worker_jail_destroy(struct render_worker_jail *jail);
+
+struct render_worker *
+render_worker_create(struct render_worker_jail *jail,
+                     int (*thread_func)(void *thread_data),
+                     void *thread_data,
+                     size_t thread_data_size);
+
+bool
+render_worker_is_record(const struct render_worker *worker);
+
+void
+render_worker_kill(struct render_worker *worker);
+
+bool
+render_worker_reap(struct render_worker *worker, bool wait);
+
+void
+render_worker_destroy(struct render_worker *worker);
+
+#endif /* RENDER_WORKER_H */