diff --git a/kernel-src/include/kernel/eth.h b/kernel-src/include/kernel/eth.h
index ed33dad7..1a5bb0bb 100644
--- a/kernel-src/include/kernel/eth.h
+++ b/kernel-src/include/kernel/eth.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define _ETH_H
 
 #include <stdint.h>
+#include <kernel/net.h>
 
 typedef struct {
 	uint8_t destination[6];
@@ -12,4 +13,6 @@ typedef struct {
 #define ETH_PROTO_IP 0x0800
 #define ETH_PROTO_ARP 0x0806
 
+void eth_process(netdev_t *netdev, void *buffer);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/kernel-src/include/kernel/net.h b/kernel-src/include/kernel/net.h
index 7491009c..72e33c67 100644
--- a/kernel-src/include/kernel/net.h
+++ b/kernel-src/include/kernel/net.h
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@
 #include <stddef.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 
-#include <kernel/eth.h>
+#include <hashtable.h>
+#include <mutex.h>
+#include <event.h>
+#include <string.h>
 
 typedef struct {
 	void *address;
@@ -19,22 +22,11 @@ typedef struct {
 typedef struct netdev_t {
 	mac_t mac;
 	size_t mtu;
+	hashtable_t arpcache;
 	int (*allocdesc)(size_t requestedsize, netdesc_t *desc);
 	int (*sendpacket)(struct netdev_t *_internal, netdesc_t desc, mac_t targetmac, int proto);
 } netdev_t;
 
-typedef struct {
-	uint16_t hwtype;
-	uint16_t protocoltype;
-	uint8_t hwlen;
-	uint8_t ptlen;
-	uint16_t opcode;
-	uint8_t srchw[6];
-	uint8_t srcpt[4];
-	uint8_t dsthw[6];
-	uint8_t dstpt[4];
-} __attribute__((packed)) arpframe_t;
-
 typedef struct {
 	uint8_t version_length;
 	uint8_t servicetype_ecn;
@@ -55,10 +47,20 @@ typedef struct {
 	uint16_t checksum;
 } __attribute__((packed)) udpframe_t;
 
+typedef struct {
+	uint16_t port;
+	uint32_t addr;
+} ipv4addr_t;
+
 #define NET_BROADCAST_MAC (mac_t){.address = {0xff,0xff,0xff,0xff,0xff,0xff}}
 
+#define MAC_EQUAL(m1,m2) (memcmp(m1, m2, sizeof(mac_t)) == 0)
+
 #define IPV4_PROTO_UDP 0x11
 
+void arp_init();
+void udp_init();
+void arp_process(netdev_t *netdev, void *buffer);
 int udp_allocdesc(netdev_t *netdev, size_t requestedsize, netdesc_t *desc);
 int udp_sendpacket(netdev_t *netdev, netdesc_t desc, uint32_t ip, uint16_t srcport, uint16_t dstport);
 int ipv4_allocdesc(netdev_t *netdev, size_t requestedsize, netdesc_t *desc);
diff --git a/kernel-src/io/net/eth.c b/kernel-src/io/net/eth.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d0a62a06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kernel-src/io/net/eth.c
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#include <kernel/net.h>
+#include <kernel/eth.h>
+#include <logging.h>
+
+// runs on dpc context, called by the individual driver dpcs on a receive.
+void eth_process(netdev_t *netdev, void *buffer) {
+	ethframe_t *frame = buffer;
+
+	mac_t dst, src;
+	memcpy(&dst, &frame->destination, sizeof(mac_t));
+	memcpy(&src, &frame->source, sizeof(mac_t));
+
+	mac_t broadcast = NET_BROADCAST_MAC;
+	// check if packet is for our machine or a broadcast. if neither, do nothing
+	if (!(MAC_EQUAL(&dst, &netdev->mac) || MAC_EQUAL(&dst, &broadcast)))
+		return;
+
+	printf("our machine!\n");
+
+	void *nextbuff = (void *)((uintptr_t)buffer + sizeof(ethframe_t));
+
+	switch (be_to_cpu_w(frame->type)) {
+		case ETH_PROTO_IP:
+			break;
+		case ETH_PROTO_ARP:
+			arp_process(netdev, nextbuff);
+			break;
+	}
+}
diff --git a/kernel-src/io/net/ipv4.c b/kernel-src/io/net/ipv4.c
index bcf378d8..bababf90 100644
--- a/kernel-src/io/net/ipv4.c
+++ b/kernel-src/io/net/ipv4.c
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include <kernel/net.h>
+#include <kernel/eth.h>
 #include <arch/cpu.h>
 #include <logging.h>