diff --git a/src/ns/name_server.c b/src/ns/name_server.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9037927260
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ns/name_server.c
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+/*
+ * $HEADER$
+ */
+/** @file:
+ *
+ * The Open MPI Name Server
+ *
+ * The Open MPI Name Server provides unique name ranges for processes within the
+ * universe. Each universe will have one name server running within the seed daemon.
+ * This is done to prevent the inadvertent duplication of names.
+ *
+ */
+
+/*
+ * includes
+ */
+#include "ompi_config.h"
+#include "include/constants.h"
+
+#include "ns/name_server.h"
+
+/*
+ * defines
+ */
+#define OMPI_SUCCESS 1
+
+/**
+ * globals
+ */
+ompi_process_name_t ompi_name_service = 0;
+ompi_process_name_t OMPI_NAME_SERVICE_MAX = 0xffffffffffffffff;
+
+ompi_process_name_t ompi_process_name_new(void)
+{
+    if (OMPI_NAME_SERVICE_MAX > ompi_name_service) {
+	ompi_name_service = ompi_name_service + 1;
+	return(ompi_name_service);
+    } else {
+	return(0);
+    }
+}
+
+ompi_process_name_t ompi_process_name_get_range (ompi_process_name_t range)
+{
+    if ((OMPI_NAME_SERVICE_MAX-range) > ompi_name_service) {
+	ompi_name_service = ompi_name_service + range;
+	return(ompi_name_service);
+    } else {
+	return(0);
+    }
+}
+
+int ompi_process_name_free(ompi_process_name_t name)
+{
+    return OMPI_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+int ompi_process_name_free_range(ompi_process_name_t name, ompi_process_name_t range)
+{
+    return OMPI_SUCCESS;
+}
diff --git a/src/ns/name_server.h b/src/ns/name_server.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5c084609c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ns/name_server.h
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+/*
+ * $HEADER$
+ */
+/** @file:
+ *
+ * The Open MPI Name Server
+ *
+ * The Open MPI Name Server provides unique name ranges for processes within the
+ * universe. Each universe will have one name server running within the seed daemon.
+ * This is done to prevent the inadvertent duplication of names.
+ *
+ */
+
+/*
+ * includes
+ */
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+
+#include "ompi_config.h"
+
+/*
+ * typedefs
+ */
+
+typedef uint64_t ompi_process_name_t;
+
+/**
+ * Obtain a single new process name.
+ * The ompi_process_name_new() function obtains a single new process name.
+ *
+ * @return name An ompi_process_name_t value of the name. A value of
+ * 0 indicates that the name server is out of names.
+ */
+
+ompi_process_name_t ompi_process_name_new(void);
+
+/**
+ * Obtain a range of process names.
+ * The ompi_process_name_get_range() function requests reservation of a range of
+ * names. 
+ *
+ * @return name An ompi_process_name_t value of the name. A value of
+ * 0 indicates that the name server is out of names.
+ */
+
+ompi_process_name_t ompi_process_name_get_range(ompi_process_name_t range);
+
+/**
+ * Releases a process name.
+ * The ompi_process_name_free() function will release a name for re-use. At this
+ * time, this function does nothing!! It will simply return OMPI_SUCCESS. This is
+ * here solely to reserve the function for further definition.
+ *
+ * @param name An ompi_process_name_t value of the name to be released.
+ * @return OMPI_SUCCESS At this time, this is always returned.
+ */
+
+int ompi_process_name_free(ompi_process_name_t name);
+
+/**
+ * Release a range of process names.
+ * The ompi_process_name_free_range() function releases a range of names for re-use.
+ * At this time, this function does nothing!! This is here solely to reserve the
+ * function for further definition.
+ *
+ * @param name An ompi_process_name_t value indicating
+ * start of the range being freed.
+ * @param range An ompi_process_name_t value indicating how many names are being released.
+ *
+ * @return OMPI_SUCCESS Always returned at this time.
+ */
+
+int ompi_process_name_free_range(ompi_process_name_t name, ompi_process_name_t range);