diff --git a/heisskleber/config/MSBConfig.py b/heisskleber/config/MSBConfig.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d05478
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/config/MSBConfig.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import socket
+import warnings
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+
+@dataclass
+class BaseConf:
+    """
+    default configuration class for generic configuration info
+    """
+
+    verbose: bool = False
+    print_stdout: bool = False
+
+    def __setitem__(self, key, value):
+        if hasattr(self, key):
+            self.__setattr__(key, value)
+        else:
+            warnings.warn(UserWarning(f"no such class member: {key}"), stacklevel=2)
+
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        if hasattr(self, key):
+            return getattr(self, key)
+        else:
+            warnings.warn(UserWarning(f"no such class member: {key}"), stacklevel=2)
+
+    @property
+    def serial_number(self):
+        return socket.gethostname().upper()
diff --git a/heisskleber/config/__init__.py b/heisskleber/config/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c554645
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/config/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+from heisskleber.config.MSBConfig import BaseConf
+from heisskleber.config.parse import load_config
+
+__all__ = ["load_config", "BaseConf"]
diff --git a/heisskleber/config/cmdline.py b/heisskleber/config/cmdline.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5a39f58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/config/cmdline.py
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+import argparse
+
+
+class KeyValue(argparse.Action):
+    # Constructor calling
+    """
+    def __call__( self , parser, namespace, values : list, option_string = None):
+        setattr(namespace, self.dest, dict())
+        for value in values:
+            # split it into key and value
+            key, value = value.split('=')
+            # assign into dictionary
+            getattr(namespace, self.dest)[key] = value
+    """
+
+    def __call__(self, parser, args, values, option_string=None):
+        try:
+            params = dict(x.split("=") for x in values)
+        except ValueError as ex:
+            raise argparse.ArgumentError(
+                self,
+                f'Could not parse argument "{values}" as k1=v1 k2=v2 ... format: {ex}',
+            ) from ex
+        setattr(args, self.dest, params)
+
+
+def get_cmdline(args=None) -> dict:
+    """
+    get commandline arguments and return a dictionary of
+    the provided arguments.
+
+    available commandline arguments are:
+        --verbose: flag to toggle debugging output
+        --print-stdout: flag to toggle all data printed to stdout
+        --param key1=value1 key2=value2: allows to pass service specific
+            parameters
+    """
+    arp = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    arp.add_argument("--verbose", action="store_true", help="debug output flag")
+    arp.add_argument(
+        "--print-stdout",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="toggles output of all data to stdout",
+    )
+    arp.add_argument(
+        "--params",
+        nargs="*",
+        action=KeyValue,
+    )
+    args = arp.parse_args(args)
+    config = {}
+    if args.verbose:
+        config["verbose"] = args.verbose
+    if args.print_stdout:
+        config["print_stdout"] = args.print_stdout
+    if args.params:
+        config |= args.params
+    return config
diff --git a/heisskleber/config/parse.py b/heisskleber/config/parse.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f6cfd2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/config/parse.py
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+import os
+import sys
+import warnings
+from typing import TypeVar
+
+import yaml
+
+from heisskleber.config import BaseConf
+from heisskleber.config.cmdline import get_cmdline
+
+ConfigType = TypeVar("ConfigType", bound=BaseConf)
+
+
+def get_msb_config_filepath(config_filename: str = "heisskleber.conf") -> str:
+    config_subpath = os.path.join("msb/conf.d/", config_filename)
+    try:
+        config_filepath = os.path.join(os.environ["MSB_CONFIG_DIR"], config_subpath)
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"could no get MSB_CONFIG from PATH: {e}")
+        sys.exit()  # TODO use 1 or the error str as exit value
+    if not os.path.isfile(config_filepath):
+        print(f"not a file: {config_filepath}!")
+        sys.exit()
+    return config_filepath
+
+
+def read_yaml_config_file(config_fpath: str) -> dict:
+    with open(config_fpath) as config_filehandle:
+        return yaml.safe_load(config_filehandle)
+
+
+def update_config(config: ConfigType, config_dict: dict) -> ConfigType:
+    for config_key, config_value in config_dict.items():
+        # get expected type of element from config_object:
+        if not hasattr(config, config_key):
+            warnings.warn(
+                f"no such configuration parameter: {config_key}, skipping", stacklevel=2
+            )
+            continue
+        cast_func = type(config[config_key])
+        try:
+            if config_key == "topic":
+                config[config_key] = config_value.encode("utf-8")
+            else:
+                config[config_key] = cast_func(config_value)
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(
+                f"failed to cast {config_value} to {type(config[config_key])}: {e}. skipping"
+            )
+            continue
+    return config
+
+
+ConfigType = TypeVar(
+    "ConfigType", bound=BaseConf
+)  # https://stackoverflow.com/a/46227137 , https://docs.python.org/3/library/typing.html#typing.TypeVar
+
+
+def load_config(
+    config: ConfigType, config_filename: str, read_commandline: bool = True
+) -> ConfigType:
+    """Load the config file and update the config object.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    config : MSBConf
+        The config object to fill with values.
+    config_filename : str
+        The name of the config file in $MSB_CONF/msb/conf.d/.
+        If the file does not have an extension the default extension .yaml is appended.
+    read_commandline : bool
+        Whether to read arguments from the command line. Optional. Defaults to True.
+    """
+    config_filename = (
+        config_filename if "." in config_filename else config_filename + ".yaml"
+    )
+    config_filepath = get_msb_config_filepath(config_filename)
+    config_dict = read_yaml_config_file(config_filepath)
+    config = update_config(config, config_dict)
+
+    if not read_commandline:
+        return config
+
+    config_dict = get_cmdline()
+    config = update_config(config, config_dict)
+    return config
diff --git a/heisskleber/config/zeromq.py b/heisskleber/config/zeromq.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..571440a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/config/zeromq.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import sys
+
+import zmq
+
+
+def open_zmq_sub_socket(connect_to: str, topic=b""):
+    ctx = zmq.Context()
+    zmq_socket = ctx.socket(zmq.SUB)
+    try:
+        zmq_socket.connect(connect_to)
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"failed to bind to zeromq socket: {e}")
+        sys.exit(-1)
+    zmq_socket.setsockopt(zmq.SUBSCRIBE, topic)
+    return zmq_socket
+
+
+def open_zmq_pub_socket(connect_to: str):
+    ctx = zmq.Context()
+    zmq_socket = ctx.socket(zmq.PUB)
+    try:
+        zmq_socket.connect(connect_to)
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"failed to bind to zeromq socket: {e}")
+        sys.exit(-1)
+    return zmq_socket
+
+
+def get_zmq_xpub_socketstring(msb_config: dict) -> str:
+    zmq_config = msb_config["zeromq"]
+    return (
+        f"{zmq_config['protocol']}://{zmq_config['address']}:{zmq_config['xpub_port']}"
+    )
+
+
+def get_zmq_xsub_socketstring(msb_config: dict) -> str:
+    zmq_config = msb_config["zeromq"]
+    return (
+        f"{zmq_config['protocol']}://{zmq_config['address']}:{zmq_config['xsub_port']}"
+    )
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/__init__.py b/heisskleber/network/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..31256a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from .pubsub.factories import get_publisher, get_subscriber  # noqa: F401
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/config.py b/heisskleber/network/config.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/influxdb/__init__.py b/heisskleber/network/influxdb/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/influxdb/config.py b/heisskleber/network/influxdb/config.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..62251a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/influxdb/config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+from heisskleber.config import BaseConf
+
+
+@dataclass
+class InfluxDBConf(BaseConf):
+    host: str = "localhost"
+    port: int = 8086
+    bucket: str = "test"
+    org: str = "test"
+    ssl: bool = False
+    read_token: str = ""
+    write_token: str = ""
+    all_access_token: str = ""
+
+    @property
+    def url(self) -> str:
+        protocol = "https" if self.ssl else "http"
+        return f"{protocol}://{self.host}:{self.port}"
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/influxdb/subscriber.py b/heisskleber/network/influxdb/subscriber.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a49433a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/influxdb/subscriber.py
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+import pandas as pd
+from influxdb_client import InfluxDBClient
+
+from .config import InfluxDBConf
+
+
+def build_query(options: dict) -> str:
+    query = (
+        f'from(bucket:"{options["bucket"]}")'
+        + f'|> range(start: {options["start"].isoformat("T")}, stop: {options["end"].isoformat("T")})'
+        + f'|> filter(fn:(r) => r._measurement == "{options["measurement"]}")'
+    )
+    if options["filter"]:
+        for attribute, value in options["filter"].items():
+            if isinstance(value, list):
+                query += f'|> filter(fn:(r) => r.{attribute} == "{value[0]}"'
+                for vv in value[1:]:
+                    query += f' or r.{attribute} == "{vv}"'
+                query += ")"
+            else:
+                query += f'|> filter(fn:(r) => r.{attribute} == "{value}")'
+
+    query += (
+        f'|> aggregateWindow(every: {options["resample"]}, fn: mean)'
+        + '|> pivot(rowKey:["_time"], columnKey: ["_field"], valueColumn: "_value")'
+    )
+
+    return query
+
+
+class Influx_Subscriber:
+    def __init__(self, config: InfluxDBConf, query: str):
+        self.config = config
+        self.query = query
+        self.df: pd.DataFrame = None
+
+        self.client: InfluxDBClient = InfluxDBClient(
+            url=self.config.url,
+            token=self.config.all_access_token or self.config.read_token,
+            org=self.config.org,
+            timeout=60_000,
+        )
+        self.reader = self.client.query_api()
+
+        self._run_query()
+        self.index = 0
+
+    def receive(self) -> dict:
+        row = self.df.iloc[self.index].to_dict()
+        self.index += 1
+        return "influx", row
+
+    def _run_query(self):
+        self.df = self.reader.query_data_frame(self.query, org=self.config.org)
+        self.df["epoch"] = pd.to_numeric(self.df["_time"]) / 1e9
+        self.df.drop(
+            columns=[
+                "result",
+                "table",
+                "_start",
+                "_stop",
+                "_measurement",
+                "_time",
+                "topic",
+            ],
+            inplace=True,
+        )
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        for _, row in self.df.iterrows():
+            yield "influx", row.to_dict()
+
+    def __next__(self):
+        return self.__iter__().__next__()
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/influxdb/writer.py b/heisskleber/network/influxdb/writer.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cabc5ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/influxdb/writer.py
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+from config import InfluxDBConf
+from influxdb_client import InfluxDBClient, WriteOptions
+
+from heisskleber.config import load_config
+
+
+class Influx_Writer:
+    def __init__(self, config: InfluxDBConf):
+        self.config = config
+        # self.write_options = SYNCHRONOUS
+        self.write_options = WriteOptions(
+            batch_size=500,
+            flush_interval=10_000,
+            jitter_interval=2_000,
+            retry_interval=5_000,
+            max_retries=5,
+            max_retry_delay=30_000,
+            exponential_base=2,
+        )
+        self.client = InfluxDBClient(
+            url=self.config.url, token=self.config.token, org=self.config.org
+        )
+        self.writer = self.client.write_api(
+            write_options=self.write_options,
+        )
+
+    def __del__(self):
+        self.writer.close()
+        self.client.close()
+
+    def write_line(self, line):
+        self.writer.write(bucket=self.config.bucket, record=line)
+
+    def write_from_generator(self, generator):
+        for line in generator:
+            self.writer.write(bucket=self.config.bucket, record=line)
+
+    def write_from_line_generator(self, generator):
+        with InfluxDBClient(
+            url=self.config.url, token=self.config.token, org=self.config.org
+        ) as client, client.write_api(
+            write_options=self.write_options,
+        ) as write_api:
+            for line in generator:
+                write_api.write(bucket=self.config.bucket, record=line)
+
+
+def get_parsed_flux_writer():
+    config = load_config(InfluxDBConf(), "flux", read_commandline=False)
+    return Influx_Writer(config)
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/mqtt/__init__.py b/heisskleber/network/mqtt/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e71a954
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/mqtt/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+from .config import MqttConf  # noqa: F401
+from .publisher import MqttPublisher  # noqa: F401
+from .subscriber import MqttSubscriber  # noqa: F401
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/mqtt/config.py b/heisskleber/network/mqtt/config.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c716cb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/mqtt/config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+
+from heisskleber.config import BaseConf
+
+
+@dataclass
+class MqttConf(BaseConf):
+    """
+    MQTT configuration class.
+    """
+
+    broker: str = "localhost"
+    user: str = ""
+    password: str = ""
+    port: int = 1883
+    ssl: bool = False
+    qos: int = 0
+    retain: bool = False
+    topics: list[bytes] = field(default_factory=list)
+    mapping: str = "/msb/"
+    packstyle: str = "json"
+    max_saved_messages: int = 100
+    timeout_s: int = 60
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/mqtt/forwarder.py b/heisskleber/network/mqtt/forwarder.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e3a959a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/mqtt/forwarder.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+from heisskleber.config import load_config
+from heisskleber.network import get_publisher, get_subscriber
+
+from .config import MqttConf
+
+
+def map_topic(zmq_topic, mapping):
+    return mapping + zmq_topic.decode()
+
+
+def main():
+    config: MqttConf = load_config(MqttConf(), "mqtt")
+    sub = get_subscriber("zmq", config.topics)
+    pub = get_publisher("mqtt")
+
+    sub.unpack = pub.pack = lambda x: x
+
+    while True:
+        (zmq_topic, data) = sub.receive()
+        mqtt_topic = map_topic(zmq_topic, config.mapping)
+
+        pub.send(mqtt_topic, data)
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/mqtt/mqtt_base.py b/heisskleber/network/mqtt/mqtt_base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ed9fb2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/mqtt/mqtt_base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+import ssl
+import sys
+import threading
+
+from paho.mqtt.client import Client as mqtt_client
+
+from .config import MqttConf
+
+
+class ThreadDiedError(RuntimeError):
+    pass
+
+
+_thread_died = threading.Event()
+
+_default_excepthook = threading.excepthook
+
+
+def _set_thread_died_excepthook(args, /):
+    _default_excepthook(args)
+    global _thread_died
+    _thread_died.set()
+
+
+threading.excepthook = _set_thread_died_excepthook
+
+
+class MQTT_Base:
+    """
+    Wrapper around eclipse paho mqtt client.
+    Handles connection and callbacks.
+    Callbacks may be overwritten in subclasses.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, config: MqttConf):
+        self.config = config
+        self.connect()
+        self.client.loop_start()
+
+    def connect(self):
+        self.client = mqtt_client()
+        self.client.username_pw_set(self.config.user, self.config.password)
+
+        # Add callbacks
+        self.client.on_connect = self._on_connect
+        self.client.on_disconnect = self._on_disconnect
+        self.client.on_publish = self._on_publish
+        self.client.on_message = self._on_message
+
+        if self.config.ssl:
+            # By default, on Python 2.7.9+ or 3.4+,
+            # the default certification authority of the system is used.
+            self.client.tls_set(tls_version=ssl.PROTOCOL_TLS_CLIENT)
+
+        self.client.connect(self.config.broker, self.config.port)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _raise_if_thread_died():
+        global _thread_died
+        if _thread_died.is_set():
+            raise ThreadDiedError()
+
+    # MQTT callbacks
+    def _on_connect(self, client, userdata, flags, return_code):
+        if return_code == 0:
+            print(f"MQTT node connected to {self.config.broker}:{self.config.port}")
+        else:
+            print("Connection failed!")
+        if self.config.verbose:
+            print(flags)
+
+    def _on_disconnect(self, client, userdata, return_code):
+        print(f"Disconnected from broker with return code {return_code}")
+        if return_code != 0:
+            print("Killing this service")
+            sys.exit(-1)
+
+    def _on_publish(self, client, userdata, message_id):
+        if self.config.verbose:
+            print(f"Published message with id {message_id}, qos={self.config.qos}")
+
+    def _on_message(self, client, userdata, message):
+        if self.config.verbose:
+            print(
+                f"Received message: {message.payload!s}, topic: {message.topic}, qos: {message.qos}"
+            )
+
+    def __del__(self):
+        self.client.loop_stop()
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/mqtt/msb_mqtt.py b/heisskleber/network/mqtt/msb_mqtt.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..344add1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/mqtt/msb_mqtt.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+from heisskleber.config import load_config
+from heisskleber.network import get_publisher, get_subscriber
+
+from .config import MqttConf
+from .forwarder import ZMQ_to_MQTT_Forwarder
+
+
+def main():
+    config = load_config(MqttConf(), "mqtt")
+    for topic in config.topics:
+        print(f"Subscribing to {topic}")
+
+    zmq_sub = get_subscriber("zmq", list(config.topics))
+    mqtt_pub = get_publisher("mqtt")
+    forwarder = ZMQ_to_MQTT_Forwarder(config, subscriber=zmq_sub, publisher=mqtt_pub)
+
+    # Wait for zmq messages, publish as mqtt message
+    forwarder.zmq_to_mqtt_loop()
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/mqtt/publisher.py b/heisskleber/network/mqtt/publisher.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4acf4a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/mqtt/publisher.py
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from heisskleber.config import load_config
+from heisskleber.network.packer import get_packer
+from heisskleber.network.pubsub.types import Publisher
+
+from .config import MqttConf
+from .mqtt_base import MQTT_Base
+
+
+class MqttPublisher(MQTT_Base, Publisher):
+    """
+    MQTT publisher class.
+    Can be used everywhere that a flucto style publishing connection is required.
+
+    Network message loop is handled in a separated thread.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, config: MqttConf):
+        super().__init__(config)
+        self.pack = get_packer(config.packstyle)
+
+    def send(self, topic: str | bytes, data: dict):
+        """
+        Takes python dictionary, serializes it according to the packstyle
+        and sends it to the broker.
+
+        Publishing is asynchronous
+        """
+        self._raise_if_thread_died()
+        if isinstance(topic, bytes):
+            topic = topic.decode()
+
+        payload = self.pack(data)
+        self.client.publish(
+            topic, payload, qos=self.config.qos, retain=self.config.retain
+        )
+
+
+def get_mqtt_publisher() -> MqttPublisher:
+    """
+    Generate mqtt publisher with configuration from yaml file,
+    falls back to default values if no config is found
+    """
+    import os
+
+    if "MSB_CONFIG_DIR" in os.environ:
+        print("loading mqtt config")
+        config = load_config(MqttConf(), "mqtt", read_commandline=False)
+    else:
+        print("using default mqtt config")
+        config = MqttConf()
+    return MqttPublisher(config)
+
+
+def get_default_publisher() -> MqttPublisher:
+    """
+    Generate mqtt publisher with configuration from yaml file,
+    falls back to default values if no config is found
+
+    Deprecated, use get_mqtt_publisher() instead
+    """
+    return get_mqtt_publisher()
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/mqtt/subscriber.py b/heisskleber/network/mqtt/subscriber.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e684bff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/mqtt/subscriber.py
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from queue import SimpleQueue
+
+from heisskleber.config import load_config
+from heisskleber.network.packer import get_unpacker
+from heisskleber.network.pubsub.types import Subscriber
+
+from .config import MqttConf
+from .mqtt_base import MQTT_Base
+
+
+class MqttSubscriber(MQTT_Base, Subscriber):
+    """
+    MQTT subscriber, wraps around ecplipse's paho mqtt client.
+    Network message loop is handled in a separated thread.
+
+    Incoming messages are saved as a stack when not processed via the receive() function.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, topics, config: MqttConf):
+        super().__init__(config)
+        self._message_queue = SimpleQueue()
+        self.subscribe(topics)
+        self.client.on_message = self._on_message
+        self.unpack = get_unpacker(config.packstyle)
+
+    def _subscribe_single_topic(self, topic: bytes | str):
+        if isinstance(topic, bytes):
+            topic = topic.decode()
+        if self.config.verbose:
+            print(f"Subscribed to: {topic}")
+        self.client.subscribe(topic, self.config.qos)
+
+    def _subscribe_multiple_topics(self, topics: list[bytes] | list[str]):
+        topics = [
+            topic.decode() if isinstance(topic, bytes) else topic for topic in topics
+        ]
+        subscription_list = [(topic, self.config.qos) for topic in topics]
+        if self.config.verbose:
+            print(f"Subscribed to: {topics}")
+        self.client.subscribe(subscription_list)
+
+    def subscribe(self, topics):
+        """
+        Subscribe to one or multiple topics
+        """
+        # if subscribing to multiple topics, use a list of tuples
+        if isinstance(topics, (list, tuple)):
+            self._subscribe_multiple_topics(topics)
+        else:
+            self.client.subscribe(topics, self.config.qos)
+
+    def receive(self) -> tuple[bytes, dict]:
+        """
+        Reads a message from mqtt and returns it
+
+        Messages are saved in a stack, if no message is available, this function blocks.
+
+        Returns:
+            tuple(topic: bytes, message: dict): the message received
+        """
+        self._raise_if_thread_died()
+        mqtt_message = self._message_queue.get(
+            block=True, timeout=self.config.timeout_s
+        )
+
+        topic = mqtt_message.topic.encode("utf-8")
+        message_returned = self.unpack(mqtt_message.payload.decode())
+        return (topic, message_returned)
+
+    # callback to add incoming messages onto stack
+    def _on_message(self, client, userdata, message):
+        self._message_queue.put(message)
+
+        if self.config.verbose:
+            print(f"Topic: {message.topic}")
+            print(f"MQTT message: {message.payload.decode()}")
+
+
+def get_mqtt_subscriber(topic: bytes | str) -> MqttSubscriber:
+    """
+    Generate mqtt subscriber with configuration from yaml file,
+    falls back to default values if no config is found
+    """
+    import os
+
+    if "MSB_CONFIG_DIR" in os.environ:
+        print("loading mqtt config")
+        config = load_config(MqttConf(), "mqtt", read_commandline=False)
+    else:
+        print("using default mqtt config")
+        config = MqttConf()
+    return MqttSubscriber(topic, config)
+
+
+def get_default_subscriber(topic: bytes | str) -> MqttSubscriber:
+    """
+    Generate mqtt subscriber with configuration from yaml file,
+    falls back to default values if no config is found
+
+    Deprecated, use get_mqtt_subscriber(topic) instead.
+    """
+    return get_mqtt_subscriber(topic)
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/packer.py b/heisskleber/network/packer.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3150c2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/packer.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import json
+import pickle
+
+
+def get_packer(style):
+    if style in _packstyles:
+        return _packstyles[style]
+    else:
+        return _packstyles["default"]
+
+
+def get_unpacker(style):
+    if style in _unpackstyles:
+        return _unpackstyles[style]
+    else:
+        return _unpackstyles["default"]
+
+
+def serialpacker(data: dict):
+    return ",".join([str(v) for v in data.values()])
+
+
+_packstyles = {
+    "json": json.dumps,
+    "pickle": pickle.dumps,
+    "serial": serialpacker,
+    "default": json.dumps,
+}
+
+_unpackstyles = {
+    "json": json.loads,
+    "pickle": pickle.loads,
+    "default": json.loads,
+}
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/pubsub/__init__.py b/heisskleber/network/pubsub/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/pubsub/factories.py b/heisskleber/network/pubsub/factories.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a7dfdf9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/pubsub/factories.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+import os
+
+from heisskleber.config import load_config
+from heisskleber.network.mqtt import MqttConf, MqttPublisher, MqttSubscriber
+from heisskleber.network.serial import SerialConf, SerialPublisher, SerialSubscriber
+from heisskleber.network.zmq import ZmqConf, ZmqPublisher, ZmqSubscriber
+
+_registered_publishers = {
+    "zmq": (ZmqPublisher, ZmqConf),
+    "mqtt": (MqttPublisher, MqttConf),
+    "serial": (SerialPublisher, SerialConf),
+}
+
+_registered_subscribers = {
+    "zmq": (ZmqSubscriber, ZmqConf),
+    "mqtt": (MqttSubscriber, MqttConf),
+    "serial": (SerialSubscriber, SerialConf),
+}
+
+
+def get_publisher(name: str):
+    if name not in _registered_publishers:
+        error_message = f"{name} is not a registered Publisher."
+        raise KeyError(error_message)
+
+    pub_cls, conf_cls = _registered_publishers[name]
+
+    if "MSB_CONFIG_DIR" in os.environ:
+        print(f"loading {name} config")
+        config = load_config(conf_cls(), name, read_commandline=False)
+    else:
+        print(f"using default {name} config")
+        config = conf_cls()
+
+    return pub_cls(config)
+
+
+def get_subscriber(name: str, topic):
+    if name not in _registered_publishers:
+        error_message = f"{name} is not a registered Subscriber."
+        raise KeyError(error_message)
+
+    sub_cls, conf_cls = _registered_subscribers[name]
+
+    if "MSB_CONFIG_DIR" in os.environ:
+        print(f"loading {name} config")
+        config = load_config(conf_cls(), name, read_commandline=False)
+    else:
+        print(f"using default {name} config")
+        config = conf_cls()
+
+    return sub_cls(topic, config)
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/pubsub/types.py b/heisskleber/network/pubsub/types.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8fe5184
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/pubsub/types.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+
+
+class Publisher(ABC):
+    """
+    Publisher interface.
+    """
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def send(self, topic: str | bytes, data: dict):
+        """
+        Send data via the implemented output stream.
+        """
+        pass
+
+
+class Subscriber(ABC):
+    """
+    Subscriber interface
+    """
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def receive(self) -> tuple[bytes, dict]:
+        """
+        Blocking function to receive data from the implemented input stream.
+
+        Data is returned as a tuple of (topic, data).
+        """
+        pass
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/serial/__init__.py b/heisskleber/network/serial/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..12cd737
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/serial/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+from .config import SerialConf  # noqa: F401
+from .publisher import SerialPublisher  # noqa: F401
+from .subscriber import SerialSubscriber  # noqa: F401
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/serial/config.py b/heisskleber/network/serial/config.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a845f1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/serial/config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+from heisskleber.config import BaseConf
+
+
+@dataclass
+class SerialConf(BaseConf):
+    port: str = "/dev/serial0"
+    baudrate: int = 9600
+    bytesize: int = 8
+    encoding: str = "ascii"
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/serial/forwarder.py b/heisskleber/network/serial/forwarder.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..098b661
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/serial/forwarder.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+from heisskleber.network.types import Subscriber
+
+from .publisher import SerialPublisher
+
+
+class SerialForwarder:
+    def __init__(self, subscriber: Subscriber, publisher: SerialPublisher):
+        self.sub = subscriber
+        self.pub = publisher
+
+    """
+    Wait for message and forward
+    """
+
+    def forward_message(self):
+        # collected = {}
+        # for sub in self.sub:
+        #     topic, data = sub.receive()
+        #     collected.update(data)
+        _, collected = self.sub.receive()
+
+        self.pub.send(collected)
+
+    """
+    Enter loop and continuously forward messages
+    """
+
+    def sub_pub_loop(self):
+        while True:
+            self.forward_message()
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/serial/publisher.py b/heisskleber/network/serial/publisher.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7f67138
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/serial/publisher.py
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from types import FunctionType
+
+import serial
+
+from heisskleber.network.packer import get_packer
+from heisskleber.network.pubsub.types import Publisher
+
+from .config import SerialConf
+
+
+class SerialPublisher(Publisher):
+    """
+    Publisher for serial devices.
+    Can be used everywhere that a flucto style publishing connection is required.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    config : SerialConf
+        Configuration for the serial connection.
+    pack_func : FunctionType
+        Function to translate from a dict to a serialized string.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, config: SerialConf, pack_func: FunctionType | None = None):
+        self.config = config
+        self.packer = pack_func if pack_func else get_packer("serial")
+        self._connect()
+
+    def _connect(self):
+        self.serial: serial.Serial = serial.Serial(
+            port=self.config.port,
+            baudrate=self.config.baudrate,
+            bytesize=self.config.bytesize,
+            parity=serial.PARITY_NONE,
+            stopbits=serial.STOPBITS_ONE,
+        )
+        print(f"Successfully connected to serial device at port {self.config.port}")
+
+    def send(self, message: object):
+        """
+        Takes python dictionary, serializes it according to the packstyle
+        and sends it to the broker.
+
+        Please note that this does not adhere to the interface, as there is no topic.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        message : object
+            object to be serialized and sent via the serial connection. Usually a dict.
+        """
+        payload = self.packer(message)
+        self.serial.write(payload.encode(self.config.encoding))
+        self.serial.flush()
+        if self.config.verbose:
+            print(payload)
+
+    def __del__(self):
+        if not hasattr(self, "serial"):
+            return
+        if not self.serial.is_open:
+            return
+        self.serial.flush()
+        self.serial.close()
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/serial/subscriber.py b/heisskleber/network/serial/subscriber.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d6c203f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/serial/subscriber.py
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Callable, Optional
+
+import serial
+
+from heisskleber.network.pubsub.types import Subscriber
+
+from .config import SerialConf
+
+
+class SerialSubscriber(Subscriber):
+    """
+    Subscriber for serial devices. Connects to a serial port and reads from it.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    topics :
+        Placeholder for topic. Not used.
+
+    config : SerialConf
+        Configuration class for the serial connection.
+
+    unpack_func : FunctionType
+        Function to translate from a serialized string to a dict.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        topics,
+        config: SerialConf,
+        unpack_func: Optional[Callable] = None,  # noqa: UP007
+    ):
+        self.config = config
+        self.unpack = unpack_func if unpack_func else lambda x: x
+        self._connect()
+
+    def _connect(self):
+        self.serial: serial.Serial = serial.Serial(
+            port=self.config.port,
+            baudrate=self.config.baudrate,
+            bytesize=self.config.bytesize,
+            parity=serial.PARITY_NONE,
+            stopbits=serial.STOPBITS_ONE,
+        )
+        print(f"Successfully connected to serial device at port {self.config.port}")
+
+    def receive(self) -> dict:
+        """
+        Wait for data to arrive on the serial port and return it.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        :return: (topic, payload)
+            topic is a placeholder to adhere to the Subscriber interface
+            payload is a dictionary containing the data from the serial port
+        """
+        # message is a string
+        message = next(self.read_serial_port())
+        # payload is a dictionary
+        payload = self.unpack(message)
+        # port is a placeholder for topic
+        return self.config.port, payload
+
+    def read_serial_port(self) -> str:
+        buffer = ""
+        while True:
+            try:
+                buffer = self.serial.readline().decode()
+                yield buffer
+            except UnicodeError as e:
+                if self.config.verbose:
+                    print(f"Could not decode: {message}")
+                    print(e)
+                continue
+
+    def __del__(self):
+        if not hasattr(self, "serial"):
+            return
+        if not self.serial.is_open:
+            return
+        self.serial.flush()
+        self.serial.close()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    config = SerialConf()
+    serial_reader = SerialSubscriber(config)
+    for message in serial_reader.receive():
+        print(message)
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/types.py b/heisskleber/network/types.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d701017
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/types.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from .pubsub.types import Publisher, Subscriber  # noqa: F401
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/udp/__init__.py b/heisskleber/network/udp/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/udp/config.py b/heisskleber/network/udp/config.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..51c9ad9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/udp/config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+from heisskleber.config import BaseConf
+
+
+@dataclass
+class UDPConf(BaseConf):
+    """
+    UDP configuration.
+    """
+
+    port: int = 1234
+    ip: str = "127.0.0.1"
+    packer: str = "json"
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/udp/publisher.py b/heisskleber/network/udp/publisher.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5499a69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/udp/publisher.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import socket
+
+from heisskleber.network.packer import get_packer
+from heisskleber.network.pubsub.types import Publisher
+from heisskleber.network.udp.config import UDPConf
+
+
+class UDP_Publisher(Publisher):
+    def __init__(self, config):
+        self.config = config
+        self.ip = self.config.ip
+        self.port = self.config.port
+        self.socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
+        self.packer = get_packer(self.config.packer)
+
+    def send(self, topic, message):
+        payload = self.packer(message)
+        payload = payload.encode("utf-8")
+        self.socket.sendto(payload, (self.ip, self.port))
+
+    def __del__(self):
+        self.socket.close()
+
+
+def udp_sender():
+    target_ip = "127.0.0.1"  # Replace this with the receiver's IP address
+    target_port = 12345  # Replace this with the receiver's port number
+
+    message = "Hello, UDP Receiver!"
+
+    # Create a UDP socket
+    udp_socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
+
+    try:
+        # Send the message to the receiver
+        udp_socket.sendto(message.encode("utf-8"), (target_ip, target_port))
+        print("Message sent successfully!")
+    except Exception as e:
+        print("Error occurred while sending the message:", str(e))
+    finally:
+        udp_socket.close()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    conf = UDPConf(ip="192.168.1.122", port=12345)
+    pub = UDP_Publisher(conf)
+
+    pub.send("test", {"test": "test"})
+    # pub.send("test", "Hi from pub")
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/udp/subscriber.py b/heisskleber/network/udp/subscriber.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ffaab08
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/udp/subscriber.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import socket
+
+from heisskleber.network.packer import get_unpacker
+from heisskleber.network.pubsub.types import Subscriber
+from heisskleber.network.udp.config import UDPConf
+
+
+class UDP_Subscriber(Subscriber):
+    def __init__(self, config, topic=None):
+        self.config = config
+        self.ip = self.config.ip
+        self.port = self.config.port
+        self.socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
+        self.socket.bind((self.ip, self.port))
+        self.unpacker = get_unpacker(self.config.packer)
+
+    def receive(self):
+        payload, addr = self.socket.recvfrom(1024)
+        return addr, self.unpacker(payload.decode("utf-8"))
+
+    def listen_loop(self):
+        while True:
+            addr, data = self.receive()
+            print(type(data))
+            print(data)
+
+    def __del__(self):
+        self.socket.close()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    conf = UDPConf(ip="192.168.1.122", port=12345)
+    sub = UDP_Subscriber(conf)
+    sub.listen_loop()
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/zmq/__init__.py b/heisskleber/network/zmq/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e66b53b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/zmq/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+from .config import ZmqConf  # noqa: F401
+from .publisher import ZmqPublisher  # noqa: F401
+from .subscriber import ZmqSubscriber  # noqa: F401
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/zmq/config.py b/heisskleber/network/zmq/config.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2243d2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/zmq/config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+from heisskleber.config import BaseConf
+
+
+@dataclass
+class ZmqConf(BaseConf):
+    protocol: str = "tcp"
+    interface: str = "127.0.0.1"
+    publisher_port: int = 5555
+    subscriber_port: int = 5556
+    packstyle: str = "json"
+
+    @property
+    def publisher_address(self):
+        return f"{self.protocol}://{self.interface}:{self.publisher_port}"
+
+    @property
+    def subscriber_address(self):
+        return f"{self.protocol}://{self.interface}:{self.subscriber_port}"
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/zmq/publisher.py b/heisskleber/network/zmq/publisher.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..622506b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/zmq/publisher.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+import sys
+
+import zmq
+
+from heisskleber.network.packer import get_packer
+from heisskleber.network.pubsub.types import Publisher
+
+from .config import ZmqConf
+
+
+class ZmqPublisher(Publisher):
+    def __init__(self, config: ZmqConf):
+        self.config = config
+
+        self.context = zmq.Context.instance()
+        self.socket = self.context.socket(zmq.PUB)
+
+        self.pack = get_packer(config.packstyle)
+        self.connect()
+
+    def connect(self):
+        try:
+            self.socket.connect(self.config.publisher_address)
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"failed to bind to zeromq socket: {e}")
+            sys.exit(-1)
+
+    def send(self, topic: bytes, data: dict):
+        data = self.pack(data)
+        self.socket.send_multipart([topic, data.encode("utf-8")])
+
+    def __del__(self):
+        self.socket.close()
diff --git a/heisskleber/network/zmq/subscriber.py b/heisskleber/network/zmq/subscriber.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..245a9cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heisskleber/network/zmq/subscriber.py
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import sys
+
+import zmq
+
+from heisskleber.network.packer import get_unpacker
+from heisskleber.network.pubsub.types import Subscriber
+
+from .config import ZmqConf
+
+
+class ZmqSubscriber(Subscriber):
+    def __init__(self, topic: bytes | str | list[bytes] | list[str], config: ZmqConf):
+        self.config = config
+
+        self.context = zmq.Context.instance()
+        self.socket = self.context.socket(zmq.SUB)
+        self.connect()
+        self.subscribe(topic)
+
+        self.unpack = get_unpacker(config.packstyle)
+
+    def connect(self):
+        try:
+            # print(f"Connecting to { self.config.consumer_connection }")
+            self.socket.connect(self.config.subscriber_address)
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"failed to bind to zeromq socket: {e}")
+            sys.exit(-1)
+
+    def _subscribe_single_topic(self, topic: bytes | str):
+        if isinstance(topic, str):
+            topic = topic.encode()
+        self.socket.setsockopt(zmq.SUBSCRIBE, topic)
+
+    def subscribe(self, topic: bytes | str | list[bytes] | list[str]):
+        # Accepts single topic or list of topics
+        if isinstance(topic, (list, tuple)):
+            for t in topic:
+                self._subscribe_single_topic(t)
+        else:
+            self._subscribe_single_topic(topic)
+
+    def receive(self) -> tuple[bytes, dict]:
+        """
+        reads a message from the zmq bus and returns it
+
+        Returns:
+            tuple(topic: bytes, message: dict): the message received
+        """
+        (topic, message) = self.socket.recv_multipart()
+        message = self.unpack(message.decode())
+        return (topic, message)
+
+    def __del__(self):
+        self.socket.close()