diff --git a/lib/resources/mysql_conf.rb b/lib/resources/mysql_conf.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ef9841672
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/resources/mysql_conf.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+# copyright: 2015, Dominik Richter
+# license: All rights reserved
+
+require 'utils/parseconfig'
+
+class MysqlConf
+
+  def initialize( conf_path )
+    @runner = Specinfra::Runner
+    @conf_path = conf_path
+    @files_contents = {}
+    @content = nil
+    @params = nil
+    read_content
+  end
+
+  def content
+    @content ||= read_content
+  end
+
+  def params *opts
+    @params || read_content
+    res = @params
+    opts.each do |opt|
+      res = res[opt] unless res.nil?
+    end
+    res
+  end
+
+  def read_content
+    @content = ""
+    @params = {}
+    to_read = [@conf_path]
+    while !to_read.empty?
+      raw_conf = read_file(to_read[0])
+      @content += raw_conf
+      
+      params = ParseConfig.new(raw_conf).params
+      @params.merge!(params)
+
+      to_read = to_read.drop(1)
+      # see if there is more stuff to include
+      include_files = raw_conf.scan(/^!include\s+(.*)\s*/).flatten.compact
+      include_dirs = raw_conf.scan(/^!includedir\s+(.*)\s*/).flatten.compact
+      include_dirs.map do |include_dir|
+        include_files += Dir.glob(File.join include_dir, '*')
+      end
+      to_read += include_files.find_all do |fp|
+        not @files_contents.key? fp
+      end
+    end
+    #
+    @content
+  end
+
+  def read_file(path)
+    @files_contents[path] ||= @runner.get_file_content(path).stdout
+  end
+end
+
diff --git a/lib/resources/mysql_session.rb b/lib/resources/mysql_session.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fb3029a04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/resources/mysql_session.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+# copyright: 2015, Dominik Richter
+# license: All rights reserved
+
+class MysqlSession
+  def initialize user, pass
+    @user = user
+    @pass = pass
+  end
+
+  def describe(query, db = "", &block)
+    # TODO: simple escape, must be handled by a library
+    # that does this securely
+    escaped_query = query.gsub(/\\/, '\\\\').gsub(/"/,'\\"').gsub(/\$/,'\\$')
+    # run the query
+    cmd = Serverspec::Type::Command.new("mysql -u#{@user} -p#{@pass} #{db} -s -e \"#{escaped_query}\"")
+    out = cmd.stdout + "\n" + cmd.stderr
+    if out =~ /Can't connect to .* MySQL server/ or
+       out.downcase =~ /^error/
+      # skip this test if the server can't run the query
+      RSpec.describe( cmd ) do
+        it "is skipped", skip: out do
+        end
+      end
+    else
+      RSpec.__send__( 'describe', cmd, &block )
+    end
+  end
+
+end
+
+def start_mysql_session( user, password )
+  MysqlSession.new(user, password)
+end
+
diff --git a/lib/resources/postgres_conf.rb b/lib/resources/postgres_conf.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4fd4a0d7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/resources/postgres_conf.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+# copyright: 2015, Dominik Richter
+# license: All rights reserved
+
+require 'utils/simpleconfig'
+
+class PostgresConf
+
+  def initialize( conf_path )
+    @runner = Specinfra::Runner
+    @conf_path = conf_path
+    @conf_dir = File.expand_path(File.dirname @conf_path)
+    @files_contents = {}
+    @content = nil
+    @params = nil
+    read_content
+  end
+
+  def content
+    @content ||= read_content
+  end
+
+  def params *opts
+    @params || read_content
+    res = @params
+    opts.each do |opt|
+      res = res[opt] unless res.nil?
+    end
+    res
+  end
+
+  def read_content
+    @content = ""
+    @params = {}
+    to_read = [@conf_path]
+    while !to_read.empty?
+      raw_conf = read_file(to_read[0])
+      @content += raw_conf
+
+      params = SimpleConfig.new(raw_conf).params
+      @params.merge!(params)
+
+      to_read = to_read.drop(1)
+      # see if there is more config files to include
+      include_files = params['include'] || []
+      include_files += params['include_if_exists'] || []
+      (params['include_dir'] || []).each do |id|
+        id = File.join(@conf_dir, id) if id[0] != '/'
+        include_files += Dir.glob(File.join id, '*')
+      end
+      to_read += include_files.find_all do |fp|
+        not @files_contents.key? fp
+      end
+    end
+    #
+    @content
+  end
+
+  def read_file(path)
+    @files_contents[path] ||= @runner.get_file_content(path).stdout
+  end
+end
+
diff --git a/lib/resources/postgres_session.rb b/lib/resources/postgres_session.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f28b03bbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/resources/postgres_session.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+# copyright: 2015, Dominik Richter
+# license: All rights reserved
+
+module Serverspec end
+module Serverspec::Type
+  class Lines
+    def initialize raw, desc
+      @raw = raw
+      @desc = desc
+    end
+
+    def output
+      @raw
+    end
+
+    def lines
+      @raw.split("\n")
+    end
+
+    def to_s
+      @desc
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+class PostgresSession
+  def initialize user, pass
+    @user = user || 'postgres'
+    @pass = pass
+  end
+
+  def describe(query, db = [], &block)
+    dbs = db.map{|x| "-d #{x}" }.join(' ')
+    # TODO: simple escape, must be handled by a library
+    # that does this securely
+    escaped_query = query.gsub(/\\/, '\\\\').gsub(/"/,'\\"').gsub(/\$/,'\\$')
+    # run the query
+    cmd = Serverspec::Type::Command.new("PGPASSWORD='#{@pass}' psql -U #{@user} #{dbs} -c \"#{escaped_query}\"")
+    out = cmd.stdout + "\n" + cmd.stderr
+    if out =~ /Can't connect to .*/ or
+       out.downcase =~ /^error/
+      # skip this test if the server can't run the query
+      RSpec.describe( cmd ) do
+        it "is skipped", skip: out do
+        end
+      end
+    else
+      lines = cmd.stdout.
+        # remove the whole header (i.e. up to the first ^-----+------+------$)
+        sub(/(.*\n)+([-]+[+])*[-]+\n/,'').
+        # remove the tail
+        sub(/\n[^\n]*\n\n$/,'')
+      l = Serverspec::Type::Lines.new(lines.strip, "PostgreSQL query: #{query}")
+      RSpec.__send__( 'describe', l, &block )
+    end
+  end
+
+end
+
+def start_postgres_session( user, password )
+  PostgresSession.new(user, password)
+end
+
diff --git a/lib/resources/processes.rb b/lib/resources/processes.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..17c9a1760
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/resources/processes.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+# copyright: 2015, Dominik Richter
+# license: All rights reserved
+
+module Serverspec
+  module Type
+    class Processes < Base
+      def initialize grep
+        # turn into a regexp if it isn't one yet
+        if grep.class == String
+          grep = '(/[^/]*)*'+grep if grep[0] != '/'
+          grep = Regexp.new('^'+grep+'(\s|$)')
+        end
+        # get all running processes
+        cmd = Serverspec::Type::Command.new('ps aux')
+        all = cmd.stdout.split("\n")[1..-1]
+        all_cmds = all.map do |line|
+          # user   32296  0.0  0.0  42592  7972 pts/15   Ss+  Apr06   0:00 zsh
+          line.match(/^([^ ]+)\s+([^ ]+)\s+([^ ]+)\s+([^ ]+)\s+([^ ]+)\s+([^ ]+)\s+([^ ]+)\s+([^ ]+)\s+([^ ]+)\s+([^ ]+)\s+(.*)$/)
+        end.compact.map do |m|
+          {
+            user: m[1],
+            pid: m[2],
+            cpu: m[3],
+            mem: m[4],
+            vsz: m[5],
+            rss: m[6],
+            tty: m[7],
+            stat: m[8],
+            start: m[9],
+            time: m[10],
+            command: m[11]
+          }
+        end
+
+        @list = all_cmds.find_all do |hm|
+          hm[:command] =~ grep
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    def list
+      @list
+    end
+
+    def processes( grep )
+      Processes.new(grep)
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+include Serverspec::Type
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/resources/ssh_conf.rb b/lib/resources/ssh_conf.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ef5d8f078
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/resources/ssh_conf.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+# copyright: 2015, Dominik Richter
+# license: All rights reserved
+
+require 'utils/simpleconfig'
+
+class SshConf
+
+  def initialize( conf_path, type = nil )
+    @runner = Specinfra::Runner
+    @conf_path = conf_path
+    @conf_dir = File.expand_path(File.dirname @conf_path)
+    @files_contents = {}
+    @content = nil
+    @params = nil
+    typename = ( conf_path.include?('sshd') ? 'server' : 'client' )
+    @type = type || "SSH #{typename} configuration"
+    read_content
+  end
+
+  def to_s
+    @type
+  end
+
+  def content
+    @content ||= read_content
+  end
+
+  def params *opts
+    @params || read_content
+    res = @params
+    opts.each do |opt|
+      res = res[opt] unless res.nil?
+    end
+    res
+  end
+
+  def method_missing name
+    @params || read_content
+    @params[name.to_s]
+  end
+
+  def read_content
+    @content = read_file(@conf_path)
+    @params = SimpleConfig.new(@content, assignment_re: /^\s*(\S+?)\s+(.*?)\s*$/).params
+    @content
+  end
+
+  def read_file(path)
+    @files_contents[path] ||= @runner.get_file_content(path).stdout
+  end
+end
+
diff --git a/lib/utils/parseconfig.rb b/lib/utils/parseconfig.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..66ecf9608
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/utils/parseconfig.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+#
+# Author::      BJ Dierkes <derks@datafolklabs.com>
+# Copyright::   Copyright (c) 2006,2013 BJ Dierkes
+# License::     MIT
+# URL::         https://github.com/datafolklabs/ruby-parseconfig
+#
+
+# This class was written to simplify the parsing of configuration
+# files in the format of "param = value".  Please review the
+# demo files included with this package.
+#
+# For further information please refer to the './doc' directory
+# as well as the ChangeLog and README files included.
+#
+
+# Note: A group is a set of parameters defined for a subpart of a
+# config file
+
+class ParseConfig
+
+  Version = '1.0.6'
+
+  attr_accessor :conf, :params, :groups
+
+  # Initialize the class with raw config data 'conf'
+  # The class objects are dynamically generated by the
+  # name of the 'param' in the config file.  Therefore, if
+  # the config file is 'param = value' then the itializer
+  # will eval "@param = value"
+  #
+  def initialize(conf=nil, separator = '=')
+    @params = {}
+    @groups = []
+    @splitRegex = '\s*' + separator + '\s*'
+
+    self.import_config(conf)
+  end
+
+  # Import data from the config to our config object.
+  def import_config(raw)
+    # The config is top down.. anything after a [group] gets added as part
+    # of that group until a new [group] is found.
+    group = nil
+    raw.split("\n").each_with_index do |line, i|
+      line.strip!
+
+      # force_encoding not available in all versions of ruby
+      begin
+        if i.eql? 0 and line.include?("\xef\xbb\xbf".force_encoding("UTF-8"))
+          line.delete!("\xef\xbb\xbf".force_encoding("UTF-8"))
+        end
+      rescue NoMethodError
+      end
+
+      unless (/^\#/.match(line))
+        if(/#{@splitRegex}/.match(line))
+          param, value = line.split(/#{@splitRegex}/, 2)
+          var_name = "#{param}".chomp.strip
+          value = value.chomp.strip
+          new_value = ''
+          if (value)
+            if value =~ /^['"](.*)['"]$/
+              new_value = $1
+            else
+              new_value = value
+            end
+          else
+            new_value = ''
+          end
+
+          if group
+            self.add_to_group(group, var_name, new_value)
+          else
+            self.add(var_name, new_value)
+          end
+
+        elsif(/^\[(.+)\]$/.match(line).to_a != [])
+          group = /^\[(.+)\]$/.match(line).to_a[1]
+          self.add(group, {})
+
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  # This method will provide the value held by the object "@param"
+  # where "@param" is actually the name of the param in the config
+  # file.
+  #
+  # DEPRECATED - will be removed in future versions
+  #
+  def get_value(param)
+    puts "ParseConfig Deprecation Warning: get_value() is deprecated. Use " + \
+         "config['param'] or config['group']['param'] instead."
+    return self.params[param]
+  end
+
+  # This method is a shortcut to accessing the @params variable
+  def [](param)
+    return self.params[param]
+  end
+
+  # This method returns all parameters/groups defined in a config file.
+  def get_params()
+    return self.params.keys
+  end
+
+  # List available sub-groups of the config.
+  def get_groups()
+    return self.groups
+  end
+
+  # This method adds an element to the config object (not the config file)
+  # By adding a Hash, you create a new group
+  def add(param_name, value)
+    if value.class == Hash
+      if self.params.has_key?(param_name)
+        if self.params[param_name].class == Hash
+          self.params[param_name].merge!(value)
+        elsif self.params.has_key?(param_name)
+          if self.params[param_name].class != value.class
+            raise ArgumentError, "#{param_name} already exists, and is of different type!"
+          end
+        end
+      else
+        self.params[param_name] = value
+      end
+      if ! self.groups.include?(param_name)
+        self.groups.push(param_name)
+      end
+    else
+      self.params[param_name] = value
+    end
+  end
+
+  # Add parameters to a group. Note that parameters with the same name
+  # could be placed in different groups
+  def add_to_group(group, param_name, value)
+    if ! self.groups.include?(group)
+      self.add(group, {})
+    end
+    self.params[group][param_name] = value
+  end
+
+  # Writes out the config file to output_stream
+  def write(output_stream=STDOUT, quoted=true)
+    self.params.each do |name,value|
+      if value.class.to_s != 'Hash'
+        if quoted == true
+          output_stream.puts "#{name} = \"#{value}\""
+        else
+          output_stream.puts "#{name} = #{value}"
+        end
+      end
+    end
+    output_stream.puts "\n"
+
+    self.groups.each do |group|
+      output_stream.puts "[#{group}]"
+      self.params[group].each do |param, value|
+        if quoted == true
+          output_stream.puts "#{param} = \"#{value}\""
+        else
+          output_stream.puts "#{param} = #{value}"
+        end
+      end
+      output_stream.puts "\n"
+    end
+  end
+
+  # Public: Compare this ParseConfig to some other ParseConfig. For two config to
+  # be equivalent, they must have the same sections with the same parameters
+  #
+  # other - The other ParseConfig.
+  #
+  # Returns true if ParseConfig are equivalent and false if they differ.
+
+  def eql?(other)
+    self.params == other.params && self.groups == other.groups
+  end
+  alias == eql?
+end
diff --git a/lib/utils/simpleconfig.rb b/lib/utils/simpleconfig.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..df73118f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/utils/simpleconfig.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+# copyright: 2015, Dominik Richter
+# license: All rights reserved
+
+class SimpleConfig
+  attr_reader :params
+  def initialize( raw_data, opts = {} )
+    parse(raw_data, opts)
+  end
+
+  # Parse some data
+  # quotes: quoting characters, which are parsed, so everything inside
+  # it will be part of a string
+  # multiline: allow quoted text to span multiple lines
+  # comment_char: char which identifies comments
+  # standalone_comments: comments must appear alone in a line; if set to true,
+  # no comments can be added to the end of an assignment/statement line
+  def parse( raw_data, opts = {} )
+    @params = {}
+    options = default_options.merge(opts)
+    rest = raw_data
+    rest = parse_rest(rest, options) while rest.length > 0
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def parse_rest( rest, opts )
+    idx_nl = rest.index("\n")
+    idx_comment = rest.index('#')
+    idx_nl = rest.length if idx_nl.nil?
+    idx_comment = idx_nl+1 if idx_comment.nil?
+    # is a comment inside this line
+    if idx_comment < idx_nl
+      if idx_comment == 0
+        line = ''
+      else
+        line = rest[0..(idx_comment-1)]
+        # in case we don't allow comments at the end
+        # of an assignment/statement, ignore it and fall
+        # back to treating this as a regular line
+        if opts[:standalone_comments] && !is_empty_line(line)
+          line = rest[0..(idx_nl-1)]
+        end
+      end
+    # if there is no comment in this line
+    else
+      if idx_nl == 0
+        line = ''
+      else
+        line = rest[0..(idx_nl-1)]
+      end
+    end
+    # now line contains what we are interested in parsing
+    # check if it is an assignment
+    m = opts[:assignment_re].match(line)
+    if !m.nil?
+      @params[m[1]] ||= []
+      @params[m[1]].push(m[2])
+    elsif !is_empty_line(line)
+      @params[line.strip] ||= []
+    end
+
+    # return whatever is left
+    return rest[(idx_nl+1)..-1] || ''
+  end
+
+  def is_empty_line l
+    l =~ /^\s*$/
+  end
+
+  def default_options
+    {
+      quotes: '',
+      multiline: false,
+      comment_char: '#',
+      assignment_re: /^\s*([^=]*?)\s*=\s*(.*?)\s*$/,
+      standalone_comments: false
+    }
+  end
+
+end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/utils/spec_helper.rb b/lib/utils/spec_helper.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..090b7e694
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/utils/spec_helper.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+# copyright: 2015, Dominik Richter
+# license: All rights reserved
+
+require 'serverspec'
+
+# Run spec on an ssh target
+if ENV['SSH_SPEC']
+
+  require 'pathname'
+  require 'net/ssh'
+
+  set :backend, :ssh
+
+  RSpec.configure do |c|
+    options = {}
+    c.sudo_password = ENV['SUDO_PASSWORD'] || ENV['sudo_password']
+    c.host = ENV['TARGET_HOST']
+    options[:password] = ENV['LOGIN_PASSWORD'] || ENV['password']
+    options[:user] = ENV['LOGIN_USERNAME'] || ENV['user'] || Etc.getlogin
+
+    if !ENV['LOGIN_KEY'].nil?
+      options[:keys] = [ENV['LOGIN_KEY']]
+      options[:keys_only] = true
+    end
+
+    # TODO: optional, will be removed
+    if options[:user].nil?
+      raise 'specify a user for login via env LOGIN_USERNAME= or by adding user='
+    end
+
+    ssh_conf = Net::SSH::Config.for(c.host)
+    c.ssh_options = options.merge(ssh_conf)
+  end
+
+# Run spec on local machine
+else
+  require 'serverspec'
+  set :backend, :exec
+end
diff --git a/lib/vulcano.rb b/lib/vulcano.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..26b94c47f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/vulcano.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+# copyright: 2015, Dominik Richter
+# license: All rights reserved
+
+require 'utils/spec_helper'
+
+require 'resources/mysql_conf'
+require 'resources/mysql_session'
+require 'resources/postgres_conf'
+require 'resources/postgres_session'
+require 'resources/processes'
+require 'resources/ssh_conf'
+
+# Dummy module for handling additional attributes
+# which may be injected by the user. This covers data
+# like passwords, usernames, or configuration flags.
+def attributes what, required: false
+  return nil
+end