diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index bee8c22..16a9a54 100644
Binary files a/requirements.txt and b/requirements.txt differ
diff --git a/src/packetserver/runner/__init__.py b/src/packetserver/runner/__init__.py
index 3ed3a57..f9bfe0b 100644
--- a/src/packetserver/runner/__init__.py
+++ b/src/packetserver/runner/__init__.py
@@ -1,7 +1,71 @@
 """Package runs arbitrary commands/jobs via different mechanisms."""
 from typing import Union,Optional,Iterable,Self
+from enum import Enum
+import datetime
+from uuid import UUID, uuid4
+from threading import Lock
+
+class RunnerStatus(Enum):
+    CREATED = 1
+    QUEUED = 2
+    STARTING = 3
+    RUNNING = 4
+    STOPPING = 5
+    SUCCESSFUL = 6
+    FAILED = 7
 
 class Runner:
     """Abstract class to take arguments and run a job and track the status and results."""
-    def __init__(self, args: Iterable[str], ):
+    def __init__(self, username: str, args: Iterable[str], job_id: int, environment: Optional[dict] = None,
+                 timeout_secs: str = 300, refresh_db: bool = True, labels: Optional[list] = None):
+        self.status = RunnerStatus.CREATED
+        self.username = username.strip().lower()
+        self.args = args
+        self.env = {}
+        if environment:
+            for key in environment:
+                self.env[key] = environment[key]
+        self.labels = []
+        for l in labels:
+            self.labels.append(l)
+
+        self.timeout_seconds = timeout_secs
+        self.refresh_db = refresh_db
+        self.created_at = datetime.datetime.now(datetime.UTC)
+
+    def start(self):
+        raise RuntimeError("Attempting to start an abstract class.")
+
+    def stop(self):
+        raise RuntimeError("Attempting to stop an abstract class.")
+
+    @property
+    def output(self) -> str:
+        raise RuntimeError("Attempting to interact with an abstract class.")
+
+    @property
+    def errors(self) -> str:
+        raise RuntimeError("Attempting to interact with an abstract class.")
+
+    @property
+    def return_code(self) -> Optional[int]:
+        raise RuntimeError("Attempting to interact with an abstract class.")
+
+    @property
+    def artifacts(self) -> list:
+        raise RuntimeError("Attempting to interact with an abstract class.")
+
+class Orchestrator:
+    """Abstract class holds configuration and also tracks runners through their lifecycle. Prepares environments to
+    run jobs in runners."""
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.runners = []
+        self.runner_lock = Lock()
+
+    def new_runner(self, username: str, args: Iterable[str], job_id: int, environment: Optional[dict] = None,
+                 timeout_secs: str = 300, refresh_db: bool = True, labels: Optional[list] = None) -> Runner:
         pass
+
+    def manage_lifecycle(self):
+        """When called, starts any pending runners if queue allows, looks for finished runners and updates statuses."""
+        pass
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/packetserver/runner/podman.py b/src/packetserver/runner/podman.py
index c4f7b40..d23675e 100644
--- a/src/packetserver/runner/podman.py
+++ b/src/packetserver/runner/podman.py
@@ -1 +1,43 @@
-"""Uses podman to run jobs in containers."
+"""Uses podman to run jobs in containers."""
+from . import Runner, Orchestrator
+from collections import namedtuple
+from typing import Optional
+import subprocess
+import podman
+import os
+import os.path
+import logging
+import ZODB
+
+PodmanOptions = namedtuple("PodmanOptions", ["default_timeout", "max_timeout", "image_name",
+                                             "max_active_jobs", "container_keepalive", "name_prefix"])
+
+class PodmanRunner(Runner):
+    def __init__(self, username):
+        pass
+
+class PodmanOrchestrator(Orchestrator):
+    def __init__(self, uri: Optional[str] = None, options: Optional[PodmanOptions] = None):
+        super().__init__()
+        if uri:
+            self.uri = uri
+        else:
+            self.uri = f"unix:///run/user/{os.getuid()}/podman/podman.sock"
+
+        if not os.path.exists(self.uri):
+            raise FileNotFoundError(f"Podman socket not found: {self.uri}")
+
+        logging.debug(f"Testing podman socket. Version: {self.client.version()}")
+
+        self.username_containers = {}
+        if options:
+            self.opts = options
+        else:
+            self.opts = PodmanOptions(default_timeout=300, max_timeout=3600, image_name="debian", max_active_jobs=5,
+                                  container_keepalive=300, name_prefix="packetserver_")
+
+    @property
+    def client(self):
+        return podman.PodmanClient(base_url=self.uri)
+
+    def refresh_user_db(self, username: str, db: ZODB.DB):
diff --git a/src/packetserver/server/db.py b/src/packetserver/server/db.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f3ffbba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/packetserver/server/db.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import ZODB
+import json
+import gzip
+import base64
+
+def get_user_db(username: str, db: ZODB.DB) -> dict:
+    udb = {
+        "objects": {},
+        "messages": [],
+        "user": {},
+        "bulletins": []
+    }
+    username = username.strip().upper()
+    with db.transaction() as db_conn:
+        user = db_conn.root.users[username]
+        udb['user'] = user.to_safe_dict()
+        for o in user.object_uuids:
+            if type(o.data) is bytes:
+                o.data = base64.b64encode(o.data).decode()
+            else:
+                o.data = base64.b64encode(o.data.encode()).decode()
+            udb['objects'][o] = db_conn.root.objects[o].to_dict()
+        for m in db_conn.root.messages[username]:
+            for a in m.attachments:
+                if type(a.data) is bytes:
+                    a.data = base64.b64encode(a.data).decode()
+                else:
+                    a.data = base64.b64encode(a.data.encode()).decode()
+            udb['messages'].append(m.to_dict())
+        for b in db_conn.root.bulletins:
+            udb['bulletins'].append(b.to_dict())
+
+    return udb
+
+def get_user_db_json(username: str, db: ZODB.DB, gzip_output=True) -> bytes:
+    udb = get_user_db(username, db)
+    j = json.dumps(udb).encode()
+    if gzip_output:
+        return gzip.compress(j)
+    else:
+        return j
diff --git a/src/packetserver/server/jobs.py b/src/packetserver/server/jobs.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29