diff --git a/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_bridge.cpp b/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_bridge.cpp
--- a/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_bridge.cpp
+++ b/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_bridge.cpp
@@ -1,23 +1,145 @@
 #include "gr_esb_bridge.h"
 #include "gr_esb_ui.h"
 #include <unistd.h>
+#include "spw.h"
+#include <socexplorerengine.h>
 
 GR_ESB_bridge::GR_ESB_bridge(socexplorerplugin *parent) :
     abstractSpwBridge(parent)
 {
     this->p_GUI = new GR_ESB_ui();
-    this->Read_soc = new QTcpSocket(this);
-    this->Write_soc = new QTcpSocket(this);
+    this->manager = new GR_ESB_Manager(parent,this);
+
     connect((GR_ESB_ui*)(this->p_GUI),SIGNAL(ipchanged(QString)),this,SLOT(setIP(QString)));
-    connect((GR_ESB_ui*)(this->p_GUI),SIGNAL(vlinkchanged(QString)),this,SLOT(setPort(QString)));
+    connect((GR_ESB_ui*)(this->p_GUI),SIGNAL(vlinkchanged(QString)),this,SLOT(setVirtualLink(QString)));
+    connect((GR_ESB_ui*)(this->p_GUI),SIGNAL(connectClicked()),this,SLOT(toggleBridgeConnection()));
+    this->manager->virtualLinkIndex = 0;
+    this->manager->start();
 }
 
 GR_ESB_bridge::~GR_ESB_bridge()
 {
 }
 
+void GR_ESB_bridge::toggleBridgeConnection()
+{
+    if(this->plugin->isConnected())
+    {
+        this->disconnectBridge();
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        this->connectBridge();
+    }
+}
+
 bool GR_ESB_bridge::connectBridge()
 {
+    if(this->manager->connectBridge())
+    {
+        ((GR_ESB_ui*)this->p_GUI)->lock(true);
+        emit setConnected(true);
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+bool GR_ESB_bridge::disconnectBridge()
+{
+    if(this->manager->disconnectBridge())
+    {
+        ((GR_ESB_ui*)this->p_GUI)->lock(false);
+        emit setConnected(false);
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+void GR_ESB_bridge::setIP(QString ip)
+{
+    this->manager->IP = ip;
+}
+
+void GR_ESB_bridge::setVirtualLink(QString vlink)
+{
+    vlink = vlink.section("Virtual link",0,0);
+    bool success;
+    int vlinkTmp = vlink.toInt(&success);
+    if(success)
+    {
+        setVirtualLink(vlinkTmp);
+    }
+}
+
+void GR_ESB_bridge::setVirtualLink(qint32 vlink)
+{
+    if(vlink<6 && vlink>=0)
+    {
+        this->manager->virtualLinkIndex = vlink;
+    }
+}
+
+
+unsigned int GR_ESB_bridge::Write(unsigned int *Value, unsigned int count, unsigned int address)
+{
+
+}
+
+unsigned int GR_ESB_bridge::Read(unsigned int *Value, unsigned int count, unsigned int address)
+{
+
+}
+
+int GR_ESB_bridge::pushRMAPPacket(char *packet, int size)
+{
+    return this->manager->sendPacket(packet,size);
+}
+
+
+GR_ESB_Manager::GR_ESB_Manager(socexplorerplugin *plugin, QObject *parent)
+    :QThread((QObject*)parent)
+{
+    this->Read_soc = new QTcpSocket(this);
+    this->Write_soc = new QTcpSocket(this);
+    this->RMAPtimeout = 2000;
+    this->handleMutex = new QMutex(QMutex::NonRecursive);
+    this->RMAP_AnswersSem = new QSemaphore(0);
+    this->RMAP_AnswersMtx=new QMutex(QMutex::Recursive);
+    this->RMAP_pending_transaction_IDsMtx=new QMutex(QMutex::Recursive);
+    this->plugin = plugin;
+    connected = false;
+    this->moveToThread(this);
+}
+
+GR_ESB_Manager::~GR_ESB_Manager()
+{
+
+}
+
+void GR_ESB_Manager::run()
+{
+    SocExplorerEngine::message(this->plugin,"Starting GRESB pooling thread",1);
+    while (!this->isInterruptionRequested())
+    {
+        if(this->connected)
+        {
+            handleMutex->lock();
+            SocExplorerEngine::message(this->plugin,"Looking for new RMAP packets",4);
+
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            //do some sanity checks!
+
+            usleep(RMAPtimeout/2);
+        }
+        usleep(1000);
+    }
+    SocExplorerEngine::message(this->plugin,"Exiting Startdundee USB pooling thread",1);
+}
+
+bool GR_ESB_Manager::connectBridge()
+{
     int timeout=60;
     if(this->Read_soc->state()==QTcpSocket::UnconnectedState)
     {
@@ -35,60 +157,46 @@ bool GR_ESB_bridge::connectBridge()
         if(timeout--==0)return false;
     }
     return true;
+
 }
 
-bool GR_ESB_bridge::disconnectBridge()
+bool GR_ESB_Manager::disconnectBridge()
 {
     int timeout=60;
     if(this->Read_soc->state()!=QTcpSocket::UnconnectedState)
     {
         this->Read_soc->disconnectFromHost();
         this->Read_soc->waitForDisconnected(30000);
-        while(this->Read_soc->state()!=QTcpSocket::UnconnectedState)
-        {
-            usleep(100000);
-            if(timeout--==0)return false;
-        }
+    }
+    if(this->Write_soc->state()!=QTcpSocket::UnconnectedState)
+    {
+        this->Write_soc->disconnectFromHost();
+        this->Write_soc->waitForDisconnected(30000);
+    }
+    while((this->Read_soc->state()!=QTcpSocket::UnconnectedState) && (this->Write_soc->state()!=QTcpSocket::UnconnectedState))
+    {
+        usleep(100000);
+        if(timeout--==0)return false;
     }
     return true;
 }
 
-void GR_ESB_bridge::setIP(QString ip)
+int GR_ESB_Manager::getRMAPtransactionID()
 {
-    this->IP = ip;
+
 }
 
-void GR_ESB_bridge::setVirtualLink(QString vlink)
-{
-    vlink = vlink.section("Virtual link",0,0);
-    bool success;
-    int vlinkTmp = vlink.toInt(&success);
-    if(success)
-    {
-        setVirtualLink(vlinkTmp);
-    }
-}
-
-void GR_ESB_bridge::setVirtualLink(qint32 vlink)
-{
-    if(vlink<6 && vlink>=0)
-    {
-        virtualLinkIndex = vlink;
-    }
-}
-
-
-unsigned int GR_ESB_bridge::Write(unsigned int *Value, unsigned int count, unsigned int address)
+int GR_ESB_Manager::getRMAPanswer(int transactionID, char **buffer)
 {
 
 }
 
-unsigned int GR_ESB_bridge::Read(unsigned int *Value, unsigned int count, unsigned int address)
+bool GR_ESB_Manager::sendPacket(char *packet, int size)
 {
 
 }
 
-int GR_ESB_bridge::pushRMAPPacket(char *packet, int size)
+void GR_ESB_Manager::pushRmapPacket(char *packet, int len)
 {
 
 }
diff --git a/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_bridge.h b/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_bridge.h
--- a/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_bridge.h
+++ b/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_bridge.h
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 #define GR_ESB_BRIDGE_H
 #include "abstractspwbridge.h"
 #include <QTcpSocket>
+#include <QThread>
+#include <QMutex>
+#include <QSemaphore>
 
 struct gresb_Conf_str
 {
@@ -9,6 +12,7 @@ struct gresb_Conf_str
     qint32 Write_port;
 };
 
+
 const struct gresb_Conf_str gresb_Conf[]=
 {
     {3000,3001},  //Virtual link 0
@@ -19,6 +23,41 @@ const struct gresb_Conf_str gresb_Conf[]
     {3010,3011}   //Virtual link 5
 };
 
+
+class GR_ESB_Manager: public QThread
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+public:
+    explicit GR_ESB_Manager(socexplorerplugin *plugin = 0,QObject* parent=0);
+    ~GR_ESB_Manager();
+    void run();
+    bool connectBridge();
+    bool disconnectBridge();
+    int getRMAPtransactionID();
+    int getRMAPanswer(int transactionID,char** buffer);
+    bool sendPacket(char* packet,int size);
+
+signals:
+    void emitPacket(char* packet,int size);
+private:
+    QMutex* handleMutex,*RMAP_AnswersMtx,*RMAP_pending_transaction_IDsMtx;
+    QSemaphore* RMAP_AnswersSem;
+    void pushRmapPacket(char* packet,int len);
+    socexplorerplugin* plugin;
+    bool connected;
+    char* SPWPacketBuff;
+    QList<RMAP_Answer*> RMAP_Answers;
+    QList<int> RMAP_pending_transaction_IDs;
+
+public:
+    QTcpSocket* Read_soc;
+    QTcpSocket* Write_soc;
+    QString IP;
+    int virtualLinkIndex;
+    int RMAPtimeout;
+};
+
+
 class GR_ESB_bridge : public abstractSpwBridge
 {
     Q_OBJECT
@@ -29,6 +68,7 @@ signals:
 
 
 public slots:
+    void toggleBridgeConnection();
     bool connectBridge();
     bool disconnectBridge();
     void setIP(QString ip);
@@ -40,10 +80,8 @@ public slots:
     void packetReceived();
 
 private:
-    QTcpSocket* Read_soc;
-    QTcpSocket* Write_soc;
-    QString IP;
-    int virtualLinkIndex;
+
+    GR_ESB_Manager* manager;
 
 };
 
diff --git a/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_ui.cpp b/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_ui.cpp
--- a/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_ui.cpp
+++ b/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_ui.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ GR_ESB_ui::GR_ESB_ui(QWidget *parent) :
     ui->setupUi(this);
     connect(this->ui->GRESB_IP_lineEdit,SIGNAL(textChanged(QString)),this,SLOT(changeIp(QString)));
     connect(this->ui->GRESB_Vlink_CmBx,SIGNAL(currentIndexChanged(QString)),this,SIGNAL(vlinkchanged(QString)));
+    connect(this->ui->connectQpb,SIGNAL(clicked()),this,SIGNAL(connectClicked()));
 }
 
 void GR_ESB_ui::changeIp(QString ip)
@@ -17,3 +18,14 @@ void GR_ESB_ui::changeIp(QString ip)
     emit this->ipchanged(ip);
 }
 
+void GR_ESB_ui::lock(bool lock)
+{
+    this->ui->GRESB_IP_lineEdit->setDisabled(lock);
+    this->ui->GRESB_LinkNum_CmBx->setDisabled(lock);
+    this->ui->GRESB_Vlink_CmBx->setDisabled(lock);
+    if(lock)
+        this->ui->connectQpb->setText("Disconnect");
+    else
+        this->ui->connectQpb->setText("Connect");
+}
+
diff --git a/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_ui.h b/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_ui.h
--- a/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_ui.h
+++ b/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_ui.h
@@ -16,10 +16,11 @@ public:
 
 public slots:
     void changeIp(QString ip);
-
+    void lock(bool lock);
 signals:
     void ipchanged(QString ip);
     void vlinkchanged(QString vlink);
+    void connectClicked();
 private:
     Ui::GR_ESB_ui *ui;
 };
diff --git a/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_ui.ui b/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_ui.ui
--- a/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_ui.ui
+++ b/spwplugin/GR-ESB/gr_esb_ui.ui
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
    <rect>
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
-    <width>489</width>
-    <height>295</height>
+    <width>968</width>
+    <height>392</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
   <property name="windowTitle">
@@ -107,6 +107,13 @@
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
+       <item row="3" column="0" colspan="2">
+        <widget class="QPushButton" name="connectQpb">
+         <property name="text">
+          <string>Connect</string>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
       </layout>
      </widget>
      <widget class="QWidget" name="Web">
diff --git a/spwplugin/SpwTcpPacketServer/spwtcppacketserver.ui b/spwplugin/SpwTcpPacketServer/spwtcppacketserver.ui
--- a/spwplugin/SpwTcpPacketServer/spwtcppacketserver.ui
+++ b/spwplugin/SpwTcpPacketServer/spwtcppacketserver.ui
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
    <rect>
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
-    <width>671</width>
-    <height>409</height>
+    <width>726</width>
+    <height>535</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
   <property name="windowTitle">
@@ -65,16 +65,45 @@
     </widget>
    </item>
    <item>
-    <widget class="QGroupBox" name="clientListGroupBox_2">
+    <widget class="QGroupBox" name="groupBox">
      <property name="title">
-      <string>Connected clients</string>
+      <string>Server Statistics</string>
      </property>
-     <property name="flat">
-      <bool>false</bool>
-     </property>
-     <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_2">
-      <item>
-       <widget class="QListWidget" name="listWidget"/>
+     <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout">
+      <item row="2" column="0" colspan="2">
+       <widget class="QGroupBox" name="clientListGroupBox_2">
+        <property name="title">
+         <string>Connected clients</string>
+        </property>
+        <property name="flat">
+         <bool>false</bool>
+        </property>
+        <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_2">
+         <item>
+          <widget class="QListWidget" name="listWidget"/>
+         </item>
+        </layout>
+       </widget>
+      </item>
+      <item row="0" column="1">
+       <widget class="QLCDNumber" name="lcdNumber"/>
+      </item>
+      <item row="0" column="0">
+       <widget class="QLabel" name="label">
+        <property name="text">
+         <string>Sended Packets</string>
+        </property>
+       </widget>
+      </item>
+      <item row="1" column="0">
+       <widget class="QLabel" name="label_2">
+        <property name="text">
+         <string>Received Packets</string>
+        </property>
+       </widget>
+      </item>
+      <item row="1" column="1">
+       <widget class="QLCDNumber" name="lcdNumber_2"/>
       </item>
      </layout>
     </widget>
diff --git a/spwplugin/StarDundee/stardundeespw_usb.h b/spwplugin/StarDundee/stardundeespw_usb.h
--- a/spwplugin/StarDundee/stardundeespw_usb.h
+++ b/spwplugin/StarDundee/stardundeespw_usb.h
@@ -36,19 +36,7 @@
 #include <QLabel>
 #include "stardundeegui.h"
 
-class RMAP_Answer
-{
-  public:
-    RMAP_Answer(int ID,char* data,int len)
-    {
-        transactionID = ID;
-        this->data = data;
-        this->len = len;
-    }
-    int transactionID;
-    char* data;
-    int len;
-};
+
 
 class stardundeeSPW_USB_Manager: public QThread
 {
diff --git a/spwplugin/abstractspwbridge.h b/spwplugin/abstractspwbridge.h
--- a/spwplugin/abstractspwbridge.h
+++ b/spwplugin/abstractspwbridge.h
@@ -27,6 +27,20 @@
 #define RMAP_MAX_XFER_SIZE 4000 //slightly less than 16kBytes
 #include <spw.h>
 
+class RMAP_Answer
+{
+  public:
+    RMAP_Answer(int ID,char* data,int len)
+    {
+        transactionID = ID;
+        this->data = data;
+        this->len = len;
+    }
+    int transactionID;
+    char* data;
+    int len;
+};
+
 class abstractSpwBridge : public QObject
 {
     Q_OBJECT
diff --git a/spwplugin/spwplugin.cpp b/spwplugin/spwplugin.cpp
--- a/spwplugin/spwplugin.cpp
+++ b/spwplugin/spwplugin.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include <socexplorerproxy.h>
 #include "spwpywrapper.h"
 
+
 spwplugin::spwplugin(QWidget *parent):socexplorerplugin(parent,false)
 {
     Q_UNUSED(parent)
diff --git a/spwplugin/spwplugin.h b/spwplugin/spwplugin.h
--- a/spwplugin/spwplugin.h
+++ b/spwplugin/spwplugin.h
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@
 
 #include "SpwTcpPacketServer/spwtcppacketserver.h"
 
+// TODO switch to a class factory approach with self registration
+
 class spwplugin : public socexplorerplugin
 {
     Q_OBJECT
@@ -70,6 +72,7 @@ private:
     QGroupBox* mainGroupBox;
     QComboBox* bridgeSelector;
     QGridLayout* mainLayout;
+
 };
 
 #endif // spwplugin_H