diff --git a/src/state.rs b/src/state.rs
index a487410..c27ea00 100644
--- a/src/state.rs
+++ b/src/state.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,27 @@ pub struct Resources {
 }
 
 impl Resources {
+    // TODO: improve this to error out if ports are not available
+    // be careful with loops
+    // server must provide number of ports in the contract or fail
+    fn reserve_ports(&mut self, mut nr: u16, config: &Config) -> Vec<u16> {
+        use rand::Rng;
+        if nr > config.max_ports_per_vm {
+            nr = config.max_ports_per_vm;
+        }
+        let mut published_ports = Vec::new();
+        for _ in 0..nr {
+            for _ in 0..5 {
+                let port = rand::thread_rng().gen_range(config.public_port_range.clone());
+                if self.used_ports.insert(port) {
+                    published_ports.push(port);
+                }
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        Vec::new()
+    }
+
     fn reserve_vm_if(&mut self) -> String {
         use rand::{distributions::Alphanumeric, Rng};
         loop {
@@ -74,8 +95,8 @@ impl Resources {
                             },
                         };
                         let mut ips = Vec::new();
-                        let mask = range
-                            .subnet
+                        let mask = ip
+                            .network()
                             .to_string()
                             .split('/')
                             .next()
@@ -115,8 +136,8 @@ impl Resources {
                             },
                         };
                         let mut ips = Vec::new();
-                        let mask = range
-                            .subnet
+                        let mask = ip
+                            .network()
                             .to_string()
                             .split('/')
                             .next()
@@ -183,6 +204,12 @@ pub struct VMNIC {
     ips: Vec<IPConfig>,
 }
 
+impl VMNIC {
+    fn new() -> VMNIC {
+        todo!("implement this here to improve code elegance of resource reservation");
+    }
+}
+
 pub struct VM {
     uuid: String,
     hostname: String,
@@ -267,7 +294,7 @@ impl VM {
                     } else {
                         vm_nics.push(vmnic);
                     }
-                },
+                }
                 None => return Err(VMCreationErrors::IPv4NotAvailable),
             }
         }