diff --git a/GNUmakefile b/GNUmakefile
index 5dc8f48..ce1e81e 100644
--- a/GNUmakefile
+++ b/GNUmakefile
@@ -192,6 +192,10 @@ autotest_SOURCES := \
 
 autotest_OBJECTS = autotest.o
 
+plugin_example_SOURCES := src/plugins/mod_example.c
+plugin_example_TARGET := $(plugin_example_SOURCES:.c=.so)
+
+
 # Source to objects
 libuhub_OBJECTS       := $(libuhub_SOURCES:.c=.o)
 libadc_client_OBJECTS := $(libadc_client_SOURCES:.c=.o)
@@ -202,14 +206,23 @@ adcrush_OBJECTS       := $(adcrush_SOURCES:.c=.o)
 admin_OBJECTS         := $(admin_SOURCES:.c=.o)
 
 all_OBJECTS     := $(libuhub_OBJECTS) $(uhub_OBJECTS) $(adcrush_OBJECTS) $(autotest_OBJECTS) $(admin_OBJECTS) $(libadc_common_OBJECTS) $(libadc_client_OBJECTS)
+all_plugins     := $(plugin_example_TARGET)
 
 uhub_BINARY=uhub$(BIN_EXT)
 adcrush_BINARY=adcrush$(BIN_EXT)
 admin_BINARY=uhub-admin$(BIN_EXT)
 autotest_BINARY=autotest/test$(BIN_EXT)
 
+ifeq ($(USE_PLUGINS),YES)
+all_OBJECTS     += $(plugins)
+endif
+
+
 .PHONY: revision.h.tmp
 
+%.so: %.c
+	$(MSG_CC) $(CC) -shared  -fPIC -o $@ $< $(CFLAGS)
+
 %.o: %.c version.h revision.h
 	$(MSG_CC) $(CC) -c $(CFLAGS) -o $@ $<
 
diff --git a/src/core/pluginloader.c b/src/core/pluginloader.c
index 8c37da9..5b48bc4 100644
--- a/src/core/pluginloader.c
+++ b/src/core/pluginloader.c
@@ -20,8 +20,9 @@
 #include "uhub.h"
 
 #ifdef PLUGIN_SUPPORT
+#include "plugin_api/handle.h"
 
-struct uhub_plugin* uhub_plugin_open(const char* filename)
+struct uhub_plugin* plugin_open(const char* filename)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_DLOPEN
 	struct uhub_plugin* plugin = (struct uhub_plugin*) hub_malloc_zero(sizeof(struct uhub_plugin));
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ struct uhub_plugin* uhub_plugin_open(const char* filename)
 #endif
 }
 
-void uhub_plugin_close(struct uhub_plugin* plugin)
+void plugin_close(struct uhub_plugin* plugin)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_DLOPEN
 	dlclose(plugin->handle);
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ void uhub_plugin_close(struct uhub_plugin* plugin)
 #endif
 }
 
-void* uhub_plugin_lookup_symbol(struct uhub_plugin* plugin, const char* symbol)
+void* plugin_lookup_symbol(struct uhub_plugin* plugin, const char* symbol)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_DLOPEN
 	void* addr = dlsym(plugin->handle, symbol);
@@ -63,4 +64,52 @@ void* uhub_plugin_lookup_symbol(struct uhub_plugin* plugin, const char* symbol)
 #endif
 }
 
+struct uhub_plugin_handle* plugin_load(const char* filename, const char* config)
+{
+	plugin_register_f register_f;
+	plugin_unregister_f unregister_f;
+	int ret;
+	struct uhub_plugin_handle* handle = hub_malloc_zero(sizeof(struct uhub_plugin_handle));
+	struct uhub_plugin* plugin = plugin_open(filename);
+
+	if (!plugin)
+		return NULL;
+
+	if (!handle)
+	{
+		plugin_close(plugin);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	handle->handle = plugin;
+	register_f = plugin_lookup_symbol(plugin, "plugin_register");
+	unregister_f = plugin_lookup_symbol(plugin, "plugin_unregister");
+
+	if (register_f && unregister_f)
+	{
+		ret = register_f(handle, config);
+		if (ret == 0)
+		{
+			if (handle->plugin_api_version == PLUGIN_API_VERSION && handle->plugin_funcs_size == sizeof(struct plugin_funcs))
+			{
+				LOG_INFO("Loaded plugin: %s: \"%s\", version %s.", filename, handle->name, handle->version);
+				return handle;
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				LOG_ERROR("Unable to load plugin: %s - API version mistmatch", filename);
+			}
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			LOG_ERROR("Unable to load plugin: %s - Failed to initialize", filename);
+		}
+	}
+
+	plugin_close(plugin);
+	hub_free(handle);
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+
 #endif /* PLUGIN_SUPPORT */
diff --git a/src/core/pluginloader.h b/src/core/pluginloader.h
index ecee3f5..5924157 100644
--- a/src/core/pluginloader.h
+++ b/src/core/pluginloader.h
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 
 #ifdef PLUGIN_SUPPORT
 
+struct uhub_plugin_handle;
+
 struct uhub_plugin
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_DLOPEN
@@ -29,11 +31,16 @@ struct uhub_plugin
 #endif
 };
 
-extern struct uhub_plugin* uhub_plugin_open(const char* filename);
+extern struct uhub_plugin* plugin_open(const char* filename);
 
-extern void uhub_plugin_close(struct uhub_plugin*);
+extern void plugin_close(struct uhub_plugin*);
 
-extern void* uhub_plugin_lookup_symbol(struct uhub_plugin*, const char* symbol);
+extern void* plugin_lookup_symbol(struct uhub_plugin*, const char* symbol);
+
+
+// Load and register a plugin
+extern struct uhub_plugin_handle* plugin_load(const char* filename, const char* config);
+extern void plugin_unload(struct uhub_plugin_handle*);
 
 #endif /* PLUGIN_SUPPORT */
 
diff --git a/src/plugin_api/auth_api.h b/src/plugin_api/auth_api.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 53871a7..0000000
--- a/src/plugin_api/auth_api.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,78 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * uhub - A tiny ADC p2p connection hub
- * Copyright (C) 2007-2010, Jan Vidar Krey
- *
- * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
- * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
- * the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
- * (at your option) any later version.
- *
- * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
- * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
- * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
- * GNU General Public License for more details.
- *
- * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
- * along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
- *
- */
-
-#ifndef HAVE_UHUB_PLUGIN_AUTH_H
-#define HAVE_UHUB_PLUGIN_AUTH_H
-
-enum user_credentials
-{
-	cred_none,                 /**<<< "User has no credentials (not yet logged in)" */
-	cred_bot,                  /**<<< "User is a robot" */
-	cred_guest,                /**<<< "User is a guest (unregistered user)" */
-	cred_user,                 /**<<< "User is identified as a registered user" */
-	cred_operator,             /**<<< "User is identified as a hub operator" */
-	cred_super,                /**<<< "User is a super user" (not used) */
-	cred_link,                 /**<<< "User is a link (not used currently)" */
-	cred_admin,                /**<<< "User is identified as a hub administrator/owner" */
-};
-
-struct uhub_plugin_auth_info
-{
-	char* nickname;
-	char* password;
-	enum user_credentials credentials;
-};
-
-#define UHUB_AUTH_PLUGIN_VERSION 0
-
-/**
- * Returns the version number of the uhub auth plugin.
- */
-extern int uhub_plugin_auth_version();
-
-/**
- * Returns a struct user_plugin_auth_info with nickname, password and credentials
- * for a given user's nickname.
- * In case the user is not registered NULL is returned.
- *
- * @returns A relevant uhub_plugin_auth_info with password and credentials, or NULL
- *          if the user is not found in the auth database.
- */
-extern struct uhub_plugin_auth_info* uhub_plugin_auth_get_user(const char* nickname);
-
-/**
- * Register a new user.
- * 
- * @param user contains nickname, password and credentials for a user.
- * @returns 0 on success
- *          <0 if an error occured
- */
-extern int uhub_plugin_auth_register_user(struct uhub_plugin_auth_info* user);
-
-/**
- * Update password and user credentials.
- *
- * @param user contains nickname and new password.
- * @returns 0 on success
- *          <0 if an error occured
- */
-extern int uhub_plugin_auth_update_info(struct uhub_plugin_auth_info* user);
-
-
-#endif /* HAVE_UHUB_PLUGIN_AUTH_H */
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/plugins/mod_example.c b/src/plugins/mod_example.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..904219f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/mod_example.c
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/**
+ * This is a minimal example plugin for uhub.
+ */
+
+#include "uhub.h"
+#include "plugin_api/handle.h"
+
+int plugin_register(struct uhub_plugin_handle* plugin, const char* config)
+{
+	plugin->name = "Example plugin";
+	plugin->version = "1.0";
+	plugin->description = "A simple example plugin";
+	plugin->ptr = NULL;
+	plugin->plugin_api_version = PLUGIN_API_VERSION;
+	plugin->plugin_funcs_size = sizeof(struct plugin_funcs);
+	memset(&plugin->funcs, 0, sizeof(struct plugin_funcs));
+	return 0;
+}
+
+void plugin_unregister(struct uhub_plugin_handle* plugin)
+{
+	/* No need to do anything! */
+}
+
diff --git a/src/uhub.h b/src/uhub.h
index 8903a9c..c0dfa29 100644
--- a/src/uhub.h
+++ b/src/uhub.h
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 
 #define MAX_CID_LEN  39
 #define MAX_NICK_LEN 64
+#define MAX_PASS_LEN 64
 #define MAX_UA_LEN   32
 #define TIGERSIZE    24