+XBT_PUBLIC(const char *)
+gras_os_myname(void);
+
+/** @brief returns the number on which this process is listening for incoming messages */
+XBT_PUBLIC(int) gras_os_myport(void);
+
+/** @brief get the uri of the current process
+ *
+ * Returns the concatenation of gras_os_myname():gras_os_myport(). Please do not free the result.
+ */
+XBT_PUBLIC(const char *)
+gras_os_hostport(void);
+
+/** @brief get process identification
+ *
+ * Returns the process ID of the current process. (This is often used
+ by routines that generate unique temporary file names.)
+ */
+XBT_PUBLIC(int) gras_os_getpid(void);
+
+
+/* Properties related */
+XBT_PUBLIC(xbt_dict_t) gras_process_properties(void);
+XBT_PUBLIC(const char*) gras_process_property_value(const char* name);
+
+XBT_PUBLIC(xbt_dict_t) gras_os_host_properties(void);
+XBT_PUBLIC(const char*) gras_os_host_property_value(const char* name);