*/
struct uta_ctx {
char* my_name; // dns name of this host to set in sender field of a message
+ char* my_ip; // the ip address we _think_ we are using sent in src_ip of the message for rts
int shutdown; // thread notification if we need to tell them to stop
int max_mlen; // max message length payload+header
int max_plen; // max payload length