diff --git a/chameleon/nethelpers.py b/chameleon/nethelpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..52f7f4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/chameleon/nethelpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+#
+# Copyright 2016 the original author or authors.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+#
+
+"""
+Some network related convenience functions
+"""
+
+from netifaces import AF_INET
+
+import netifaces as ni
+
+
+def get_my_primary_interface():
+    gateways = ni.gateways()
+    assert 'default' in gateways, \
+        ("No default gateway on host/container, "
+         "cannot determine primary interface")
+    default_gw_index = gateways['default'].keys()[0]
+    # gateways[default_gw_index] has the format (example):
+    # [('10.15.32.1', 'en0', True)]
+    interface_name = gateways[default_gw_index][0][1]
+    return interface_name
+
+
+def get_my_primary_local_ipv4(ifname=None):
+    ifname = get_my_primary_interface() if ifname is None else ifname
+    addresses = ni.ifaddresses(ifname)
+    ipv4 = addresses[AF_INET][0]['addr']
+    return ipv4
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    print get_my_primary_local_ipv4()