diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 550dcb07..91a498c3 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 /*.user
-/build
-/build-x86
+/build*
 .DS_Store
 
diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aa392190
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+[submodule "dependencies/external/protobuf"]
+	path = dependencies/external/protobuf
+	url = https://github.com/tvdzwan/protobuf.git
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d8a25196..c058526e 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ message(STATUS "ENABLE_WS2812BPWM = " ${ENABLE_WS2812BPWM})
 option(ENABLE_V4L2 "Enable the V4L2 grabber" ON)
 message(STATUS "ENABLE_V4L2 = " ${ENABLE_V4L2})
 
-option(ENABLE_X11 "Enable the X11 grabber" ON)
+option(ENABLE_X11 "Enable the X11 grabber" OFF)
 message(STATUS "ENABLE_X11 = " ${ENABLE_X11})
 
 option(ENABLE_TINKERFORGE "Enable the TINKERFORGE device" ON)
@@ -67,15 +67,6 @@ set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c++0x -Wall")
 # Configure the use of QT4
 find_package(Qt4 COMPONENTS QtCore QtGui QtNetwork REQUIRED QUIET)
 
-if (ENABLE_PROTOBUF)
-	# add protocol buffers (make sure to find the static version)
-	set(CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_SUFFIXES_OLD ${CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_SUFFIXES})
-	set(CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_SUFFIXES ".a")
-	find_package(Protobuf REQUIRED)
-	set(CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_SUFFIXES ${CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_SUFFIXES_OLD})
-	set(CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_SUFFIXES_OLD)
-endif (ENABLE_PROTOBUF)
-
 #add libusb and pthreads
 find_package(libusb-1.0 REQUIRED)
 find_package(Threads REQUIRED)
diff --git a/CompileHowto.txt b/CompileHowto.txt
index 17a274e3..7ad606aa 100644
--- a/CompileHowto.txt
+++ b/CompileHowto.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Install the required tools and dependencies
 sudo apt-get update
-sudo apt-get install git cmake build-essential libprotobuf-dev libQt4-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev protobuf-compiler python-dev
+sudo apt-get install git cmake build-essential libQt4-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev python-dev
 
 # RPI ONLY: when you build on the rapberry pi and inlcude the dispmanx grabber (which is the default) 
 # you also need the firmware including headers installed. This downloads the firmware from the raspberrypi github
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ sudo cp -R "$FIRMWARE_DIR/hardfp/opt/*" /opt
 
 # create hyperion directory and checkout the code from github
 export HYPERION_DIR="hyperion"
-git clone https://github.com/tvdzwan/hyperion.git "$HYPERION_DIR"
+git clone --recursive https://github.com/tvdzwan/hyperion.git "$HYPERION_DIR"
 
 # create and enter the build directory
 mkdir "$HYPERION_DIR/build"
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ cd "$HYPERION_DIR/build"
 # run cmake to generate make files on the rsapberry pi
 cmake ..
 # or if you are not compiling on the raspberry pi and need to disable the Dispmanx grabber and support for spi devices
-cmake -DENABLE_DISPMANX=OFF -DENABLE_SPIDEV=OFF ..
+cmake -DENABLE_DISPMANX=OFF -DENABLE_SPIDEV=OFF -DENABLE_X11=ON ..
 
 # run make to build Hyperion
 make
diff --git a/CrossCompileHowto.txt b/CrossCompileHowto.txt
index ac959f10..c5a2523e 100644
--- a/CrossCompileHowto.txt
+++ b/CrossCompileHowto.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ON RASPBERRY
 --------------
-sudo apt-get install libprotobuf-dev libQt4-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev python-dev rsync
+sudo apt-get install libQt4-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev python-dev rsync
 
 ON HOST
 ---------
@@ -8,21 +8,31 @@ export RASPI=192.168.1.17
 export RASCROSS_DIR="$HOME/raspberrypi"
 export HYPERION_DIR="$HOME/hyperion"
 
-sudo apt-get install git rsync cmake ia32-libs protobuf-compiler
+# install required packages
+sudo apt-get install git rsync cmake build-essential libQt4-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev python-dev
 
+# create the rootfs by copying it from an rpi running for example raspbmc
 mkdir -p "$RASCROSS_DIR/rootfs"
-git clone git://github.com/raspberrypi/tools.git "$RASCROSS_DIR/tools"
-
-git clone https://github.com/raspberrypi/firmware.git "$RASCROSS_DIR/firmware"
-ln -s "$RASCROSS_DIR/firmware/opt" "$RASCROSS_DIR/rootfs/opt"
-
 rsync -rl --delete-after --safe-links pi@$RASPI:/{lib,usr} "$RASCROSS_DIR/rootfs"
 
-git clone https://github.com/tvdzwan/hyperion.git "$HYPERION_DIR"
+# get the raspberry pi firmware and add it to the rootfs
+git clone https://github.com/raspberrypi/firmware.git "$RASCROSS_DIR/firmware"
+ln -s "$RASCROSS_DIR/firmware/hardfp/opt" "$RASCROSS_DIR/rootfs/opt"
+
+# get the compile tools
+git clone git://github.com/raspberrypi/tools.git "$RASCROSS_DIR/tools"
+
+# get the Hyperion sources
+git clone --recursive https://github.com/tvdzwan/hyperion.git "$HYPERION_DIR"
+
+# do a native build (to build the protobuf compiler for the native platform)
 mkdir "$HYPERION_DIR/build"
-cmake -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE="$HYPERION_DIR/Toolchain-RaspberryPi.cmake" --build "$HYPERION_DIR/build" "$HYPERION_DIR"
-
+cmake -DENABLE_DISPMANX=OFF --build "$HYPERION_DIR/build" "$HYPERION_DIR"
 
+# do the rpi build 
+# specify the protoc export file to import the protobuf compiler from the native build
+mkdir "$HYPERION_DIR/build-rpi"
+cmake -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE="$HYPERION_DIR/Toolchain-RaspberryPi.cmake" -DIMPORT_PROTOC=$HYPERION_DIR/build/protoc_export.cmake --build "$HYPERION_DIR/build-rpi" "$HYPERION_DIR"
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 These instructions are based on the guide given by:
diff --git a/Toolchain-RaspberryPi.cmake b/Toolchain-RaspberryPi.cmake
index 77ea25b0..1be297d4 100644
--- a/Toolchain-RaspberryPi.cmake
+++ b/Toolchain-RaspberryPi.cmake
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ SET(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME Linux)
 SET(CMAKE_SYSTEM_VERSION 1) 
 
 # specify the cross compiler 
-SET(CMAKE_C_COMPILER   ${RASPCROSS_DIR}/tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-gcc) 
-SET(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER ${RASPCROSS_DIR}/tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++) 
+SET(CMAKE_C_COMPILER   ${RASPCROSS_DIR}/tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-raspbian-x64/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-gcc)
+SET(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER ${RASPCROSS_DIR}/tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnueabihf-raspbian-x64/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++)
 
 # where is the target environment 
 SET(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH ${RASPCROSS_DIR}/rootfs) 
diff --git a/dependencies/CMakeLists.txt b/dependencies/CMakeLists.txt
index 059e258e..17747bd5 100644
--- a/dependencies/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/dependencies/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,2 +1,103 @@
+add_subdirectory(build/getoptPlusPlus)
+add_subdirectory(build/hidapi)
+add_subdirectory(build/jsoncpp)
+add_subdirectory(build/serial)
+add_subdirectory(build/tinkerforge)
 
-add_subdirectory(build)
+if(ENABLE_PROTOBUF)
+	set(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS OFF CACHE BOOL "Build shared protobuf library")
+	add_subdirectory(external/protobuf)
+
+	if(CMAKE_CROSSCOMPILING)
+		# when crosscompiling import the protoc executable targets from a file generated by a native build
+		option(IMPORT_PROTOC "Protoc export file (protoc_export.cmake) from a native build" "IMPORT_PROTOC-FILE_NOT_FOUND")
+		include(${IMPORT_PROTOC})
+	else()
+		# export the protoc compiler so it can be used when cross compiling
+		export(TARGETS protoc_compiler FILE "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/protoc_export.cmake")
+	endif()
+
+	# define the include for the protobuf library at the parent scope
+	set(PROTOBUF_INCLUDE_DIRS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/external/protobuf/src")
+	set(PROTOBUF_INCLUDE_DIRS ${PROTOBUF_INCLUDE_DIRS} PARENT_SCOPE)
+
+	# define the protoc executable at the parent scope
+	get_property(PROTOBUF_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE TARGET protoc_compiler PROPERTY LOCATION)
+	set(PROTOBUF_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE ${PROTOBUF_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE} PARENT_SCOPE)
+	message(STATUS "Using protobuf compiler: " ${PROTOBUF_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE})
+
+	#=============================================================================
+	# Copyright 2009 Kitware, Inc.
+	# Copyright 2009-2011 Philip Lowman <philip@yhbt.com>
+	# Copyright 2008 Esben Mose Hansen, Ange Optimization ApS
+	#
+	# Distributed under the OSI-approved BSD License (the "License");
+	# see accompanying file Copyright.txt for details.
+	#
+	# This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the
+	# implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+	# See the License for more information.
+	#=============================================================================
+	# (To distribute this file outside of CMake, substitute the full
+	#  License text for the above reference.)
+	function(PROTOBUF_GENERATE_CPP SRCS HDRS)
+		if(NOT ARGN)
+			message(SEND_ERROR "Error: PROTOBUF_GENERATE_CPP() called without any proto files")
+			return()
+		endif()
+
+		if(PROTOBUF_GENERATE_CPP_APPEND_PATH)
+			# Create an include path for each file specified
+			foreach(FIL ${ARGN})
+				get_filename_component(ABS_FIL ${FIL} ABSOLUTE)
+				get_filename_component(ABS_PATH ${ABS_FIL} PATH)
+				list(FIND _protobuf_include_path ${ABS_PATH} _contains_already)
+				if(${_contains_already} EQUAL -1)
+					list(APPEND _protobuf_include_path -I ${ABS_PATH})
+				endif()
+			endforeach()
+		else()
+			set(_protobuf_include_path -I ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR})
+		endif()
+
+		if(DEFINED PROTOBUF_IMPORT_DIRS)
+			foreach(DIR ${PROTOBUF_IMPORT_DIRS})
+				get_filename_component(ABS_PATH ${DIR} ABSOLUTE)
+				list(FIND _protobuf_include_path ${ABS_PATH} _contains_already)
+				if(${_contains_already} EQUAL -1)
+					list(APPEND _protobuf_include_path -I ${ABS_PATH})
+				endif()
+			endforeach()
+		endif()
+
+		if(CMAKE_CROSSCOMPILING)
+			set(PROTOC_DEPENDENCY ${PROTOBUF_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE})
+		else()
+			set(PROTOC_DEPENDENCY protoc_compiler)
+		endif()
+
+		set(${SRCS})
+		set(${HDRS})
+		foreach(FIL ${ARGN})
+			get_filename_component(ABS_FIL ${FIL} ABSOLUTE)
+			get_filename_component(FIL_WE ${FIL} NAME_WE)
+
+			list(APPEND ${SRCS} "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${FIL_WE}.pb.cc")
+			list(APPEND ${HDRS} "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${FIL_WE}.pb.h")
+
+			add_custom_command(
+				OUTPUT "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${FIL_WE}.pb.cc"
+					   "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${FIL_WE}.pb.h"
+				COMMAND ${PROTOBUF_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE}
+				ARGS --cpp_out ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR} ${_protobuf_include_path} ${ABS_FIL}
+				DEPENDS ${ABS_FIL} ${PROTOC_DEPENDENCY}
+				COMMENT "Running C++ protocol buffer compiler on ${FIL}"
+				VERBATIM
+			)
+		endforeach()
+
+		set_source_files_properties(${${SRCS}} ${${HDRS}} PROPERTIES GENERATED TRUE)
+		set(${SRCS} ${${SRCS}} PARENT_SCOPE)
+		set(${HDRS} ${${HDRS}} PARENT_SCOPE)
+	endfunction()
+endif()
diff --git a/dependencies/build/CMakeLists.txt b/dependencies/build/CMakeLists.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index e931ea79..00000000
--- a/dependencies/build/CMakeLists.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-
-add_subdirectory(getoptPlusPlus)
-add_subdirectory(hidapi)
-add_subdirectory(jsoncpp)
-add_subdirectory(serial)
-add_subdirectory(tinkerforge)
diff --git a/dependencies/external/protobuf b/dependencies/external/protobuf
new file mode 160000
index 00000000..efb59b79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dependencies/external/protobuf
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Subproject commit efb59b79e5a8f26eae4d15f38bbfb5667e23df60
diff --git a/libsrc/protoserver/CMakeLists.txt b/libsrc/protoserver/CMakeLists.txt
index f13c6a83..6a9b6d1e 100644
--- a/libsrc/protoserver/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/libsrc/protoserver/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,49 +4,51 @@ set(CURRENT_HEADER_DIR ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/protoserver)
 set(CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/libsrc/protoserver)
 
 include_directories(
-		${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}
-		${PROTOBUF_INCLUDE_DIRS})
+	${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}
+	${PROTOBUF_INCLUDE_DIRS}
+)
 
 # Group the headers that go through the MOC compiler
 set(ProtoServer_QT_HEADERS
-		${CURRENT_HEADER_DIR}/ProtoServer.h
-		${CURRENT_HEADER_DIR}/ProtoConnection.h
-		${CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/ProtoClientConnection.h
-		${CURRENT_HEADER_DIR}/ProtoConnectionWrapper.h
+	${CURRENT_HEADER_DIR}/ProtoServer.h
+	${CURRENT_HEADER_DIR}/ProtoConnection.h
+	${CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/ProtoClientConnection.h
+	${CURRENT_HEADER_DIR}/ProtoConnectionWrapper.h
 )
 
 set(ProtoServer_HEADERS
 )
 
 set(ProtoServer_SOURCES
-		${CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/ProtoServer.cpp
-		${CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/ProtoClientConnection.cpp
-		${CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/ProtoConnection.cpp
-		${CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/ProtoConnectionWrapper.cpp
+	${CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/ProtoServer.cpp
+	${CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/ProtoClientConnection.cpp
+	${CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/ProtoConnection.cpp
+	${CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/ProtoConnectionWrapper.cpp
 )
 
 set(ProtoServer_PROTOS
-		${CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/message.proto
+	${CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/message.proto
 )
 
 protobuf_generate_cpp(ProtoServer_PROTO_SRCS ProtoServer_PROTO_HDRS
-		${ProtoServer_PROTOS}
+	${ProtoServer_PROTOS}
 )
 
 qt4_wrap_cpp(ProtoServer_HEADERS_MOC ${ProtoServer_QT_HEADERS})
 
 add_library(protoserver
-		${ProtoServer_HEADERS}
-		${ProtoServer_QT_HEADERS}
-		${ProtoServer_SOURCES}
-		${ProtoServer_HEADERS_MOC}
-		${ProtoServer_PROTOS}
-		${ProtoServer_PROTO_SRCS}
-		${ProtoServer_PROTO_HDRS}
+	${ProtoServer_HEADERS}
+	${ProtoServer_QT_HEADERS}
+	${ProtoServer_SOURCES}
+	${ProtoServer_HEADERS_MOC}
+	${ProtoServer_PROTOS}
+	${ProtoServer_PROTO_SRCS}
+	${ProtoServer_PROTO_HDRS}
 )
 
 target_link_libraries(protoserver
-		hyperion
-		hyperion-utils
-		${PROTOBUF_LIBRARIES}
-		${QT_LIBRARIES})
+	hyperion
+	hyperion-utils
+	protobuf
+	${QT_LIBRARIES}
+)
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 16c88d77..098a08d3 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
 add_subdirectory(hyperiond)
 add_subdirectory(hyperion-remote)
 
-# Add the 'Video 4 Linux' grabber if it is enabled
-if(ENABLE_V4L2)
-	add_subdirectory(hyperion-v4l2)
-endif(ENABLE_V4L2)
+# The following clients depend on the protobuf library
+if(ENABLE_PROTOBUF)
+    # Add the 'Video 4 Linux' grabber if it is enabled
+    if(ENABLE_V4L2)
+            add_subdirectory(hyperion-v4l2)
+    endif()
 
-# Add the X11 grabber if it is enabled
-if(ENABLE_X11)
-	add_subdirectory(hyperion-x11)
-endif(ENABLE_X11)
+    # Add the X11 grabber if it is enabled
+    if(ENABLE_X11)
+            add_subdirectory(hyperion-x11)
+    endif()
+endif()
diff --git a/src/hyperion-x11/CMakeLists.txt b/src/hyperion-x11/CMakeLists.txt
index 7841232c..89912f66 100644
--- a/src/hyperion-x11/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/hyperion-x11/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ include_directories(
 	${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/../../libsrc/protoserver
 	${QT_INCLUDES}
 	${X11_INCLUDES}
+	${PROTOBUF_INCLUDE_DIRS}
 )
 
 set(Hyperion_X11_QT_HEADERS