diff --git a/yama/src/operations/checking.rs b/yama/src/operations/checking.rs
index 4532792..d29bb28 100644
--- a/yama/src/operations/checking.rs
+++ b/yama/src/operations/checking.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@ along with Yama.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 use crate::chunking::RecursiveUnchunker;
 use crate::commands::retrieve_tree_node;
 use crate::definitions::{ChunkId, TreeNode};
-use crate::pile::{ControllerMessage, Keyspace, Pile, RawPile, StoragePipelineSettings};
+use crate::pile::{
+    ControllerMessage, Keyspace, Pile, PipelineDescription, RawPile, StoragePipelineSettings,
+};
 use anyhow::bail;
 use crossbeam_channel::Sender;
 use indicatif::{ProgressBar, ProgressDrawTarget, ProgressStyle};
@@ -131,6 +133,10 @@ impl<RP: RawPile> RawPile for VacuumRawPile<RP> {
         self.underlying
             .build_storage_pipeline(settings, controller_send)
     }
+
+    fn describe_pipeline(&self) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<PipelineDescription>> {
+        self.underlying.describe_pipeline()
+    }
 }
 
 /// Runs a full check of a Yama pile. This reads ALL the chunks, which can take a long time.
diff --git a/yama/src/pile.rs b/yama/src/pile.rs
index 4c04f46..8ae7639 100644
--- a/yama/src/pile.rs
+++ b/yama/src/pile.rs
@@ -125,7 +125,14 @@ pub enum ControllerMessage {
     },
 }
 
-// TODO(newver) Make piles async
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub enum PipelineDescription {
+    Store,
+    Remote,
+    Integrity,
+    Compression { dictionary_fingerprint: u64 },
+    Encryption,
+}
 
 pub trait RawPile: Send + Sync + Debug + 'static {
     // TODO expose verification errors?
@@ -157,6 +164,8 @@ pub trait RawPile: Send + Sync + Debug + 'static {
         settings: StoragePipelineSettings,
         controller_send: Sender<ControllerMessage>,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<Sender<(ChunkId, Vec<u8>)>>;
+
+    fn describe_pipeline(&self) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<PipelineDescription>>;
 }
 
 impl RawPile for Box<dyn RawPile> {
@@ -196,6 +205,10 @@ impl RawPile for Box<dyn RawPile> {
         self.as_ref()
             .build_storage_pipeline(settings, controller_send)
     }
+
+    fn describe_pipeline(&self) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<PipelineDescription>> {
+        self.as_ref().describe_pipeline()
+    }
 }
 
 impl<RP: RawPile> RawPile for Arc<RP> {
@@ -235,6 +248,10 @@ impl<RP: RawPile> RawPile for Arc<RP> {
         self.as_ref()
             .build_storage_pipeline(settings, controller_send)
     }
+
+    fn describe_pipeline(&self) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<PipelineDescription>> {
+        self.as_ref().describe_pipeline()
+    }
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
diff --git a/yama/src/pile/compression.rs b/yama/src/pile/compression.rs
index ef6355f..3962c1b 100644
--- a/yama/src/pile/compression.rs
+++ b/yama/src/pile/compression.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 along with Yama.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 */
 
+use std::convert::TryInto;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::thread;
 use std::thread::JoinHandle;
@@ -27,7 +28,10 @@ use metrics::{register_counter, Unit};
 use zstd::bulk::{Compressor, Decompressor};
 
 use crate::definitions::ChunkId;
-use crate::pile::{ControllerMessage, DebugStatistics, Keyspace, RawPile, StoragePipelineSettings};
+use crate::pile::{
+    ControllerMessage, DebugStatistics, Keyspace, PipelineDescription, RawPile,
+    StoragePipelineSettings,
+};
 
 pub const DECOMPRESS_CAPACITY: usize = 32 * 1024 * 1024;
 
@@ -331,4 +335,17 @@ impl<R: RawPile> RawPile for RawPileCompressor<R> {
 
         Ok(input_to_this_stage)
     }
+
+    fn describe_pipeline(&self) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<PipelineDescription>> {
+        let mut underlying = self.underlying.describe_pipeline()?;
+
+        let mut dict_fingerprint_u256 = [0; 32];
+        blake::hash(256, &self.settings.dictionary, &mut dict_fingerprint_u256)?;
+        let dictionary_fingerprint: u64 =
+            u64::from_be_bytes(dict_fingerprint_u256[0..8].try_into().unwrap());
+        underlying.push(PipelineDescription::Compression {
+            dictionary_fingerprint,
+        });
+        Ok(underlying)
+    }
 }
diff --git a/yama/src/pile/encryption.rs b/yama/src/pile/encryption.rs
index b870272..167833a 100644
--- a/yama/src/pile/encryption.rs
+++ b/yama/src/pile/encryption.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ use sodiumoxide::crypto::secretbox;
 use sodiumoxide::crypto::secretbox::{Key, Nonce, NONCEBYTES};
 
 use crate::definitions::ChunkId;
-use crate::pile::{ControllerMessage, Keyspace, RawPile, StoragePipelineSettings};
+use crate::pile::{
+    ControllerMessage, Keyspace, PipelineDescription, RawPile, StoragePipelineSettings,
+};
 use crossbeam_channel::Sender;
 
 /// A RawPile that provides encryption of chunk contents.
@@ -119,4 +121,10 @@ impl<R: RawPile> RawPile for RawPileEncryptor<R> {
     ) -> anyhow::Result<Sender<(ChunkId, Vec<u8>)>> {
         todo!()
     }
+
+    fn describe_pipeline(&self) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<PipelineDescription>> {
+        let mut underlying = self.underlying.describe_pipeline()?;
+        underlying.push(PipelineDescription::Encryption);
+        Ok(underlying)
+    }
 }
diff --git a/yama/src/pile/integrity.rs b/yama/src/pile/integrity.rs
index 34ac52f..e4b88b5 100644
--- a/yama/src/pile/integrity.rs
+++ b/yama/src/pile/integrity.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@ use std::hash::Hasher;
 use thiserror::Error;
 
 use crate::definitions::{ChunkId, XXH64_SEED};
-use crate::pile::{ControllerMessage, DebugStatistics, Keyspace, RawPile, StoragePipelineSettings};
+use crate::pile::{
+    ControllerMessage, DebugStatistics, Keyspace, PipelineDescription, RawPile,
+    StoragePipelineSettings,
+};
 use crate::utils::bytes_to_hexstring;
 use crossbeam_channel::Sender;
 
@@ -140,4 +143,10 @@ impl<RP: RawPile> RawPile for RawPileIntegrityChecker<RP> {
             .unwrap();
         Ok(input)
     }
+
+    fn describe_pipeline(&self) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<PipelineDescription>> {
+        let mut underlying = self.underlying.describe_pipeline()?;
+        underlying.push(PipelineDescription::Integrity);
+        Ok(underlying)
+    }
 }
diff --git a/yama/src/pile/local_sqlitebloblogs.rs b/yama/src/pile/local_sqlitebloblogs.rs
index f287688..2069265 100644
--- a/yama/src/pile/local_sqlitebloblogs.rs
+++ b/yama/src/pile/local_sqlitebloblogs.rs
@@ -32,7 +32,10 @@ use rusqlite::{params, Error, ErrorCode};
 use rusqlite::{Connection, OptionalExtension};
 
 use crate::definitions::ChunkId;
-use crate::pile::{ControllerMessage, DebugStatistics, Keyspace, RawPile, StoragePipelineSettings};
+use crate::pile::{
+    ControllerMessage, DebugStatistics, Keyspace, PipelineDescription, RawPile,
+    StoragePipelineSettings,
+};
 use crate::utils::bytes_to_hexstring;
 use crossbeam_channel::{Receiver, Sender};
 use rusqlite::ffi::ErrorCode::ConstraintViolation;
@@ -723,6 +726,10 @@ impl RawPile for SqliteBloblogPile {
 
         Ok(sender)
     }
+
+    fn describe_pipeline(&self) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<PipelineDescription>> {
+        Ok(vec![PipelineDescription::Store])
+    }
 }
 
 struct KeyIterator {
diff --git a/yama/src/remote.rs b/yama/src/remote.rs
index ca207f1..40a84ed 100644
--- a/yama/src/remote.rs
+++ b/yama/src/remote.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ use byteorder::{BigEndian, ReadBytesExt, WriteBytesExt};
 use serde::de::DeserializeOwned;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
-use crate::pile::Keyspace;
+use crate::pile::{Keyspace, PipelineDescription};
 
 pub mod requester;
 pub mod responder;
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ pub enum RequestBody {
     },
     Flush,
     LowLevelCheck,
+    Describe,
     Shutdown,
     Progress {
         current: u64,
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ pub struct Response {
     body: ResponseBody,
 }
 
-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Debug)]
 pub enum ResponseBody {
     Success,
     Failed(String),
@@ -83,6 +84,7 @@ pub enum ResponseBody {
         batch: Vec<Vec<u8>>,
         next_token: u16,
     },
+    Description(Vec<PipelineDescription>),
 }
 
 pub fn read_message<R: Read, D: DeserializeOwned>(read: &mut R) -> anyhow::Result<D> {
diff --git a/yama/src/remote/requester.rs b/yama/src/remote/requester.rs
index b4eb04d..14d3e63 100644
--- a/yama/src/remote/requester.rs
+++ b/yama/src/remote/requester.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ use crossbeam_channel::{Receiver, Sender};
 use log::{error, info};
 
 use crate::definitions::ChunkId;
-use crate::pile::{ControllerMessage, Keyspace, RawPile, StoragePipelineSettings};
+use crate::pile::{
+    ControllerMessage, Keyspace, PipelineDescription, RawPile, StoragePipelineSettings,
+};
 use crate::remote::{read_message, write_message, Request, RequestBody, Response, ResponseBody};
 use metrics::{
     gauge, histogram, increment_counter, register_counter, register_gauge, register_histogram, Unit,
@@ -269,8 +271,7 @@ impl RawPile for Requester {
             ResponseBody::Success => Ok(true),
             ResponseBody::Failed(err_msg) => Err(anyhow!("Remote failure: {}", err_msg)),
             ResponseBody::NotExists => Ok(false),
-            ResponseBody::Data(_) => Err(anyhow!("Received Data for exists.")),
-            ResponseBody::BatchData { .. } => Err(anyhow!("Received BatchData for exists.")),
+            other => Err(anyhow!("Received {:?} for Exists", other)),
         }
     }
     fn read(&self, kind: Keyspace, key: &[u8]) -> anyhow::Result<Option<Vec<u8>>> {
@@ -282,7 +283,7 @@ impl RawPile for Requester {
             ResponseBody::Failed(err_msg) => Err(anyhow!("Remote failure: {}", err_msg)),
             ResponseBody::NotExists => Ok(None),
             ResponseBody::Data(data) => Ok(Some(data)),
-            ResponseBody::BatchData { .. } => Err(anyhow!("Received BatchData for read.")),
+            other => Err(anyhow!("Received {:?} for Read", other)),
         }
     }
     fn write(&self, kind: Keyspace, key: &[u8], value: &[u8]) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
@@ -293,9 +294,7 @@ impl RawPile for Requester {
         })? {
             ResponseBody::Success => Ok(()),
             ResponseBody::Failed(err_msg) => Err(anyhow!("Remote failure: {}", err_msg)),
-            ResponseBody::NotExists => Err(anyhow!("Received NotExists for write.")),
-            ResponseBody::Data(_) => Err(anyhow!("Received Data for write.")),
-            ResponseBody::BatchData { .. } => Err(anyhow!("Received BatchData for write.")),
+            other => Err(anyhow!("Received {:?} for Write", other)),
         }
     }
     fn delete(&self, kind: Keyspace, key: &[u8]) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
@@ -305,9 +304,7 @@ impl RawPile for Requester {
         })? {
             ResponseBody::Success => Ok(()),
             ResponseBody::Failed(err_msg) => Err(anyhow!("Remote failure: {}", err_msg)),
-            ResponseBody::NotExists => Err(anyhow!("Received NotExists for delete.")),
-            ResponseBody::Data(_) => Err(anyhow!("Received Data for delete.")),
-            ResponseBody::BatchData { .. } => Err(anyhow!("Received BatchData for delete.")),
+            other => Err(anyhow!("Received {:?} for Delete", other)),
         }
     }
     fn list_keys(
@@ -321,31 +318,26 @@ impl RawPile for Requester {
                 buffer: Vec::with_capacity(0),
             })),
             ResponseBody::Failed(err_msg) => Err(anyhow!("Remote failure: {}", err_msg)),
-            ResponseBody::NotExists => Err(anyhow!("Received NotExists for list_keys.")),
-            ResponseBody::Data(_) => Err(anyhow!("Received Data for list_keys.")),
             ResponseBody::BatchData { batch, next_token } => Ok(Box::new(ListKeyIterator {
                 command_sender: self.commands.clone(),
                 batch_token: Some(next_token),
                 buffer: batch,
             })),
+            other => Err(anyhow!("Received {:?} for List", other)),
         }
     }
     fn flush(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         match self.request(RequestBody::Flush)? {
             ResponseBody::Success => Ok(()),
             ResponseBody::Failed(err_msg) => Err(anyhow!("Remote failure: {}", err_msg)),
-            ResponseBody::NotExists => Err(anyhow!("Received NotExists for Flush.")),
-            ResponseBody::Data(_) => Err(anyhow!("Received Data for Flush.")),
-            ResponseBody::BatchData { .. } => Err(anyhow!("Received BatchData for Flush.")),
+            other => Err(anyhow!("Received {:?} for Flush", other)),
         }
     }
     fn check_lowlevel(&self) -> anyhow::Result<bool> {
         match self.request(RequestBody::LowLevelCheck)? {
             ResponseBody::Success => Ok(true),
             ResponseBody::Failed(err_msg) => Err(anyhow!("Remote failure: {}", err_msg)),
-            ResponseBody::NotExists => Err(anyhow!("Received NotExists for LowLevelCheck.")),
-            ResponseBody::Data(_) => Err(anyhow!("Received Data for LowLevelCheck.")),
-            ResponseBody::BatchData { .. } => Err(anyhow!("Received BatchData for LowLevelCheck.")),
+            other => Err(anyhow!("Received {:?} for LowLevelCheck", other)),
         }
     }
 
@@ -396,15 +388,7 @@ impl RawPile for Requester {
                                     ResponseBody::Failed(string) => {
                                         panic!("Requester pipeline fail {}", string);
                                     }
-                                    ResponseBody::BatchData { .. } => {
-                                        panic!("wtf BatchData");
-                                    }
-                                    ResponseBody::NotExists => {
-                                        panic!("wtf NotExists");
-                                    }
-                                    ResponseBody::Data(_) => {
-                                        panic!("wtf Data");
-                                    }
+                                    other => panic!("wtf {:?}", other),
                                 }
                             }
                             recv(receiver) -> resp => {
@@ -434,15 +418,7 @@ impl RawPile for Requester {
                             ResponseBody::Failed(string) => {
                                 panic!("Requester pipeline fail {}", string);
                             }
-                            ResponseBody::BatchData { .. } => {
-                                panic!("wtf BatchData");
-                            }
-                            ResponseBody::NotExists => {
-                                panic!("wtf NotExists");
-                            }
-                            ResponseBody::Data(_) => {
-                                panic!("wtf Data");
-                            }
+                            other => panic!("wtf {:?}", other),
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -451,6 +427,17 @@ impl RawPile for Requester {
 
         Ok(input)
     }
+
+    fn describe_pipeline(&self) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<PipelineDescription>> {
+        match self.request(RequestBody::Describe)? {
+            ResponseBody::Description(mut description) => {
+                description.push(PipelineDescription::Remote);
+                Ok(description)
+            }
+            ResponseBody::Failed(err_msg) => Err(anyhow!("Remote failure: {}", err_msg)),
+            other => Err(anyhow!("Received {:?} for Describe", other)),
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 pub struct ListKeyIterator {
@@ -478,8 +465,6 @@ impl Iterator for ListKeyIterator {
                     None
                 }
                 ResponseBody::Failed(err_msg) => Some(Err(anyhow!("Remote failure: {}", err_msg))),
-                ResponseBody::NotExists => Some(Err(anyhow!("Received NotExists for NextBatch."))),
-                ResponseBody::Data(_) => Some(Err(anyhow!("Received Data for NextBatch."))),
                 ResponseBody::BatchData { batch, next_token } => {
                     self.batch_token = Some(next_token);
                     self.buffer = batch;
@@ -491,6 +476,7 @@ impl Iterator for ListKeyIterator {
                         None
                     }
                 }
+                other => Some(Err(anyhow!("Received {:?} for NextBatch", other))),
             }
         } else {
             None
diff --git a/yama/src/remote/responder.rs b/yama/src/remote/responder.rs
index 54bfe3d..6c17593 100644
--- a/yama/src/remote/responder.rs
+++ b/yama/src/remote/responder.rs
@@ -349,6 +349,20 @@ impl Responder {
                 RequestBody::Progress { .. } => {
                     unreachable!("handled by readea")
                 }
+                RequestBody::Describe => match pile.describe_pipeline() {
+                    Ok(description) => Response {
+                        response_to: request.id,
+                        body: ResponseBody::Description(description),
+                    },
+                    Err(err) => {
+                        warn!("Error whilst doing a raw describe_pipeline: {:?}", err);
+                        let err = format!("{:?}", err);
+                        Response {
+                            response_to: request.id,
+                            body: ResponseBody::Failed(err),
+                        }
+                    }
+                },
             };
 
             responses