diff --git a/checks/installation/port_utils.py b/checks/installation/port_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a836785c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/checks/installation/port_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+"""Port management utilities for NixOS installation tests."""
+
+import socket
+import time
+from typing import Any
+
+
+class PortUtilsError(Exception):
+    """Port utils related errors."""
+
+
+def find_free_port() -> int:
+    """Find a free port on the host."""
+    with socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM) as s:
+        s.bind(("", 0))
+        return s.getsockname()[1]
+
+
+def check_host_port_open(port: int) -> bool:
+    """Verify port forwarding is working by checking if the host port is listening."""
+    try:
+        with socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM) as s:
+            s.settimeout(1)
+            result = s.connect_ex(("localhost", port))
+            return result == 0
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"Port check failed: {e}")
+        return False
+
+
+def setup_port_forwarding(target: Any, host_port: int) -> None:
+    """Set up port forwarding and wait for it to be ready."""
+    print(f"Setting up port forwarding from host port {host_port} to guest port 22")
+    target.forward_port(host_port=host_port, guest_port=22)
+
+    # Give the port forwarding time to establish
+    time.sleep(2)
+
+    # Wait up to 30 seconds for the port to become available
+    port_ready = False
+    for i in range(30):
+        if check_host_port_open(host_port):
+            port_ready = True
+            print(f"Host port {host_port} is now listening")
+            break
+        print(f"Waiting for host port {host_port} to be ready... attempt {i + 1}/30")
+        time.sleep(1)
+
+    if not port_ready:
+        msg = f"Host port {host_port} never became available for forwarding"
+        raise PortUtilsError(msg)