remove IPC threads

index 2179f3d..070a075 100644
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ mp_send(struct rte_mp_msg *msg, const char *peer, int type);
 
 
 static struct pending_request *
-find_sync_request(const char *dst, const char *act_name)
+find_pending_request(const char *dst, const char *act_name)
 {
 	struct pending_request *r;
 

@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ read_msg(struct mp_msg_internal *m, struct sockaddr_un *s)
 static void
 process_msg(struct mp_msg_internal *m, struct sockaddr_un *s)
 {
-	struct pending_request *sync_req;
+	struct pending_request *pending_req;
 	struct action_entry *entry;
 	struct rte_mp_msg *msg = &m->msg;
 	rte_mp_t action = NULL;

@@ -291,15 +291,15 @@ process_msg(struct mp_msg_internal *m, struct sockaddr_un *s)
 
 	if (m->type == MP_REP || m->type == MP_IGN) {
 		pthread_mutex_lock(&pending_requests.lock);
-		sync_req = find_sync_request(s->sun_path, msg->name);
-		if (sync_req) {
-			memcpy(sync_req->reply, msg, sizeof(*msg));
+		pending_req = find_pending_request(s->sun_path, msg->name);
+		if (pending_req) {
+			memcpy(pending_req->reply, msg, sizeof(*msg));
 			/* -1 indicates that we've been asked to ignore */
-			sync_req->reply_received = m->type == MP_REP ? 1 : -1;
+			pending_req->reply_received = m->type == MP_REP ? 1 : -1;
 
-			if (sync_req->type == REQUEST_TYPE_SYNC)
-				pthread_cond_signal(&sync_req->sync.cond);
-			else if (sync_req->type == REQUEST_TYPE_ASYNC)
+			if (pending_req->type == REQUEST_TYPE_SYNC)
+				pthread_cond_signal(&pending_req->sync.cond);
+			else if (pending_req->type == REQUEST_TYPE_ASYNC)
 				pthread_cond_signal(
 					&pending_requests.async_cond);
 		} else

@@ -322,6 +322,7 @@ process_msg(struct mp_msg_internal *m, struct sockaddr_un *s)
 			 * yet ready to process this request.
 			 */
 			struct rte_mp_msg dummy;
+
 			memset(&dummy, 0, sizeof(dummy));
 			snprintf(dummy.name, sizeof(dummy.name),
 					"%s", msg->name);

@@ -854,30 +855,27 @@ mp_request_async(const char *dst, struct rte_mp_msg *req,
 		struct async_request_param *param)
 {
 	struct rte_mp_msg *reply_msg;
-	struct pending_request *sync_req, *exist;
+	struct pending_request *pending_req, *exist;
 	int ret;
 
-	sync_req = malloc(sizeof(*sync_req));
-	reply_msg = malloc(sizeof(*reply_msg));
-	if (sync_req == NULL || reply_msg == NULL) {
+	pending_req = calloc(1, sizeof(*pending_req));
+	reply_msg = calloc(1, sizeof(*reply_msg));
+	if (pending_req == NULL || reply_msg == NULL) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Could not allocate space for sync request\n");
 		rte_errno = ENOMEM;
 		ret = -1;
 		goto fail;
 	}
 
-	memset(sync_req, 0, sizeof(*sync_req));
-	memset(reply_msg, 0, sizeof(*reply_msg));
-
-	sync_req->type = REQUEST_TYPE_ASYNC;
-	strcpy(sync_req->dst, dst);
-	sync_req->request = req;
-	sync_req->reply = reply_msg;
-	sync_req->async.param = param;
+	pending_req->type = REQUEST_TYPE_ASYNC;
+	strcpy(pending_req->dst, dst);
+	pending_req->request = req;
+	pending_req->reply = reply_msg;
+	pending_req->async.param = param;
 
 	/* queue already locked by caller */
 
-	exist = find_sync_request(dst, req->name);
+	exist = find_pending_request(dst, req->name);
 	if (exist) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "A pending request %s:%s\n", dst, req->name);
 		rte_errno = EEXIST;

@@ -895,13 +893,13 @@ mp_request_async(const char *dst, struct rte_mp_msg *req,
 		ret = 0;
 		goto fail;
 	}
-	TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&pending_requests.requests, sync_req, next);
+	TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&pending_requests.requests, pending_req, next);
 
 	param->user_reply.nb_sent++;
 
 	return 0;
 fail:
-	free(sync_req);
+	free(pending_req);
 	free(reply_msg);
 	return ret;
 }

@@ -912,16 +910,16 @@ mp_request_sync(const char *dst, struct rte_mp_msg *req,
 {
 	int ret;
 	struct rte_mp_msg msg, *tmp;
-	struct pending_request sync_req, *exist;
+	struct pending_request pending_req, *exist;
 
-	sync_req.type = REQUEST_TYPE_SYNC;
-	sync_req.reply_received = 0;
-	strcpy(sync_req.dst, dst);
-	sync_req.request = req;
-	sync_req.reply = &msg;
-	pthread_cond_init(&sync_req.sync.cond, NULL);
+	pending_req.type = REQUEST_TYPE_SYNC;
+	pending_req.reply_received = 0;
+	strcpy(pending_req.dst, dst);
+	pending_req.request = req;
+	pending_req.reply = &msg;
+	pthread_cond_init(&pending_req.sync.cond, NULL);
 
-	exist = find_sync_request(dst, req->name);
+	exist = find_pending_request(dst, req->name);
 	if (exist) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "A pending request %s:%s\n", dst, req->name);
 		rte_errno = EEXIST;

@@ -936,24 +934,24 @@ mp_request_sync(const char *dst, struct rte_mp_msg *req,
 	} else if (ret == 0)
 		return 0;
 
-	TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&pending_requests.requests, &sync_req, next);
+	TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&pending_requests.requests, &pending_req, next);
 
 	reply->nb_sent++;
 
 	do {
-		ret = pthread_cond_timedwait(&sync_req.sync.cond,
+		ret = pthread_cond_timedwait(&pending_req.sync.cond,
 				&pending_requests.lock, ts);
 	} while (ret != 0 && ret != ETIMEDOUT);
 
-	TAILQ_REMOVE(&pending_requests.requests, &sync_req, next);
+	TAILQ_REMOVE(&pending_requests.requests, &pending_req, next);
 
-	if (sync_req.reply_received == 0) {
+	if (pending_req.reply_received == 0) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Fail to recv reply for request %s:%s\n",
 			dst, req->name);
 		rte_errno = ETIMEDOUT;
 		return -1;
 	}
-	if (sync_req.reply_received == -1) {
+	if (pending_req.reply_received == -1) {
 		RTE_LOG(DEBUG, EAL, "Asked to ignore response\n");
 		/* not receiving this message is not an error, so decrement
 		 * number of sent messages

@@ -1078,19 +1076,15 @@ rte_mp_request_async(struct rte_mp_msg *req, const struct timespec *ts,
 		rte_errno = errno;
 		return -1;
 	}
-	copy = malloc(sizeof(*copy));
-	dummy = malloc(sizeof(*dummy));
-	param = malloc(sizeof(*param));
+	copy = calloc(1, sizeof(*copy));
+	dummy = calloc(1, sizeof(*dummy));
+	param = calloc(1, sizeof(*param));
 	if (copy == NULL || dummy == NULL || param == NULL) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Failed to allocate memory for async reply\n");
 		rte_errno = ENOMEM;
 		goto fail;
 	}
 
-	memset(copy, 0, sizeof(*copy));
-	memset(dummy, 0, sizeof(*dummy));
-	memset(param, 0, sizeof(*param));
-
 	/* copy message */
 	memcpy(copy, req, sizeof(*copy));
 

index 070a075..27de16e 100644
@@ -419,7 +419,13 @@ process_async_request(struct pending_request *sr, const struct timespec *now)
 	} else if (sr->reply_received == -1) {
 		/* we were asked to ignore this process */
 		reply->nb_sent--;
+	} else if (timeout) {
+		/* count it as processed reponse, but don't increment
+		 * nb_received.
+		 */
+		param->n_responses_processed++;
 	}
+
 	free(sr->reply);
 
 	last_msg = param->n_responses_processed == reply->nb_sent;

index c115e82..391d2a6 100644
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 #include <rte_launch.h>
 #include <rte_lcore.h>
 #include <rte_errno.h>
-#include <rte_malloc.h>
 #include <rte_spinlock.h>
 #include <eal_private.h>
 

@@ -91,7 +90,7 @@ eal_alarm_callback(void *arg __rte_unused)
 		rte_spinlock_lock(&alarm_list_lk);
 
 		LIST_REMOVE(ap, next);
-		rte_free(ap);
+		free(ap);
 	}
 
 	if (!LIST_EMPTY(&alarm_list)) {

@@ -122,7 +121,7 @@ rte_eal_alarm_set(uint64_t us, rte_eal_alarm_callback cb_fn, void *cb_arg)
 	if (us < 1 || us > (UINT64_MAX - US_PER_S) || cb_fn == NULL)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	new_alarm = rte_zmalloc(NULL, sizeof(*new_alarm), 0);
+	new_alarm = calloc(1, sizeof(*new_alarm));
 	if (new_alarm == NULL)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 

@@ -196,7 +195,7 @@ rte_eal_alarm_cancel(rte_eal_alarm_callback cb_fn, void *cb_arg)
 
 			if (ap->executing == 0) {
 				LIST_REMOVE(ap, next);
-				rte_free(ap);
+				free(ap);
 				count++;
 			} else {
 				/* If calling from other context, mark that alarm is executing

@@ -220,7 +219,7 @@ rte_eal_alarm_cancel(rte_eal_alarm_callback cb_fn, void *cb_arg)
 
 				if (ap->executing == 0) {
 					LIST_REMOVE(ap, next);
-					rte_free(ap);
+					free(ap);
 					count++;
 					ap = ap_prev;
 				} else if (pthread_equal(ap->executing_id, pthread_self()) == 0)

index 27de16e..4cb460e 100644
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include <sys/un.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
+#include <rte_alarm.h>
 #include <rte_common.h>
 #include <rte_cycles.h>
 #include <rte_eal.h>

@@ -94,14 +95,14 @@ TAILQ_HEAD(pending_request_list, pending_request);
 static struct {
 	struct pending_request_list requests;
 	pthread_mutex_t lock;
-	pthread_cond_t async_cond;
 } pending_requests = {
 	.requests = TAILQ_HEAD_INITIALIZER(pending_requests.requests),
 	.lock = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER,
-	.async_cond = PTHREAD_COND_INITIALIZER
 	/**< used in async requests only */
 };
 
+static void async_reply_handle(void *arg);
+
 /* forward declarations */
 static int
 mp_send(struct rte_mp_msg *msg, const char *peer, int type);

@@ -299,9 +300,11 @@ process_msg(struct mp_msg_internal *m, struct sockaddr_un *s)
 
 			if (pending_req->type == REQUEST_TYPE_SYNC)
 				pthread_cond_signal(&pending_req->sync.cond);
-			else if (pending_req->type == REQUEST_TYPE_ASYNC)
-				pthread_cond_signal(
-					&pending_requests.async_cond);
+			else if (pending_req->type == REQUEST_TYPE_ASYNC) {
+				pthread_mutex_unlock(&pending_requests.lock);
+				async_reply_handle(pending_req);
+				pthread_mutex_lock(&pending_requests.lock);
+			}
 		} else
 			RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Drop mp reply: %s\n", msg->name);
 		pthread_mutex_unlock(&pending_requests.lock);

@@ -450,115 +453,39 @@ trigger_async_action(struct pending_request *sr)
 	free(sr->request);
 }
 
-static struct pending_request *
-check_trigger(struct timespec *ts)
-{
-	struct pending_request *next, *cur, *trigger = NULL;
-
-	TAILQ_FOREACH_SAFE(cur, &pending_requests.requests, next, next) {
-		enum async_action action;
-		if (cur->type != REQUEST_TYPE_ASYNC)
-			continue;
-
-		action = process_async_request(cur, ts);
-		if (action == ACTION_FREE) {
-			TAILQ_REMOVE(&pending_requests.requests, cur, next);
-			free(cur);
-		} else if (action == ACTION_TRIGGER) {
-			TAILQ_REMOVE(&pending_requests.requests, cur, next);
-			trigger = cur;
-			break;
-		}
-	}
-	return trigger;
-}
-
 static void
-wait_for_async_messages(void)
-{
-	struct pending_request *sr;
-	struct timespec timeout;
-	bool timedwait = false;
-	bool nowait = false;
-	int ret;
-
-	/* scan through the list and see if there are any timeouts that
-	 * are earlier than our current timeout.
-	 */
-	TAILQ_FOREACH(sr, &pending_requests.requests, next) {
-		if (sr->type != REQUEST_TYPE_ASYNC)
-			continue;
-		if (!timedwait || timespec_cmp(&sr->async.param->end,
-				&timeout) < 0) {
-			memcpy(&timeout, &sr->async.param->end,
-				sizeof(timeout));
-			timedwait = true;
-		}
-
-		/* sometimes, we don't even wait */
-		if (sr->reply_received) {
-			nowait = true;
-			break;
-		}
-	}
-
-	if (nowait)
-		return;
-
-	do {
-		ret = timedwait ?
-			pthread_cond_timedwait(
-				&pending_requests.async_cond,
-				&pending_requests.lock,
-				&timeout) :
-			pthread_cond_wait(
-				&pending_requests.async_cond,
-				&pending_requests.lock);
-	} while (ret != 0 && ret != ETIMEDOUT);
-
-	/* we've been woken up or timed out */
-}
-
-static void *
-async_reply_handle(void *arg __rte_unused)
+async_reply_handle(void *arg)
 {
 	struct timeval now;
 	struct timespec ts_now;
-	while (1) {
-		struct pending_request *trigger = NULL;
+	enum async_action action;
+	struct pending_request *req = (struct pending_request *)arg;
 
-		pthread_mutex_lock(&pending_requests.lock);
-
-		/* we exit this function holding the lock */
-		wait_for_async_messages();
-
-		if (gettimeofday(&now, NULL) < 0) {
-			RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Cannot get current time\n");
-			break;
-		}
-		ts_now.tv_nsec = now.tv_usec * 1000;
-		ts_now.tv_sec = now.tv_sec;
-
-		do {
-			trigger = check_trigger(&ts_now);
-			/* unlock request list */
-			pthread_mutex_unlock(&pending_requests.lock);
-
-			if (trigger) {
-				trigger_async_action(trigger);
-				free(trigger);
+	if (gettimeofday(&now, NULL) < 0) {
+		/* This could lead to disaster */
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Cannot get current time\n");
+		return;
+	}
+	ts_now.tv_nsec = now.tv_usec * 1000;
+	ts_now.tv_sec = now.tv_sec;
 
-				/* we've triggered a callback, but there may be
-				 * more, so lock the list and check again.
-				 */
-				pthread_mutex_lock(&pending_requests.lock);
-			}
-		} while (trigger);
+	pthread_mutex_lock(&pending_requests.lock);
+	action = process_async_request(req, &ts_now);
+	if (action == ACTION_NONE) {
+		pthread_mutex_unlock(&pending_requests.lock);
+		return;
 	}
+	TAILQ_REMOVE(&pending_requests.requests, req, next);
+	pthread_mutex_unlock(&pending_requests.lock);
 
-	RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "ERROR: asynchronous requests disabled\n");
+	if (action == ACTION_TRIGGER)
+		trigger_async_action(req);
 
-	return NULL;
+	if (rte_eal_alarm_cancel(async_reply_handle, req) < 0 &&
+	    rte_errno != EINPROGRESS)
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Failed to cancel alarm\n");
+
+	free(req);
 }
 
 static int

@@ -624,7 +551,7 @@ rte_mp_channel_init(void)
 	char thread_name[RTE_MAX_THREAD_NAME_LEN];
 	char path[PATH_MAX];
 	int dir_fd;
-	pthread_t mp_handle_tid, async_reply_handle_tid;
+	pthread_t mp_handle_tid;
 
 	/* create filter path */
 	create_socket_path("*", path, sizeof(path));

@@ -669,24 +596,10 @@ rte_mp_channel_init(void)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	if (pthread_create(&async_reply_handle_tid, NULL,
-			async_reply_handle, NULL) < 0) {
-		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "failed to create mp thead: %s\n",
-			strerror(errno));
-		close(mp_fd);
-		close(dir_fd);
-		mp_fd = -1;
-		return -1;
-	}
-
 	/* try best to set thread name */
 	snprintf(thread_name, RTE_MAX_THREAD_NAME_LEN, "rte_mp_handle");
 	rte_thread_setname(mp_handle_tid, thread_name);
 
-	/* try best to set thread name */
-	snprintf(thread_name, RTE_MAX_THREAD_NAME_LEN, "rte_mp_async_handle");
-	rte_thread_setname(async_reply_handle_tid, thread_name);
-
 	/* unlock the directory */
 	flock(dir_fd, LOCK_UN);
 	close(dir_fd);

@@ -858,7 +771,7 @@ rte_mp_sendmsg(struct rte_mp_msg *msg)
 
 static int
 mp_request_async(const char *dst, struct rte_mp_msg *req,
-		struct async_request_param *param)
+		struct async_request_param *param, const struct timespec *ts)
 {
 	struct rte_mp_msg *reply_msg;
 	struct pending_request *pending_req, *exist;

@@ -903,6 +816,13 @@ mp_request_async(const char *dst, struct rte_mp_msg *req,
 
 	param->user_reply.nb_sent++;
 
+	if (rte_eal_alarm_set(ts->tv_sec * 1000000 + ts->tv_nsec / 10000,
+				async_reply_handle, pending_req) < 0) {
+		/* TODO: If error happends, turn to busy waiting */
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Fail to set alarm for request %s:%s\n",
+			dst, req->name);
+	}
+
 	return 0;
 fail:
 	free(pending_req);

@@ -1124,7 +1044,7 @@ rte_mp_request_async(struct rte_mp_msg *req, const struct timespec *ts,
 
 	/* for secondary process, send request to the primary process only */
 	if (rte_eal_process_type() == RTE_PROC_SECONDARY) {
-		ret = mp_request_async(eal_mp_socket_path(), copy, param);
+		ret = mp_request_async(eal_mp_socket_path(), copy, param, ts);
 
 		/* if we didn't send anything, put dummy request on the queue */
 		if (ret == 0 && reply->nb_sent == 0) {

@@ -1167,7 +1087,7 @@ rte_mp_request_async(struct rte_mp_msg *req, const struct timespec *ts,
 		snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/%s", mp_dir_path,
 			 ent->d_name);
 
-		if (mp_request_async(path, copy, param))
+		if (mp_request_async(path, copy, param, ts))
 			ret = -1;
 	}
 	/* if we didn't send anything, put dummy request on the queue */

@@ -1176,9 +1096,6 @@ rte_mp_request_async(struct rte_mp_msg *req, const struct timespec *ts,
 		dummy_used = true;
 	}
 
-	/* trigger async request thread wake up */
-	pthread_cond_signal(&pending_requests.async_cond);
-
 	/* finally, unlock the queue */
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&pending_requests.lock);
 

index 58e9328..5245372 100644
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 #include <rte_branch_prediction.h>
 #include <rte_debug.h>
 #include <rte_log.h>
-#include <rte_malloc.h>
 #include <rte_errno.h>
 #include <rte_spinlock.h>
 #include <rte_pause.h>

@@ -405,8 +404,7 @@ rte_intr_callback_register(const struct rte_intr_handle *intr_handle,
 	}
 
 	/* allocate a new interrupt callback entity */
-	callback = rte_zmalloc("interrupt callback list",
-				sizeof(*callback), 0);
+	callback = calloc(1, sizeof(*callback));
 	if (callback == NULL) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Can not allocate memory\n");
 		return -ENOMEM;

@@ -431,10 +429,9 @@ rte_intr_callback_register(const struct rte_intr_handle *intr_handle,
 
 	/* no existing callbacks for this - add new source */
 	if (src == NULL) {
-		if ((src = rte_zmalloc("interrupt source list",
-				sizeof(*src), 0)) == NULL) {
+		if ((src = calloc(1, sizeof(*src))) == NULL) {
 			RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Can not allocate memory\n");
-			rte_free(callback);
+			free(callback);
 			ret = -ENOMEM;
 		} else {
 			src->intr_handle = *intr_handle;

@@ -501,7 +498,7 @@ rte_intr_callback_unregister(const struct rte_intr_handle *intr_handle,
 			if (cb->cb_fn == cb_fn && (cb_arg == (void *)-1 ||
 					cb->cb_arg == cb_arg)) {
 				TAILQ_REMOVE(&src->callbacks, cb, next);
-				rte_free(cb);
+				free(cb);
 				ret++;
 			}
 		}

@@ -509,7 +506,7 @@ rte_intr_callback_unregister(const struct rte_intr_handle *intr_handle,
 		/* all callbacks for that source are removed. */
 		if (TAILQ_EMPTY(&src->callbacks)) {
 			TAILQ_REMOVE(&intr_sources, src, next);
-			rte_free(src);
+			free(src);
 		}
 	}
 

index 5b23bf0..4f64c60 100644
@@ -772,6 +772,11 @@ rte_eal_init(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	rte_config_init();
 
+	if (rte_eal_intr_init() < 0) {
+		rte_eal_init_alert("Cannot init interrupt-handling thread\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
 	/* Put mp channel init before bus scan so that we can init the vdev
 	 * bus through mp channel in the secondary process before the bus scan.
 	 */

@@ -901,11 +906,6 @@ rte_eal_init(int argc, char **argv)
 		rte_config.master_lcore, (int)thread_id, cpuset,
 		ret == 0 ? "" : "...");
 
-	if (rte_eal_intr_init() < 0) {
-		rte_eal_init_alert("Cannot init interrupt-handling thread\n");
-		return -1;
-	}
-
 	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_SLAVE(i) {
 
 		/*

index 6eb4932..344db76 100644
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ enum rte_intr_handle_type {
 	RTE_INTR_HANDLE_EXT,          /**< external handler */
 	RTE_INTR_HANDLE_VDEV,         /**< virtual device */
 	RTE_INTR_HANDLE_DEV_EVENT,    /**< device event handle */
+	RTE_INTR_HANDLE_IPC,          /**< IPC event handle */
 	RTE_INTR_HANDLE_MAX           /**< count of elements */
 };
 

index 5245372..b23fd9e 100644
@@ -559,6 +559,8 @@ rte_intr_enable(const struct rte_intr_handle *intr_handle)
 	/* not used at this moment */
 	case RTE_INTR_HANDLE_DEV_EVENT:
 		return -1;
+	case RTE_INTR_HANDLE_IPC:
+		return -1;
 	/* unknown handle type */
 	default:
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL,

@@ -609,6 +611,8 @@ rte_intr_disable(const struct rte_intr_handle *intr_handle)
 	/* not used at this moment */
 	case RTE_INTR_HANDLE_DEV_EVENT:
 		return -1;
+	case RTE_INTR_HANDLE_IPC:
+		return -1;
 	/* unknown handle type */
 	default:
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL,

@@ -678,6 +682,7 @@ eal_intr_process_interrupts(struct epoll_event *events, int nfds)
 			call = true;
 			break;
 		case RTE_INTR_HANDLE_DEV_EVENT:
+		case RTE_INTR_HANDLE_IPC:
 			bytes_read = 0;
 			call = true;
 			break;

index dc19175..7c42d71 100644
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ enum test_interrupt_handle_type {
 	TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_UIO,
 	TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_ALARM,
 	TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_DEV_EVENT,
+	TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_IPC,
 	TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_CASE1,
 	TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_MAX
 };

@@ -85,6 +86,10 @@ test_interrupt_init(void)
 	intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_DEV_EVENT].type =
 					RTE_INTR_HANDLE_DEV_EVENT;
 
+	intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_IPC].fd = pfds.readfd;
+	intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_IPC].type =
+					RTE_INTR_HANDLE_IPC;
+
 	intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_CASE1].fd = pfds.writefd;
 	intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_CASE1].type = RTE_INTR_HANDLE_UIO;
 

@@ -263,6 +268,14 @@ test_interrupt_enable(void)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
+	/* check with specific valid intr_handle */
+	test_intr_handle = intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_IPC];
+	if (rte_intr_enable(&test_intr_handle) == 0) {
+		printf("unexpectedly enable a specific intr_handle "
+			"successfully\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
 	/* check with valid handler and its type */
 	test_intr_handle = intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_CASE1];
 	if (rte_intr_enable(&test_intr_handle) < 0) {

@@ -327,6 +340,14 @@ test_interrupt_disable(void)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
+	/* check with specific valid intr_handle */
+	test_intr_handle = intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_IPC];
+	if (rte_intr_disable(&test_intr_handle) == 0) {
+		printf("unexpectedly disable a specific intr_handle "
+			"successfully\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
 	/* check with valid handler and its type */
 	test_intr_handle = intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_CASE1];
 	if (rte_intr_disable(&test_intr_handle) < 0) {

@@ -424,7 +445,7 @@ test_interrupt(void)
 
 	printf("Check valid alarm interrupt full path\n");
 	if (test_interrupt_full_path_check(
-		TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_DEV_EVENT) < 0) {
+		TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_IPC) < 0) {
 		printf("failure occurred during checking valid alarm "
 						"interrupt full path\n");
 		goto out;

@@ -548,6 +569,12 @@ test_interrupt(void)
 	rte_intr_callback_unregister(&test_intr_handle,
 			test_interrupt_callback_1, (void *)-1);
 
+	test_intr_handle = intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_VFIO];
+	rte_intr_callback_unregister(&test_intr_handle,
+			test_interrupt_callback, (void *)-1);
+	rte_intr_callback_unregister(&test_intr_handle,
+			test_interrupt_callback_1, (void *)-1);
+
 	rte_delay_ms(2 * TEST_INTERRUPT_CHECK_INTERVAL);
 	/* deinit */
 	test_interrupt_deinit();

index 4cb460e..1f102ce 100644
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <rte_cycles.h>
 #include <rte_eal.h>
 #include <rte_errno.h>
+#include <rte_interrupts.h>
 #include <rte_lcore.h>
 #include <rte_log.h>
 #include <rte_tailq.h>

@@ -101,6 +102,8 @@ static struct {
 	/**< used in async requests only */
 };
 
+static struct rte_intr_handle ipc_intr_handle;
+
 static void async_reply_handle(void *arg);
 
 /* forward declarations */

@@ -339,18 +342,18 @@ process_msg(struct mp_msg_internal *m, struct sockaddr_un *s)
 	}
 }
 
-static void *
+static void
 mp_handle(void *arg __rte_unused)
 {
 	struct mp_msg_internal msg;
 	struct sockaddr_un sa;
 
 	while (1) {
-		if (read_msg(&msg, &sa) == 0)
-			process_msg(&msg, &sa);
-	}
+		if (read_msg(&msg, &sa) < 0)
+			break;
 
-	return NULL;
+		process_msg(&msg, &sa);
+	}
 }
 
 static int

@@ -548,10 +551,8 @@ unlink_sockets(const char *filter)
 int
 rte_mp_channel_init(void)
 {
-	char thread_name[RTE_MAX_THREAD_NAME_LEN];
 	char path[PATH_MAX];
 	int dir_fd;
-	pthread_t mp_handle_tid;
 
 	/* create filter path */
 	create_socket_path("*", path, sizeof(path));

@@ -579,32 +580,31 @@ rte_mp_channel_init(void)
 	if (rte_eal_process_type() == RTE_PROC_PRIMARY &&
 			unlink_sockets(mp_filter)) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "failed to unlink mp sockets\n");
-		close(dir_fd);
-		return -1;
+		goto res;
 	}
 
 	if (open_socket_fd() < 0) {
-		close(dir_fd);
-		return -1;
+		mp_fd = -1;
+		goto res;
 	}
 
-	if (pthread_create(&mp_handle_tid, NULL, mp_handle, NULL) < 0) {
-		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "failed to create mp thead: %s\n",
+	ipc_intr_handle.fd = mp_fd;
+	ipc_intr_handle.type = RTE_INTR_HANDLE_IPC;
+
+	if (rte_intr_callback_register(&ipc_intr_handle,
+					mp_handle, NULL) < 0) {
+                RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "failed to register IPC callback: %s\n",
 			strerror(errno));
 		close(mp_fd);
 		mp_fd = -1;
-		return -1;
 	}
 
-	/* try best to set thread name */
-	snprintf(thread_name, RTE_MAX_THREAD_NAME_LEN, "rte_mp_handle");
-	rte_thread_setname(mp_handle_tid, thread_name);
-
+res:
 	/* unlock the directory */
 	flock(dir_fd, LOCK_UN);
 	close(dir_fd);
 
-	return 0;
+	return (mp_fd < 0) ? -1 : 0;
 }
 
 /**

index c115e823a..391d2a65f 100644
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 #include <rte_launch.h>
 #include <rte_lcore.h>
 #include <rte_errno.h>
-#include <rte_malloc.h>
 #include <rte_spinlock.h>
 #include <eal_private.h>
 

@@ -91,7 +90,7 @@ eal_alarm_callback(void *arg __rte_unused)
 		rte_spinlock_lock(&alarm_list_lk);
 
 		LIST_REMOVE(ap, next);
-		rte_free(ap);
+		free(ap);
 	}
 
 	if (!LIST_EMPTY(&alarm_list)) {

@@ -122,7 +121,7 @@ rte_eal_alarm_set(uint64_t us, rte_eal_alarm_callback cb_fn, void *cb_arg)
 	if (us < 1 || us > (UINT64_MAX - US_PER_S) || cb_fn == NULL)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	new_alarm = rte_zmalloc(NULL, sizeof(*new_alarm), 0);
+	new_alarm = calloc(1, sizeof(*new_alarm));
 	if (new_alarm == NULL)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 

@@ -196,7 +195,7 @@ rte_eal_alarm_cancel(rte_eal_alarm_callback cb_fn, void *cb_arg)
 
 			if (ap->executing == 0) {
 				LIST_REMOVE(ap, next);
-				rte_free(ap);
+				free(ap);
 				count++;
 			} else {
 				/* If calling from other context, mark that alarm is executing

@@ -220,7 +219,7 @@ rte_eal_alarm_cancel(rte_eal_alarm_callback cb_fn, void *cb_arg)
 
 				if (ap->executing == 0) {
 					LIST_REMOVE(ap, next);
-					rte_free(ap);
+					free(ap);
 					count++;
 					ap = ap_prev;
 				} else if (pthread_equal(ap->executing_id, pthread_self()) == 0)

index 707d8ab30..6f3366403 100644
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include <sys/un.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
+#include <rte_alarm.h>
 #include <rte_common.h>
 #include <rte_cycles.h>
 #include <rte_eal.h>

@@ -94,11 +95,9 @@ TAILQ_HEAD(pending_request_list, pending_request);
 static struct {
 	struct pending_request_list requests;
 	pthread_mutex_t lock;
-	pthread_cond_t async_cond;
 } pending_requests = {
 	.requests = TAILQ_HEAD_INITIALIZER(pending_requests.requests),
 	.lock = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER,
-	.async_cond = PTHREAD_COND_INITIALIZER
 	/**< used in async requests only */
 };
 

@@ -106,6 +105,16 @@ static struct {
 static int
 mp_send(struct rte_mp_msg *msg, const char *peer, int type);
 
+/* for use with alarm callback */
+static void
+async_reply_handle(void *arg);
+
+/* for use with process_msg */
+static struct pending_request *
+async_reply_handle_thread_unsafe(void *arg);
+
+static void
+trigger_async_action(struct pending_request *req);
 
 static struct pending_request *
 find_pending_request(const char *dst, const char *act_name)

@@ -290,6 +299,8 @@ process_msg(struct mp_msg_internal *m, struct sockaddr_un *s)
 	RTE_LOG(DEBUG, EAL, "msg: %s\n", msg->name);
 
 	if (m->type == MP_REP || m->type == MP_IGN) {
+		struct pending_request *req = NULL;
+
 		pthread_mutex_lock(&pending_requests.lock);
 		pending_req = find_pending_request(s->sun_path, msg->name);
 		if (pending_req) {

@@ -301,11 +312,14 @@ process_msg(struct mp_msg_internal *m, struct sockaddr_un *s)
 			if (pending_req->type == REQUEST_TYPE_SYNC)
 				pthread_cond_signal(&pending_req->sync.cond);
 			else if (pending_req->type == REQUEST_TYPE_ASYNC)
-				pthread_cond_signal(
-					&pending_requests.async_cond);
+				req = async_reply_handle_thread_unsafe(
+						pending_req);
 		} else
 			RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Drop mp reply: %s\n", msg->name);
 		pthread_mutex_unlock(&pending_requests.lock);
+
+		if (req != NULL)
+			trigger_async_action(req);
 		return;
 	}
 

@@ -365,7 +379,6 @@ timespec_cmp(const struct timespec *a, const struct timespec *b)
 }
 
 enum async_action {
-	ACTION_NONE, /**< don't do anything */
 	ACTION_FREE, /**< free the action entry, but don't trigger callback */
 	ACTION_TRIGGER /**< trigger callback, then free action entry */
 };

@@ -375,7 +388,7 @@ process_async_request(struct pending_request *sr, const struct timespec *now)
 {
 	struct async_request_param *param;
 	struct rte_mp_reply *reply;
-	bool timeout, received, last_msg;
+	bool timeout, last_msg;
 
 	param = sr->async.param;
 	reply = &param->user_reply;

@@ -383,13 +396,6 @@ process_async_request(struct pending_request *sr, const struct timespec *now)
 	/* did we timeout? */
 	timeout = timespec_cmp(&param->end, now) <= 0;
 
-	/* did we receive a response? */
-	received = sr->reply_received != 0;
-
-	/* if we didn't time out, and we didn't receive a response, ignore */
-	if (!timeout && !received)
-		return ACTION_NONE;
-
 	/* if we received a response, adjust relevant data and copy mesasge. */
 	if (sr->reply_received == 1 && sr->reply) {
 		struct rte_mp_msg *msg, *user_msgs, *tmp;

@@ -448,118 +454,58 @@ trigger_async_action(struct pending_request *sr)
 	free(sr->async.param->user_reply.msgs);
 	free(sr->async.param);
 	free(sr->request);
+	free(sr);
 }
 
 static struct pending_request *
-check_trigger(struct timespec *ts)
+async_reply_handle_thread_unsafe(void *arg)
 {
-	struct pending_request *next, *cur, *trigger = NULL;
-
-	TAILQ_FOREACH_SAFE(cur, &pending_requests.requests, next, next) {
-		enum async_action action;
-		if (cur->type != REQUEST_TYPE_ASYNC)
-			continue;
+	struct pending_request *req = (struct pending_request *)arg;
+	enum async_action action;
+	struct timespec ts_now;
+	struct timeval now;
 
-		action = process_async_request(cur, ts);
-		if (action == ACTION_FREE) {
-			TAILQ_REMOVE(&pending_requests.requests, cur, next);
-			free(cur);
-		} else if (action == ACTION_TRIGGER) {
-			TAILQ_REMOVE(&pending_requests.requests, cur, next);
-			trigger = cur;
-			break;
-		}
+	if (gettimeofday(&now, NULL) < 0) {
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Cannot get current time\n");
+		goto no_trigger;
 	}
-	return trigger;
-}
+	ts_now.tv_nsec = now.tv_usec * 1000;
+	ts_now.tv_sec = now.tv_sec;
 
-static void
-wait_for_async_messages(void)
-{
-	struct pending_request *sr;
-	struct timespec timeout;
-	bool timedwait = false;
-	bool nowait = false;
-	int ret;
+	action = process_async_request(req, &ts_now);
 
-	/* scan through the list and see if there are any timeouts that
-	 * are earlier than our current timeout.
-	 */
-	TAILQ_FOREACH(sr, &pending_requests.requests, next) {
-		if (sr->type != REQUEST_TYPE_ASYNC)
-			continue;
-		if (!timedwait || timespec_cmp(&sr->async.param->end,
-				&timeout) < 0) {
-			memcpy(&timeout, &sr->async.param->end,
-				sizeof(timeout));
-			timedwait = true;
-		}
+	TAILQ_REMOVE(&pending_requests.requests, req, next);
 
-		/* sometimes, we don't even wait */
-		if (sr->reply_received) {
-			nowait = true;
-			break;
+	if (rte_eal_alarm_cancel(async_reply_handle, req) < 0) {
+		/* if we failed to cancel the alarm because it's already in
+		 * progress, don't proceed because otherwise we will end up
+		 * handling the same message twice.
+		 */
+		if (rte_errno == EINPROGRESS) {
+			RTE_LOG(DEBUG, EAL, "Request handling is already in progress\n");
+			goto no_trigger;
 		}
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Failed to cancel alarm\n");
 	}
 
-	if (nowait)
-		return;
-
-	do {
-		ret = timedwait ?
-			pthread_cond_timedwait(
-				&pending_requests.async_cond,
-				&pending_requests.lock,
-				&timeout) :
-			pthread_cond_wait(
-				&pending_requests.async_cond,
-				&pending_requests.lock);
-	} while (ret != 0 && ret != ETIMEDOUT);
-
-	/* we've been woken up or timed out */
+	if (action == ACTION_TRIGGER)
+		return req;
+no_trigger:
+	free(req);
+	return NULL;
 }
 
-static void *
-async_reply_handle(void *arg __rte_unused)
+static void
+async_reply_handle(void *arg)
 {
-	struct timeval now;
-	struct timespec ts_now;
-	while (1) {
-		struct pending_request *trigger = NULL;
+	struct pending_request *req;
 
-		pthread_mutex_lock(&pending_requests.lock);
-
-		/* we exit this function holding the lock */
-		wait_for_async_messages();
-
-		if (gettimeofday(&now, NULL) < 0) {
-			pthread_mutex_unlock(&pending_requests.lock);
-			RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Cannot get current time\n");
-			break;
-		}
-		ts_now.tv_nsec = now.tv_usec * 1000;
-		ts_now.tv_sec = now.tv_sec;
-
-		do {
-			trigger = check_trigger(&ts_now);
-			/* unlock request list */
-			pthread_mutex_unlock(&pending_requests.lock);
-
-			if (trigger) {
-				trigger_async_action(trigger);
-				free(trigger);
-
-				/* we've triggered a callback, but there may be
-				 * more, so lock the list and check again.
-				 */
-				pthread_mutex_lock(&pending_requests.lock);
-			}
-		} while (trigger);
-	}
-
-	RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "ERROR: asynchronous requests disabled\n");
+	pthread_mutex_lock(&pending_requests.lock);
+	req = async_reply_handle_thread_unsafe(arg);
+	pthread_mutex_unlock(&pending_requests.lock);
 
-	return NULL;
+	if (req != NULL)
+		trigger_async_action(req);
 }
 
 static int

@@ -624,7 +570,7 @@ rte_mp_channel_init(void)
 {
 	char path[PATH_MAX];
 	int dir_fd;
-	pthread_t mp_handle_tid, async_reply_handle_tid;
+	pthread_t mp_handle_tid;
 
 	/* create filter path */
 	create_socket_path("*", path, sizeof(path));

@@ -671,17 +617,6 @@ rte_mp_channel_init(void)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	if (rte_ctrl_thread_create(&async_reply_handle_tid,
-			"rte_mp_async", NULL,
-			async_reply_handle, NULL) < 0) {
-		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "failed to create mp thead: %s\n",
-			strerror(errno));
-		close(mp_fd);
-		close(dir_fd);
-		mp_fd = -1;
-		return -1;
-	}
-
 	/* unlock the directory */
 	flock(dir_fd, LOCK_UN);
 	close(dir_fd);

@@ -853,7 +788,7 @@ rte_mp_sendmsg(struct rte_mp_msg *msg)
 
 static int
 mp_request_async(const char *dst, struct rte_mp_msg *req,
-		struct async_request_param *param)
+		struct async_request_param *param, const struct timespec *ts)
 {
 	struct rte_mp_msg *reply_msg;
 	struct pending_request *pending_req, *exist;

@@ -898,6 +833,13 @@ mp_request_async(const char *dst, struct rte_mp_msg *req,
 
 	param->user_reply.nb_sent++;
 
+	if (rte_eal_alarm_set(ts->tv_sec * 1000000 + ts->tv_nsec / 1000,
+			      async_reply_handle, pending_req) < 0) {
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Fail to set alarm for request %s:%s\n",
+			dst, req->name);
+		rte_panic("Fix the above shit to properly free all memory\n");
+	}
+
 	return 0;
 fail:
 	free(pending_req);

@@ -1119,7 +1061,7 @@ rte_mp_request_async(struct rte_mp_msg *req, const struct timespec *ts,
 
 	/* for secondary process, send request to the primary process only */
 	if (rte_eal_process_type() == RTE_PROC_SECONDARY) {
-		ret = mp_request_async(eal_mp_socket_path(), copy, param);
+		ret = mp_request_async(eal_mp_socket_path(), copy, param, ts);
 
 		/* if we didn't send anything, put dummy request on the queue */
 		if (ret == 0 && reply->nb_sent == 0) {

@@ -1162,7 +1104,7 @@ rte_mp_request_async(struct rte_mp_msg *req, const struct timespec *ts,
 		snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/%s", mp_dir_path,
 			 ent->d_name);
 
-		if (mp_request_async(path, copy, param))
+		if (mp_request_async(path, copy, param, ts))
 			ret = -1;
 	}
 	/* if we didn't send anything, put dummy request on the queue */

@@ -1171,9 +1113,6 @@ rte_mp_request_async(struct rte_mp_msg *req, const struct timespec *ts,
 		dummy_used = true;
 	}
 
-	/* trigger async request thread wake up */
-	pthread_cond_signal(&pending_requests.async_cond);
-
 	/* finally, unlock the queue */
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&pending_requests.lock);
 

index 056d41c12..180c0378a 100644
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 #include <rte_branch_prediction.h>
 #include <rte_debug.h>
 #include <rte_log.h>
-#include <rte_malloc.h>
 #include <rte_errno.h>
 #include <rte_spinlock.h>
 #include <rte_pause.h>

@@ -405,8 +404,7 @@ rte_intr_callback_register(const struct rte_intr_handle *intr_handle,
 	}
 
 	/* allocate a new interrupt callback entity */
-	callback = rte_zmalloc("interrupt callback list",
-				sizeof(*callback), 0);
+	callback = calloc(1, sizeof(*callback));
 	if (callback == NULL) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Can not allocate memory\n");
 		return -ENOMEM;

@@ -431,10 +429,10 @@ rte_intr_callback_register(const struct rte_intr_handle *intr_handle,
 
 	/* no existing callbacks for this - add new source */
 	if (src == NULL) {
-		if ((src = rte_zmalloc("interrupt source list",
-				sizeof(*src), 0)) == NULL) {
+		src = calloc(1, sizeof(*src));
+		if (src == NULL) {
 			RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Can not allocate memory\n");
-			rte_free(callback);
+			free(callback);
 			ret = -ENOMEM;
 		} else {
 			src->intr_handle = *intr_handle;

@@ -501,7 +499,7 @@ rte_intr_callback_unregister(const struct rte_intr_handle *intr_handle,
 			if (cb->cb_fn == cb_fn && (cb_arg == (void *)-1 ||
 					cb->cb_arg == cb_arg)) {
 				TAILQ_REMOVE(&src->callbacks, cb, next);
-				rte_free(cb);
+				free(cb);
 				ret++;
 			}
 		}

@@ -509,7 +507,7 @@ rte_intr_callback_unregister(const struct rte_intr_handle *intr_handle,
 		/* all callbacks for that source are removed. */
 		if (TAILQ_EMPTY(&src->callbacks)) {
 			TAILQ_REMOVE(&intr_sources, src, next);
-			rte_free(src);
+			free(src);
 		}
 	}
 

index 8655b8691..f8a0c06d7 100644
@@ -839,6 +839,11 @@ rte_eal_init(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	rte_config_init();
 
+	if (rte_eal_intr_init() < 0) {
+		rte_eal_init_alert("Cannot init interrupt-handling thread\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
 	/* Put mp channel init before bus scan so that we can init the vdev
 	 * bus through mp channel in the secondary process before the bus scan.
 	 */

@@ -968,11 +973,6 @@ rte_eal_init(int argc, char **argv)
 		rte_config.master_lcore, (int)thread_id, cpuset,
 		ret == 0 ? "" : "...");
 
-	if (rte_eal_intr_init() < 0) {
-		rte_eal_init_alert("Cannot init interrupt-handling thread\n");
-		return -1;
-	}
-
 	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_SLAVE(i) {
 
 		/*

index 6eb493271..344db768d 100644
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ enum rte_intr_handle_type {
 	RTE_INTR_HANDLE_EXT,          /**< external handler */
 	RTE_INTR_HANDLE_VDEV,         /**< virtual device */
 	RTE_INTR_HANDLE_DEV_EVENT,    /**< device event handle */
+	RTE_INTR_HANDLE_IPC,          /**< IPC event handle */
 	RTE_INTR_HANDLE_MAX           /**< count of elements */
 };
 

index 180c0378a..390672739 100644
@@ -560,6 +560,8 @@ rte_intr_enable(const struct rte_intr_handle *intr_handle)
 	/* not used at this moment */
 	case RTE_INTR_HANDLE_DEV_EVENT:
 		return -1;
+	case RTE_INTR_HANDLE_IPC:
+		return -1;
 	/* unknown handle type */
 	default:
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL,

@@ -610,6 +612,8 @@ rte_intr_disable(const struct rte_intr_handle *intr_handle)
 	/* not used at this moment */
 	case RTE_INTR_HANDLE_DEV_EVENT:
 		return -1;
+	case RTE_INTR_HANDLE_IPC:
+		return -1;
 	/* unknown handle type */
 	default:
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL,

@@ -679,6 +683,7 @@ eal_intr_process_interrupts(struct epoll_event *events, int nfds)
 			call = true;
 			break;
 		case RTE_INTR_HANDLE_DEV_EVENT:
+		case RTE_INTR_HANDLE_IPC:
 			bytes_read = 0;
 			call = true;
 			break;

index dc19175d3..fa18ddf75 100644
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ enum test_interrupt_handle_type {
 	TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_UIO,
 	TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_ALARM,
 	TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_DEV_EVENT,
+	TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_IPC,
 	TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_CASE1,
 	TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_MAX
 };

@@ -85,6 +86,10 @@ test_interrupt_init(void)
 	intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_DEV_EVENT].type =
 					RTE_INTR_HANDLE_DEV_EVENT;
 
+	intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_IPC].fd = pfds.readfd;
+	intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_IPC].type =
+					RTE_INTR_HANDLE_IPC;
+
 	intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_CASE1].fd = pfds.writefd;
 	intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_CASE1].type = RTE_INTR_HANDLE_UIO;
 

@@ -263,6 +268,14 @@ test_interrupt_enable(void)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
+	/* check with specific valid intr_handle */
+	test_intr_handle = intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_IPC];
+	if (rte_intr_enable(&test_intr_handle) == 0) {
+		printf("unexpectedly enable a specific intr_handle "
+			"successfully\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
 	/* check with valid handler and its type */
 	test_intr_handle = intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_CASE1];
 	if (rte_intr_enable(&test_intr_handle) < 0) {

@@ -327,6 +340,14 @@ test_interrupt_disable(void)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
+	/* check with specific valid intr_handle */
+	test_intr_handle = intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_IPC];
+	if (rte_intr_disable(&test_intr_handle) == 0) {
+		printf("unexpectedly disable a specific intr_handle "
+			"successfully\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
 	/* check with valid handler and its type */
 	test_intr_handle = intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_CASE1];
 	if (rte_intr_disable(&test_intr_handle) < 0) {

@@ -424,7 +445,7 @@ test_interrupt(void)
 
 	printf("Check valid alarm interrupt full path\n");
 	if (test_interrupt_full_path_check(
-		TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_DEV_EVENT) < 0) {
+		TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_IPC) < 0) {
 		printf("failure occurred during checking valid alarm "
 						"interrupt full path\n");
 		goto out;

@@ -548,6 +569,12 @@ test_interrupt(void)
 	rte_intr_callback_unregister(&test_intr_handle,
 			test_interrupt_callback_1, (void *)-1);
 
+	test_intr_handle = intr_handles[TEST_INTERRUPT_HANDLE_VALID_IPC];
+	rte_intr_callback_unregister(&test_intr_handle,
+			test_interrupt_callback, (void *)-1);
+	rte_intr_callback_unregister(&test_intr_handle,
+			test_interrupt_callback_1, (void *)-1);
+
 	rte_delay_ms(2 * TEST_INTERRUPT_CHECK_INTERVAL);
 	/* deinit */
 	test_interrupt_deinit();

index 6f3366403..162d67ca5 100644
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <rte_cycles.h>
 #include <rte_eal.h>
 #include <rte_errno.h>
+#include <rte_interrupts.h>
 #include <rte_lcore.h>
 #include <rte_log.h>
 #include <rte_tailq.h>

@@ -101,6 +102,8 @@ static struct {
 	/**< used in async requests only */
 };
 
+static struct rte_intr_handle ipc_intr_handle;
+
 /* forward declarations */
 static int
 mp_send(struct rte_mp_msg *msg, const char *peer, int type);

@@ -350,18 +353,17 @@ process_msg(struct mp_msg_internal *m, struct sockaddr_un *s)
 	}
 }
 
-static void *
+static void
 mp_handle(void *arg __rte_unused)
 {
 	struct mp_msg_internal msg;
 	struct sockaddr_un sa;
 
 	while (1) {
-		if (read_msg(&msg, &sa) == 0)
-			process_msg(&msg, &sa);
+		if (read_msg(&msg, &sa) < 0)
+			break;
+		process_msg(&msg, &sa);
 	}
-
-	return NULL;
 }
 
 static int

@@ -570,7 +572,6 @@ rte_mp_channel_init(void)
 {
 	char path[PATH_MAX];
 	int dir_fd;
-	pthread_t mp_handle_tid;
 
 	/* create filter path */
 	create_socket_path("*", path, sizeof(path));

@@ -585,36 +586,32 @@ rte_mp_channel_init(void)
 	if (dir_fd < 0) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "failed to open %s: %s\n",
 			mp_dir_path, strerror(errno));
-		return -1;
+		goto fail;
 	}
 
 	if (flock(dir_fd, LOCK_EX)) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "failed to lock %s: %s\n",
 			mp_dir_path, strerror(errno));
-		close(dir_fd);
-		return -1;
+		goto fail;
 	}
 
 	if (rte_eal_process_type() == RTE_PROC_PRIMARY &&
 			unlink_sockets(mp_filter)) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "failed to unlink mp sockets\n");
-		close(dir_fd);
-		return -1;
+		goto fail;
 	}
 
 	if (open_socket_fd() < 0) {
-		close(dir_fd);
-		return -1;
+		goto fail;
 	}
 
-	if (rte_ctrl_thread_create(&mp_handle_tid, "rte_mp_handle",
-			NULL, mp_handle, NULL) < 0) {
-		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "failed to create mp thead: %s\n",
-			strerror(errno));
-		close(mp_fd);
-		close(dir_fd);
-		mp_fd = -1;
-		return -1;
+	ipc_intr_handle.fd = mp_fd;
+	ipc_intr_handle.type = RTE_INTR_HANDLE_IPC;
+
+	if (rte_intr_callback_register(&ipc_intr_handle, mp_handle, NULL) < 0) {
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "failed to register IPC interrupt callback: %s\n",
+				strerror(errno));
+		goto fail;
 	}
 
 	/* unlock the directory */

@@ -622,6 +619,13 @@ rte_mp_channel_init(void)
 	close(dir_fd);
 
 	return 0;
+fail:
+	if (dir_fd >= 0)
+		close(dir_fd);
+	if (mp_fd >= 0)
+		close(mp_fd);
+	mp_fd = -1;
+	return -1;
 }
 
 /**