diff --git a/include/proto/pipe.h b/include/proto/pipe.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0c02165
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/proto/pipe.h
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/*
+  include/proto/pipe.h
+  Pipe management
+
+  Copyright (C) 2000-2009 Willy Tarreau - w@1wt.eu
+
+  This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+  modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+  License as published by the Free Software Foundation, version 2.1
+  exclusively.
+
+  This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+  Lesser General Public License for more details.
+
+  You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+  License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+  Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+*/
+
+#ifndef _PROTO_PIPE_H
+#define _PROTO_PIPE_H
+
+#include <common/config.h>
+#include <types/pipe.h>
+
+extern int pipes_used;	/* # of pipes in use (2 fds each) */
+extern int pipes_free;	/* # of pipes unused (2 fds each) */
+
+/* return a pre-allocated empty pipe. Try to allocate one if there isn't any
+ * left. NULL is returned if a pipe could not be allocated.
+ */
+struct pipe *get_pipe();
+
+/* destroy a pipe, possibly because an error was encountered on it. Its FDs
+ * will be closed and it will not be reinjected into the live pool.
+ */
+void kill_pipe(struct pipe *p);
+
+/* put back a unused pipe into the live pool. If it still has data in it, it is
+ * closed and not reinjected into the live pool. The caller is not allowed to
+ * use it once released.
+ */
+void put_pipe(struct pipe *p);
+
+#endif /* _PROTO_PIPE_H */
+
+/*
+ * Local variables:
+ *  c-indent-level: 8
+ *  c-basic-offset: 8
+ * End:
+ */
diff --git a/include/types/pipe.h b/include/types/pipe.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..12a1eee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/types/pipe.h
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/*
+  include/types/pipe.h
+  Pipe management.
+
+  Copyright (C) 2000-2009 Willy Tarreau - w@1wt.eu
+
+  This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+  modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+  License as published by the Free Software Foundation, version 2.1
+  exclusively.
+
+  This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+  Lesser General Public License for more details.
+
+  You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+  License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+  Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+*/
+
+#ifndef _TYPES_PIPE_H
+#define _TYPES_PIPE_H
+
+#include <common/config.h>
+
+/* A pipe is described by its read and write FDs, and the data remaining in it.
+ * The FDs are valid if there are data pending. The user is not allowed to
+ * change the FDs.
+ */
+struct pipe {
+	int data;	/* number of bytes present in the pipe  */
+	int prod;	/* FD the producer must write to ; -1 if none */
+	int cons;	/* FD the consumer must read from ; -1 if none */
+	struct pipe *next;
+};
+
+#endif /* _TYPES_PIPE_H */
+
+/*
+ * Local variables:
+ *  c-indent-level: 8
+ *  c-basic-offset: 8
+ * End:
+ */