diff --git a/include/proto/protocol.h b/include/proto/protocol.h
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/proto/protocol.h
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+/*
+ * include/proto/protocol.h
+ * This file declares generic protocol management primitives.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2000-2012 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_PROTOCOL_H
+#define _PROTO_PROTOCOL_H
+
+#include <types/protocol.h>
+
+/* Registers the protocol <proto> */
+void protocol_register(struct protocol *proto);
+
+/* Unregisters the protocol <proto>. Note that all listeners must have
+ * previously been unbound.
+ */
+void protocol_unregister(struct protocol *proto);
+
+/* binds all listeneres of all registered protocols. Returns a composition
+ * of ERR_NONE, ERR_RETRYABLE, ERR_FATAL.
+ */
+int protocol_bind_all(char *errmsg, int errlen);
+
+/* unbinds all listeners of all registered protocols. They are also closed.
+ * This must be performed before calling exit() in order to get a chance to
+ * remove file-system based sockets and pipes.
+ * Returns a composition of ERR_NONE, ERR_RETRYABLE, ERR_FATAL.
+ */
+int protocol_unbind_all(void);
+
+/* enables all listeners of all registered protocols. This is intended to be
+ * used after a fork() to enable reading on all file descriptors. Returns a
+ * composition of ERR_NONE, ERR_RETRYABLE, ERR_FATAL.
+ */
+int protocol_enable_all(void);
+
+/* returns the protocol associated to family <family> or NULL if not found */
+struct protocol *protocol_by_family(int family);
+
+#endif /* _PROTO_PROTOCOL_H */
+
+/*
+ * Local variables:
+ *  c-indent-level: 8
+ *  c-basic-offset: 8
+ * End:
+ */