diff --git a/config/meson.build b/config/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..27d7125cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+#   BSD LICENSE
+#
+#   Copyright(c) 2017 Intel Corporation.
+#   All rights reserved.
+#
+#   Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+#   modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+#   are met:
+#
+#     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+#       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+#       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+#       the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+#       distribution.
+#     * Neither the name of Intel Corporation nor the names of its
+#       contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+#       from this software without specific prior written permission.
+#
+#   THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+#   "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+#   LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+#   A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+#   OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+#   SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+#   LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+#   DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+#   THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+#   (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+#   OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+# set the machine type and cflags for it
+machine = get_option('machine')
+dpdk_conf.set('RTE_MACHINE', machine)
+add_project_arguments('-march=@0@'.format(machine), language: 'c')
+# some libs depend on maths lib
+add_project_link_arguments('-lm', language: 'c')
+
+# add -include rte_config to cflags
+add_project_arguments('-include', 'rte_config.h', language: 'c')
+
+# enable extra warnings and disable any unwanted warnings
+warning_flags = [
+	'-Wsign-compare',
+	'-Wcast-qual',
+	'-Wno-address-of-packed-member',
+	'-Wno-format-truncation'
+]
+foreach arg: warning_flags
+	if cc.has_argument(arg)
+		add_project_arguments(arg, language: 'c')
+	endif
+endforeach
+
+compile_time_cpuflags = []
+if host_machine.cpu_family().startswith('x86')
+	arch_subdir = 'x86'
+	subdir(arch_subdir)
+endif
+dpdk_conf.set('RTE_COMPILE_TIME_CPUFLAGS', ','.join(compile_time_cpuflags))
+
+# set the install path for the drivers
+dpdk_conf.set_quoted('RTE_EAL_PMD_PATH', driver_install_path)
+
+# set other values pulled from the build options
+dpdk_conf.set('RTE_MAX_LCORE', get_option('max_lcores'))
+dpdk_conf.set('RTE_MAX_NUMA_NODES', get_option('max_numa_nodes'))
+dpdk_conf.set('RTE_LIBEAL_USE_HPET', get_option('use_hpet'))
+dpdk_conf.set('RTE_EAL_ALLOW_INV_SOCKET_ID', get_option('allow_invalid_socket_id'))
+
+install_headers('rte_config.h')
diff --git a/config/rte_config.h b/config/rte_config.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..813c3a67d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/rte_config.h
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/*
+ *   BSD LICENSE
+ *
+ *   Copyright(c) 2017 Intel Corporation.
+ *   All rights reserved.
+ *
+ *   Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ *   modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ *   are met:
+ *
+ *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+ *       the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ *       distribution.
+ *     * Neither the name of Intel Corporation nor the names of its
+ *       contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+ *       from this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ *   THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ *   "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ *   LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ *   A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ *   OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ *   SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ *   LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ *   DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ *   THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ *   (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ *   OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * @file Header file containing DPDK compilation parameters
+ *
+ * Header file containing DPDK compilation parameters. Also include the
+ * meson-generated header file containing the detected parameters that
+ * are variable across builds or build environments.
+ *
+ * NOTE: This file is only used for meson+ninja builds. For builds done
+ * using make/gmake, the rte_config.h file is autogenerated from the
+ * defconfig_* files in the config directory.
+ */
+#ifndef _RTE_CONFIG_H_
+#define _RTE_CONFIG_H_
+
+#include <rte_build_config.h>
+
+#endif /* _RTE_CONFIG_H_ */
diff --git a/config/x86/meson.build b/config/x86/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0d1a532ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/x86/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#   BSD LICENSE
+#
+#   Copyright(c) 2017 Intel Corporation.
+#   All rights reserved.
+#
+#   Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+#   modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+#   are met:
+#
+#     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+#       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+#       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+#       the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+#       distribution.
+#     * Neither the name of Intel Corporation nor the names of its
+#       contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+#       from this software without specific prior written permission.
+#
+#   THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+#   "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+#   LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+#   A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+#   OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+#   SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+#   LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+#   DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+#   THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+#   (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+#   OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+# for checking defines we need to use the correct compiler flags
+march_opt = '-march=@0@'.format(machine)
+
+# we require SSE4.2 for DPDK
+sse_errormsg = '''SSE4.2 instruction set is required for DPDK.
+Please set the machine type to "nehalem" or "corei7" or higher value'''
+
+if cc.get_define('__SSE4_2__', args: march_opt) == ''
+	error(sse_errormsg)
+endif
+
+dpdk_conf.set('RTE_ARCH_X86', 1)
+if (host_machine.cpu_family() == 'x86_64')
+	dpdk_conf.set('RTE_ARCH_X86_64', 1)
+	dpdk_conf.set('RTE_ARCH', 'x86_64')
+	dpdk_conf.set('RTE_ARCH_64', 1)
+else
+	dpdk_conf.set('RTE_ARCH_I686', 1)
+	dpdk_conf.set('RTE_ARCH', 'i686')
+endif
+
+if cc.get_define('__AES__', args: march_opt) != ''
+	dpdk_conf.set('RTE_MACHINE_CPUFLAG_AES', 1)
+	compile_time_cpuflags += ['RTE_CPUFLAG_AES']
+endif
+if cc.get_define('__PCLMUL__', args: march_opt) != ''
+	dpdk_conf.set('RTE_MACHINE_CPUFLAG_PCLMULQDQ', 1)
+	compile_time_cpuflags += ['RTE_CPUFLAG_PCLMULQDQ']
+endif
+if cc.get_define('__AVX__', args: march_opt) != ''
+	dpdk_conf.set('RTE_MACHINE_CPUFLAG_AVX', 1)
+	compile_time_cpuflags += ['RTE_CPUFLAG_AVX']
+endif
+if cc.get_define('__AVX2__', args: march_opt) != ''
+	dpdk_conf.set('RTE_MACHINE_CPUFLAG_AVX2', 1)
+	compile_time_cpuflags += ['RTE_CPUFLAG_AVX2']
+endif
+
+dpdk_conf.set('RTE_CACHE_LINE_SIZE', 64)
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8588e0e39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+#   BSD LICENSE
+#
+#   Copyright(c) 2017 Intel Corporation.
+#   All rights reserved.
+#
+#   Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+#   modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+#   are met:
+#
+#     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+#       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+#       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+#       the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+#       distribution.
+#     * Neither the name of Intel Corporation nor the names of its
+#       contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+#       from this software without specific prior written permission.
+#
+#   THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+#   "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+#   LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+#   A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+#   OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+#   SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+#   LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+#   DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+#   THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+#   (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+#   OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+project('DPDK', 'C',
+	version: '17.08.0',
+	license: 'BSD',
+	default_options: ['buildtype=release'],
+	meson_version: '>= 0.41'
+)
+
+# set up some global vars for compiler, platform, configuration, etc.
+cc = meson.get_compiler('c')
+dpdk_conf = configuration_data()
+dpdk_libraries = []
+dpdk_drivers = []
+dpdk_extra_ldflags = []
+
+# for static libs, treat the drivers as regular libraries, otherwise
+# for shared libs, put them in a driver folder
+if get_option('default_library') == 'static'
+	driver_install_path = get_option('libdir')
+else
+	driver_install_path = '@0@/dpdk/drivers'.format(get_option('prefix'))
+endif
+
+# configure the build, and make sure configs here and in config folder are
+# able to be included in any file. We also store a global array of include dirs
+# for passing to pmdinfogen scripts
+global_inc = include_directories('.', 'config')
+subdir('config')
+
+# TODO build libs and drivers
+
+# TODO build binaries and installable tools
+
+# write the build config
+build_cfg = 'rte_build_config.h'
+configure_file(output: build_cfg,
+		configuration: dpdk_conf,
+		install_dir: get_option('includedir'))
+
+# for static builds, include the drivers as libs, and also any
+# other dependent libs that DPDK needs to link against
+if get_option('default_library') == 'static'
+	dpdk_drivers = ['-Wl,--whole-archive'] + dpdk_drivers + ['-Wl,--no-whole-archive']
+	dpdk_libraries = dpdk_drivers + dpdk_libraries + dpdk_extra_ldflags
+endif
+
+pkg = import('pkgconfig')
+pkg.generate(name: meson.project_name(),
+	version: meson.project_version(),
+	libraries: dpdk_libraries,
+	description: 'The Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK)',
+	extra_cflags: '-include "rte_config.h"'
+)
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c03b79fbd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+option('machine', type: 'string', value: 'native', description: 'set the target machine type')
+option('max_lcores', type: 'string', value: '128', description: 'maximum number of cores/threads supported by EAL')
+option('max_numa_nodes', type: 'string', value: '4', description: 'maximum number of NUMA nodes supported by EAL')
+option('use_hpet', type: 'boolean', value: false, description: 'use HPET timer in EAL')
+option('allow_invalid_socket_id', type: 'boolean', value: false,
+	description: 'allow out-of-range NUMA socket id\'s for platforms that don\'t report the value correctly')
