diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/eal.c b/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/eal.c
index bfbec0d7f..b5c0386e4 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/eal.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/eal.c
@@ -769,6 +769,14 @@ int rte_vfio_noiommu_is_enabled(void);
 int rte_vfio_clear_group(int vfio_group_fd);
 int rte_vfio_dma_map(uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t iova, uint64_t len);
 int rte_vfio_dma_unmap(uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t iova, uint64_t len);
+int rte_vfio_container_create(void);
+int rte_vfio_container_destroy(int container_fd);
+int rte_vfio_container_group_bind(int container_fd, int iommu_group_num);
+int rte_vfio_container_group_unbind(int container_fd, int iommu_group_num);
+int rte_vfio_container_dma_map(int container_fd, uint64_t vaddr,
+		uint64_t iova, uint64_t len);
+int rte_vfio_container_dma_unmap(int container_fd, uint64_t vaddr,
+		uint64_t iova, uint64_t len);
 
 int rte_vfio_setup_device(__rte_unused const char *sysfs_base,
 		      __rte_unused const char *dev_addr,
@@ -838,3 +846,47 @@ rte_vfio_get_group_fd(__rte_unused int iommu_group_num)
 {
 	return -1;
 }
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_create(void)
+{
+	return -1;
+}
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_destroy(__rte_unused int container_fd)
+{
+	return -1;
+}
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_group_bind(__rte_unused int container_fd,
+		__rte_unused int iommu_group_num)
+{
+	return -1;
+}
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_group_unbind(__rte_unused int container_fd,
+		__rte_unused int iommu_group_num)
+{
+	return -1;
+}
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_dma_map(__rte_unused int container_fd,
+			__rte_unused uint64_t vaddr,
+			__rte_unused uint64_t iova,
+			__rte_unused uint64_t len)
+{
+	return -1;
+}
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_dma_unmap(__rte_unused int container_fd,
+			__rte_unused uint64_t vaddr,
+			__rte_unused uint64_t iova,
+			__rte_unused uint64_t len)
+{
+	return -1;
+}
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_vfio.h b/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_vfio.h
index c4a2e606f..c10c206a3 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_vfio.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_vfio.h
@@ -154,7 +154,10 @@ rte_vfio_clear_group(int vfio_group_fd);
 /**
  * Map memory region for use with VFIO.
  *
- * @note requires at least one device to be attached at the time of mapping.
+ * @note Require at least one device to be attached at the time of
+ *       mapping. DMA maps done via this API will only apply to default
+ *       container and will not apply to any of the containers created
+ *       via rte_vfio_container_create().
  *
  * @param vaddr
  *   Starting virtual address of memory to be mapped.
@@ -245,6 +248,129 @@ rte_vfio_get_container_fd(void);
 int __rte_experimental
 rte_vfio_get_group_fd(int iommu_group_num);
 
+/**
+ * @warning
+ * @b EXPERIMENTAL: this API may change, or be removed, without prior notice
+ *
+ * Create a new container for device binding.
+ *
+ * @note Any newly allocated DPDK memory will not be mapped into these
+ *       containers by default, user needs to manage DMA mappings for
+ *       any container created by this API.
+ *
+ * @return
+ *   the container fd if successful
+ *   <0 if failed
+ */
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_create(void);
+
+/**
+ * @warning
+ * @b EXPERIMENTAL: this API may change, or be removed, without prior notice
+ *
+ * Destroy the container, unbind all vfio groups within it.
+ *
+ * @param container_fd
+ *   the container fd to destroy
+ *
+ * @return
+ *    0 if successful
+ *   <0 if failed
+ */
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_destroy(int container_fd);
+
+/**
+ * @warning
+ * @b EXPERIMENTAL: this API may change, or be removed, without prior notice
+ *
+ * Bind a IOMMU group to a container.
+ *
+ * @param container_fd
+ *   the container's fd
+ *
+ * @param iommu_group_num
+ *   the iommu group number to bind to container
+ *
+ * @return
+ *   group fd if successful
+ *   <0 if failed
+ */
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_group_bind(int container_fd, int iommu_group_num);
+
+/**
+ * @warning
+ * @b EXPERIMENTAL: this API may change, or be removed, without prior notice
+ *
+ * Unbind a IOMMU group from a container.
+ *
+ * @param container_fd
+ *   the container fd of container
+ *
+ * @param iommu_group_num
+ *   the iommu group number to delete from container
+ *
+ * @return
+ *    0 if successful
+ *   <0 if failed
+ */
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_group_unbind(int container_fd, int iommu_group_num);
+
+/**
+ * @warning
+ * @b EXPERIMENTAL: this API may change, or be removed, without prior notice
+ *
+ * Perform DMA mapping for devices in a container.
+ *
+ * @param container_fd
+ *   the specified container fd
+ *
+ * @param vaddr
+ *   Starting virtual address of memory to be mapped.
+ *
+ * @param iova
+ *   Starting IOVA address of memory to be mapped.
+ *
+ * @param len
+ *   Length of memory segment being mapped.
+ *
+ * @return
+ *    0 if successful
+ *   <0 if failed
+ */
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_dma_map(int container_fd, uint64_t vaddr,
+		uint64_t iova, uint64_t len);
+
+/**
+ * @warning
+ * @b EXPERIMENTAL: this API may change, or be removed, without prior notice
+ *
+ * Perform DMA unmapping for devices in a container.
+ *
+ * @param container_fd
+ *   the specified container fd
+ *
+ * @param vaddr
+ *   Starting virtual address of memory to be unmapped.
+ *
+ * @param iova
+ *   Starting IOVA address of memory to be unmapped.
+ *
+ * @param len
+ *   Length of memory segment being unmapped.
+ *
+ * @return
+ *    0 if successful
+ *   <0 if failed
+ */
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_dma_unmap(int container_fd, uint64_t vaddr,
+		uint64_t iova, uint64_t len);
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/eal_vfio.c b/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/eal_vfio.c
index 6289f6316..64ea194f0 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/eal_vfio.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/eal_vfio.c
@@ -1532,19 +1532,15 @@ vfio_dma_mem_map(struct vfio_config *vfio_cfg, uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t iova,
 			len, do_map);
 }
 
-int __rte_experimental
-rte_vfio_dma_map(uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t iova, uint64_t len)
+static int
+container_dma_map(struct vfio_config *vfio_cfg, uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t iova,
+		uint64_t len)
 {
 	struct user_mem_map *new_map;
 	struct user_mem_maps *user_mem_maps;
 	int ret = 0;
 
-	if (len == 0) {
-		rte_errno = EINVAL;
-		return -1;
-	}
-
-	user_mem_maps = &default_vfio_cfg->mem_maps;
+	user_mem_maps = &vfio_cfg->mem_maps;
 	rte_spinlock_recursive_lock(&user_mem_maps->lock);
 	if (user_mem_maps->n_maps == VFIO_MAX_USER_MEM_MAPS) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "No more space for user mem maps\n");
@@ -1553,7 +1549,7 @@ rte_vfio_dma_map(uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t iova, uint64_t len)
 		goto out;
 	}
 	/* map the entry */
-	if (vfio_dma_mem_map(default_vfio_cfg, vaddr, iova, len, 1)) {
+	if (vfio_dma_mem_map(vfio_cfg, vaddr, iova, len, 1)) {
 		/* technically, this will fail if there are currently no devices
 		 * plugged in, even if a device were added later, this mapping
 		 * might have succeeded. however, since we cannot verify if this
@@ -1577,19 +1573,15 @@ rte_vfio_dma_map(uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t iova, uint64_t len)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int __rte_experimental
-rte_vfio_dma_unmap(uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t iova, uint64_t len)
+static int
+container_dma_unmap(struct vfio_config *vfio_cfg, uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t iova,
+		uint64_t len)
 {
 	struct user_mem_map *map, *new_map = NULL;
 	struct user_mem_maps *user_mem_maps;
 	int ret = 0;
 
-	if (len == 0) {
-		rte_errno = EINVAL;
-		return -1;
-	}
-
-	user_mem_maps = &default_vfio_cfg->mem_maps;
+	user_mem_maps = &vfio_cfg->mem_maps;
 	rte_spinlock_recursive_lock(&user_mem_maps->lock);
 
 	/* find our mapping */
@@ -1614,7 +1606,7 @@ rte_vfio_dma_unmap(uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t iova, uint64_t len)
 	}
 
 	/* unmap the entry */
-	if (vfio_dma_mem_map(default_vfio_cfg, vaddr, iova, len, 0)) {
+	if (vfio_dma_mem_map(vfio_cfg, vaddr, iova, len, 0)) {
 		/* there may not be any devices plugged in, so unmapping will
 		 * fail with ENODEV/ENOTSUP rte_errno values, but that doesn't
 		 * stop us from removing the mapping, as the assumption is we
@@ -1653,6 +1645,28 @@ rte_vfio_dma_unmap(uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t iova, uint64_t len)
 	return ret;
 }
 
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_dma_map(uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t iova, uint64_t len)
+{
+	if (len == 0) {
+		rte_errno = EINVAL;
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	return container_dma_map(default_vfio_cfg, vaddr, iova, len);
+}
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_dma_unmap(uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t iova, uint64_t len)
+{
+	if (len == 0) {
+		rte_errno = EINVAL;
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	return container_dma_unmap(default_vfio_cfg, vaddr, iova, len);
+}
+
 int
 rte_vfio_noiommu_is_enabled(void)
 {
@@ -1685,6 +1699,181 @@ rte_vfio_noiommu_is_enabled(void)
 	return c == 'Y';
 }
 
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_create(void)
+{
+	int i;
+
+	/* Find an empty slot to store new vfio config */
+	for (i = 1; i < VFIO_MAX_CONTAINERS; i++) {
+		if (vfio_cfgs[i].vfio_container_fd == -1)
+			break;
+	}
+
+	if (i == VFIO_MAX_CONTAINERS) {
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "exceed max vfio container limit\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	vfio_cfgs[i].vfio_container_fd = rte_vfio_get_container_fd();
+	if (vfio_cfgs[i].vfio_container_fd < 0) {
+		RTE_LOG(NOTICE, EAL, "fail to create a new container\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	return vfio_cfgs[i].vfio_container_fd;
+}
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_destroy(int container_fd)
+{
+	struct vfio_config *vfio_cfg;
+	int i;
+
+	vfio_cfg = get_vfio_cfg_by_container_fd(container_fd);
+	if (vfio_cfg == NULL) {
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Invalid container fd\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	for (i = 0; i < VFIO_MAX_GROUPS; i++)
+		if (vfio_cfg->vfio_groups[i].group_num != -1)
+			rte_vfio_container_group_unbind(container_fd,
+				vfio_cfg->vfio_groups[i].group_num);
+
+	close(container_fd);
+	vfio_cfg->vfio_container_fd = -1;
+	vfio_cfg->vfio_active_groups = 0;
+	vfio_cfg->vfio_iommu_type = NULL;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_group_bind(int container_fd, int iommu_group_num)
+{
+	struct vfio_config *vfio_cfg;
+	struct vfio_group *cur_grp;
+	int vfio_group_fd;
+	int i;
+
+	vfio_cfg = get_vfio_cfg_by_container_fd(container_fd);
+	if (vfio_cfg == NULL) {
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Invalid container fd\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* Check room for new group */
+	if (vfio_cfg->vfio_active_groups == VFIO_MAX_GROUPS) {
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Maximum number of VFIO groups reached!\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* Get an index for the new group */
+	for (i = 0; i < VFIO_MAX_GROUPS; i++)
+		if (vfio_cfg->vfio_groups[i].group_num == -1) {
+			cur_grp = &vfio_cfg->vfio_groups[i];
+			break;
+		}
+
+	/* This should not happen */
+	if (i == VFIO_MAX_GROUPS) {
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "No VFIO group free slot found\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	vfio_group_fd = vfio_open_group_fd(iommu_group_num);
+	if (vfio_group_fd < 0) {
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Failed to open group %d\n", iommu_group_num);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	cur_grp->group_num = iommu_group_num;
+	cur_grp->fd = vfio_group_fd;
+	cur_grp->devices = 0;
+	vfio_cfg->vfio_active_groups++;
+
+	return vfio_group_fd;
+}
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_group_unbind(int container_fd, int iommu_group_num)
+{
+	struct vfio_config *vfio_cfg;
+	struct vfio_group *cur_grp;
+	int i;
+
+	vfio_cfg = get_vfio_cfg_by_container_fd(container_fd);
+	if (vfio_cfg == NULL) {
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Invalid container fd\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	for (i = 0; i < VFIO_MAX_GROUPS; i++) {
+		if (vfio_cfg->vfio_groups[i].group_num == iommu_group_num) {
+			cur_grp = &vfio_cfg->vfio_groups[i];
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* This should not happen */
+	if (i == VFIO_MAX_GROUPS) {
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Specified group number not found\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (cur_grp->fd >= 0 && close(cur_grp->fd) < 0) {
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Error when closing vfio_group_fd for"
+			" iommu_group_num %d\n", iommu_group_num);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	cur_grp->group_num = -1;
+	cur_grp->fd = -1;
+	cur_grp->devices = 0;
+	vfio_cfg->vfio_active_groups--;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_dma_map(int container_fd, uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t iova,
+		uint64_t len)
+{
+	struct vfio_config *vfio_cfg;
+
+	if (len == 0) {
+		rte_errno = EINVAL;
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	vfio_cfg = get_vfio_cfg_by_container_fd(container_fd);
+	if (vfio_cfg == NULL) {
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Invalid container fd\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	return container_dma_map(vfio_cfg, vaddr, iova, len);
+}
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_dma_unmap(int container_fd, uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t iova,
+		uint64_t len)
+{
+	struct vfio_config *vfio_cfg;
+
+	if (len == 0) {
+		rte_errno = EINVAL;
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	vfio_cfg = get_vfio_cfg_by_container_fd(container_fd);
+	if (vfio_cfg == NULL) {
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Invalid container fd\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	return container_dma_unmap(vfio_cfg, vaddr, iova, len);
+}
+
 #else
 
 int __rte_experimental
@@ -1701,4 +1890,48 @@ rte_vfio_dma_unmap(uint64_t __rte_unused vaddr, uint64_t __rte_unused iova,
 	return -1;
 }
 
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_create(void)
+{
+	return -1;
+}
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_destroy(__rte_unused int container_fd)
+{
+	return -1;
+}
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_group_bind(__rte_unused int container_fd,
+		__rte_unused int iommu_group_num)
+{
+	return -1;
+}
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_group_unbind(__rte_unused int container_fd,
+		__rte_unused int iommu_group_num)
+{
+	return -1;
+}
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_dma_map(__rte_unused int container_fd,
+		__rte_unused uint64_t vaddr,
+		__rte_unused uint64_t iova,
+		__rte_unused uint64_t len)
+{
+	return -1;
+}
+
+int __rte_experimental
+rte_vfio_container_dma_unmap(__rte_unused int container_fd,
+		__rte_unused uint64_t vaddr,
+		__rte_unused uint64_t iova,
+		__rte_unused uint64_t len)
+{
+	return -1;
+}
+
 #endif
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map b/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map
index d02d80b8a..28f51f8d2 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map
@@ -293,5 +293,11 @@ EXPERIMENTAL {
 	rte_vfio_get_container_fd;
 	rte_vfio_get_group_fd;
 	rte_vfio_get_group_num;
+	rte_vfio_container_create;
+	rte_vfio_container_destroy;
+	rte_vfio_container_dma_map;
+	rte_vfio_container_dma_unmap;
+	rte_vfio_container_group_bind;
+	rte_vfio_container_group_unbind;
 
 } DPDK_18.02;
