diff --git a/include/spdk_internal/sock.h b/include/spdk_internal/sock.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4421c5c27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/spdk_internal/sock.h
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+/*-
+ *   BSD LICENSE
+ *
+ *   Copyright (c) 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
+ * TCP network implementation abstraction layer
+ */
+
+#ifndef SPDK_INTERNAL_SOCK_H
+#define SPDK_INTERNAL_SOCK_H
+
+#include "spdk/stdinc.h"
+#include "spdk/sock.h"
+#include "spdk/queue.h"
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+struct spdk_sock_group_impl;
+
+struct spdk_net_impl {
+	const char *name;
+
+	int (*getaddr)(struct spdk_sock *sock, char *saddr, int slen, char *caddr, int clen);
+	struct spdk_sock *(*connect)(const char *ip, int port);
+	struct spdk_sock *(*listen)(const char *ip, int port);
+	struct spdk_sock *(*accept)(struct spdk_sock *sock);
+	int (*close)(struct spdk_sock *sock);
+	ssize_t (*recv)(struct spdk_sock *sock, void *buf, size_t len);
+	ssize_t (*writev)(struct spdk_sock *sock, struct iovec *iov, int iovcnt);
+
+	int (*set_recvlowat)(struct spdk_sock *sock, int nbytes);
+	int (*set_recvbuf)(struct spdk_sock *sock, int sz);
+	int (*set_sendbuf)(struct spdk_sock *sock, int sz);
+
+	bool (*is_ipv6)(struct spdk_sock *sock);
+	bool (*is_ipv4)(struct spdk_sock *sock);
+
+	struct spdk_sock_group *(*group_create)(void);
+	int (*group_add_sock)(struct spdk_sock_group *group, struct spdk_sock *sock);
+	int (*group_remove_sock)(struct spdk_sock_group *group, struct spdk_sock *sock);
+	int (*group_poll)(struct spdk_sock_group *group, int max_events, struct spdk_sock **socks);
+	int (*group_close)(struct spdk_sock_group *group);
+
+	STAILQ_ENTRY(spdk_net_impl) link;
+};
+
+void spdk_net_impl_register(struct spdk_net_impl *impl);
+
+#define SPDK_NET_IMPL_REGISTER(name, impl) \
+static void __attribute__((constructor)) net_impl_register_##name(void) \
+{ \
+	spdk_net_impl_register(impl); \
+}
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif /* SPDK_INTERNAL_SOCK_H */
diff --git a/lib/net/sock.c b/lib/net/sock.c
index 96a985c04..1a21e24fc 100644
--- a/lib/net/sock.c
+++ b/lib/net/sock.c
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 
 #include "spdk/log.h"
 #include "spdk/sock.h"
+#include "spdk_internal/sock.h"
 #include "spdk/queue.h"
 
 #define MAX_TMPBUF 1024
@@ -48,6 +49,8 @@
 
 #define MAX_EVENTS_PER_POLL 32
 
+STAILQ_HEAD(, spdk_net_impl) g_net_impls = STAILQ_HEAD_INITIALIZER(g_net_impls);
+
 struct spdk_sock {
 	spdk_sock_cb		cb_fn;
 	void			*cb_arg;
@@ -773,3 +776,9 @@ spdk_sock_group_close(struct spdk_sock_group **group)
 
 	return rc;
 }
+
+void
+spdk_net_impl_register(struct spdk_net_impl *impl)
+{
+	STAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&g_net_impls, impl, link);
+}