diff --git a/doc/TODO b/doc/TODO
index 68c82cb26e..b3daeb59fb 100644
--- a/doc/TODO
+++ b/doc/TODO
@@ -267,7 +267,8 @@ R - add d64 and fp64 along-side d and fp so people can paste status
     entries into a url. since + is a valid base64 char, only allow one
     at a time. spec and then do.
   - When we export something from foo.c file for testing purposes only,
-    make a foo_test.h file for test.c to include.
+    make a foo_test.h file for test.c to include... or put them behind an
+    #ifdef FOO_PRIVATE.
   - The Debian package now uses --verify-config when (re)starting,
     to distinguish configuration errors from other errors. Perhaps
     the RPM and other startup scripts should too?
diff --git a/src/common/Makefile.am b/src/common/Makefile.am
index 40acc38e88..d48678f505 100644
--- a/src/common/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/common/Makefile.am
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ noinst_LIBRARIES = libor.a libor-crypto.a
 
 #CFLAGS  = -Wall -Wpointer-arith -O2
 
-libor_a_SOURCES = log.c util.c compat.c container.c
+libor_a_SOURCES = log.c util.c compat.c container.c mempool.c
 libor_crypto_a_SOURCES = crypto.c aes.c tortls.c torgzip.c
 
-noinst_HEADERS = log.h crypto.h test.h util.h compat.h aes.h torint.h tortls.h strlcpy.c strlcat.c torgzip.h container.h ht.h
+noinst_HEADERS = log.h crypto.h test.h util.h compat.h aes.h torint.h tortls.h strlcpy.c strlcat.c torgzip.h container.h ht.h mempool.h
diff --git a/src/common/mempool.c b/src/common/mempool.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f62821ba7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/common/mempool.c
@@ -0,0 +1,293 @@
+/* Copyright 2007 Nick Mathewson */
+/* See LICENSE for licensing information */
+/* $Id: /tor/trunk/src/common/util.c 12153 2007-03-12T03:11:12.797278Z nickm  $ */
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+#define MEMPOOL_PRIVATE
+#include "mempool.h"
+
+/* DRAWBACKS:
+ *   - Not even slightly threadsafe.
+ *   - Likes to have lots of items per chunks.
+ *   - One pointer overhead per allocated thing.  (The alternative is
+ *     something like glib's use of an RB-tree to keep track of what
+ *     chunk any given piece of memory is in.)
+ *   - Only aligns allocated things to void* level: redefign ALIGNMENT_TYPE
+ *     if you need doubles.
+ *   - Could probably be optimized a bit; the representation contains
+ *     a bit more info than it really needs to have.
+ */
+
+/* NOTES:
+ *   - The algorithm is similar to the one used by Python, but assumes that
+ *     we'll know in advance which objects we want to pool, and doesn't
+ *     try to handle a zillion objects of weird different sizes.
+ */
+
+#if 1
+/* Tor dependencies */
+#include "orconfig.h"
+#include "util.h"
+#include "compat.h"
+#include "log.h"
+#define ALLOC(x) tor_malloc(x)
+#define FREE(x) tor_free(x)
+#define ASSERT(x) tor_assert(x)
+/* End Tor dependencies */
+#else
+#include <assert.h>
+#define PREDICT_UNLIKELY(x) (x)
+#define PREDICT_LIKELY(x) (x)
+#define ALLOC(x) malloc(x)
+#define FREE(x) free(x)
+#define STRUCT_OFFSET(tp, member)                       \
+  ((off_t) (((char*)&((tp*)0)->member)-(char*)0))
+#define ASSERT(x) assert(x)
+#endif
+
+/* Tuning parameters */
+/** DOCDOC */
+#define ALIGNMENT_TYPE void *
+/** DOCDOC */
+#define ALIGNMENT sizeof(void*)
+/** DOCDOC */
+#define MAX_CHUNK (8*(1L<<20))
+/** DOCDOC */
+#define MIN_CHUNK 4096
+
+/** DOCDOC */
+struct mp_allocated_t {
+  mp_chunk_t *in_chunk;
+  union {
+    mp_allocated_t *next_free;
+    char mem[1];
+    ALIGNMENT_TYPE _dummy;
+  };
+};
+
+/** DOCDOC */
+#define MP_CHUNK_MAGIC 0x09870123
+
+/** DOCDOC */
+#define CHUNK_OVERHEAD (sizeof(mp_chunk_t)-1)
+
+/** DOCDOC */
+#define A2M(a) (&(a)->mem)
+/** DOCDOC */
+#define M2A(p) ( ((char*)p) - STRUCT_OFFSET(mp_chunk_t, mem) )
+
+/* INVARIANT: every chunk can hold 2 or more items. */
+
+/** DOCDOC */
+static mp_chunk_t *
+mp_chunk_new(mp_pool_t *pool)
+{
+  size_t sz = pool->new_chunk_capacity * pool->item_alloc_size;
+  mp_chunk_t *chunk = ALLOC(CHUNK_OVERHEAD + sz);
+  memset(chunk, 0, sizeof(mp_chunk_t)); /* Doesn't clear the whole thing. */
+  chunk->magic = MP_CHUNK_MAGIC;
+  chunk->capacity = pool->new_chunk_capacity;
+  chunk->mem_size = sz;
+  chunk->next_mem = chunk->mem;
+  chunk->pool = pool;
+  return chunk;
+}
+
+/** DOCDOC */
+void *
+mp_pool_get(mp_pool_t *pool)
+{
+  mp_chunk_t *chunk;
+  mp_allocated_t *allocated;
+  if (PREDICT_LIKELY(pool->used_chunks != NULL)) {
+    chunk = pool->used_chunks;
+  } else if (pool->empty_chunks) {
+    /* Put the most recently emptied chunk on the used list. */
+    chunk = pool->empty_chunks;
+    pool->empty_chunks = chunk->next;
+    if (chunk->next)
+      chunk->next->prev = NULL;
+    chunk->next = pool->used_chunks;
+    if (chunk->next)
+      chunk->next->prev = chunk;
+    pool->used_chunks = chunk;
+    ASSERT(!chunk->prev);
+  } else {
+    /* Allocate a new chunk and add it to the used list. */
+    chunk = mp_chunk_new(pool);
+    chunk->next = pool->used_chunks;
+    if (chunk->next)
+      chunk->next->prev = chunk;
+    pool->used_chunks = chunk;
+    ASSERT(!chunk->prev);
+  }
+
+  ASSERT(chunk->n_allocated < chunk->capacity);
+
+  if (chunk->first_free) {
+    allocated = chunk->first_free;
+    chunk->first_free = allocated->next_free;
+    allocated->next_free = NULL; /* debugging */
+  } else {
+    ASSERT(chunk->next_mem + pool->item_alloc_size <
+           chunk->mem + chunk->mem_size);
+    allocated = (void*)chunk->next_mem;
+    chunk->next_mem += pool->item_alloc_size;
+    allocated->in_chunk = chunk;
+  }
+
+  ++chunk->n_allocated;
+  if (PREDICT_UNLIKELY(chunk->n_allocated == chunk->capacity)) {
+    /* This is now a full chunk. */
+    ASSERT(chunk == pool->used_chunks);
+    ASSERT(chunk->prev == NULL);
+    pool->used_chunks = chunk->next;
+    if (chunk->next)
+      chunk->next->prev = NULL;
+
+    chunk->next = pool->full_chunks;
+    pool->full_chunks->prev = chunk;
+    pool->full_chunks = chunk;
+  }
+
+  return A2M(allocated);
+}
+
+/** DOCDOC */
+void
+mp_pool_release(void *_item)
+{
+  mp_allocated_t *allocated = (void*) M2A(_item);
+  mp_chunk_t *chunk = allocated->in_chunk;
+
+  ASSERT(chunk);
+  ASSERT(chunk->magic == MP_CHUNK_MAGIC);
+  ASSERT(chunk->n_allocated > 0);
+
+  allocated->next_free = chunk->first_free;
+  chunk->first_free = allocated;
+
+  if (PREDICT_UNLIKELY(chunk->n_allocated == chunk->capacity)) {
+    /* This chunk was full and is about to be used. */
+    mp_pool_t *pool = chunk->pool;
+    /* unlink from full */
+    if (chunk->prev)
+      chunk->prev->next = chunk->next;
+    if (chunk->next)
+      chunk->next->prev = chunk->prev;
+    if (chunk == pool->full_chunks)
+      pool->full_chunks = chunk->next;
+
+    /* link to used */
+    chunk->next = pool->used_chunks;
+    chunk->prev = NULL;
+    if (chunk->next)
+      chunk->next->prev = chunk;
+    pool->used_chunks = chunk;
+  } else if (PREDICT_UNLIKELY(chunk->n_allocated == 1)) {
+    /* This was used and is about to be empty. */
+    mp_pool_t *pool = chunk->pool;
+    /* unlink from used */
+    if (chunk->prev)
+      chunk->prev->next = chunk->next;
+    if (chunk->next)
+      chunk->next->prev = chunk->prev;
+    if (chunk == pool->used_chunks)
+      pool->used_chunks = chunk->next;
+
+    /* link to empty */
+    chunk->next = pool->empty_chunks;
+    chunk->prev = NULL;
+    if (chunk->next)
+      chunk->next->prev = chunk;
+    pool->empty_chunks = chunk;
+
+    /* reset guts to defragment this chunk. */
+    chunk->first_free = NULL;
+    chunk->next_mem = chunk->mem;
+
+    ++pool->n_empty_chunks;
+  }
+  --chunk->n_allocated;
+}
+
+/** DOCDOC */
+mp_pool_t *
+mp_pool_new(size_t item_size, size_t chunk_capacity)
+{
+  mp_pool_t *pool;
+  size_t alloc_size;
+
+  pool = ALLOC(sizeof(mp_pool_t));
+  memset(pool, 0, sizeof(mp_pool_t));
+
+  /* First, minimal size with overhead. */
+  alloc_size = STRUCT_OFFSET(mp_allocated_t, mem) + item_size;
+  if (alloc_size < sizeof(mp_allocated_t))
+    alloc_size = sizeof(mp_allocated_t);
+
+  /* Then, round up to alignment. */
+  if (alloc_size % ALIGNMENT) {
+    alloc_size = alloc_size + ALIGNMENT - (alloc_size % ALIGNMENT);
+  }
+  if (alloc_size < ALIGNMENT)
+    alloc_size = ALIGNMENT;
+
+  ASSERT((alloc_size % ALIGNMENT) == 0);
+
+  if (chunk_capacity > MAX_CHUNK)
+    chunk_capacity = MAX_CHUNK;
+
+  if (chunk_capacity < alloc_size * 2 + CHUNK_OVERHEAD)
+    chunk_capacity = alloc_size * 2 + CHUNK_OVERHEAD;
+
+  if (chunk_capacity < MIN_CHUNK) /* Guess system page size. */
+    chunk_capacity = MIN_CHUNK;
+
+  pool->new_chunk_capacity = (chunk_capacity-CHUNK_OVERHEAD / alloc_size);
+  pool->item_alloc_size = alloc_size;
+
+  return pool;
+}
+
+/** DOCDOC */
+void
+mp_pool_clean(mp_pool_t *pool)
+{
+  if (pool->empty_chunks) {
+    mp_chunk_t *next, *chunk = pool->empty_chunks->next;
+    while (chunk) {
+      next = chunk->next;
+      FREE(chunk);
+      chunk = next;
+    }
+    pool->empty_chunks->next = NULL;
+    pool->n_empty_chunks = 1;
+  }
+}
+
+/** DOCDOC */
+static void
+destroy_chunks(mp_chunk_t *chunk)
+{
+  mp_chunk_t *next;
+  while (chunk) {
+    chunk->magic = 0xd3adb33f;
+    next = chunk->next;
+    FREE(chunk);
+    chunk = next;
+  }
+}
+
+/** DOCDOC */
+void
+mp_pool_destroy(mp_pool_t *pool)
+{
+  destroy_chunks(pool->empty_chunks);
+  destroy_chunks(pool->used_chunks);
+  destroy_chunks(pool->full_chunks);
+  memset(pool, 0xe0, sizeof(mp_pool_t));
+  FREE(pool);
+}
+
diff --git a/src/common/mempool.h b/src/common/mempool.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..45e3646819
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/common/mempool.h
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/* Copyright 2007 Nick Mathewson */
+/* See LICENSE for licensing information */
+/* $Id: /tor/trunk/src/common/util.c 12153 2007-03-12T03:11:12.797278Z nickm  $ */
+
+/**
+ * \file util.h
+ * \brief Headers for mempool.c
+ **/
+
+#ifndef MEMPOOL_H
+#define MEMPOOL_H
+
+typedef struct mp_pool_t mp_pool_t;
+
+void *mp_pool_get(mp_pool_t *pool);
+void mp_pool_release(void *item);
+mp_pool_t *mp_pool_new(size_t item_size, unsigned int n_per_chunk);
+void mp_pool_clean(mp_pool_t *pool);
+void mp_pool_destroy(mp_pool_t *pool);
+
+#ifdef MEMPOOL_PRIVATE
+typedef struct mp_allocated_t mp_allocated_t;
+typedef struct mp_chunk_t mp_chunk_t;
+
+/** DOCDOC */
+struct mp_chunk_t {
+  unsigned long magic;
+  mp_chunk_t *next;
+  mp_chunk_t *prev;
+  mp_pool_t *pool;
+  mp_allocated_t *first_free;
+  int n_allocated;
+  int capacity;
+  size_t mem_size;
+  char *next_mem;
+  char mem[1];
+};
+
+/** DOCDOC */
+struct mp_pool_t {
+  mp_chunk_t *empty_chunks;
+  mp_chunk_t *used_chunks;
+  mp_chunk_t *full_chunks;
+  int n_empty_chunks;
+  size_t new_chunk_capacity;
+  size_t item_alloc_size;
+};
+#endif
+
+#endif
+