diff --git a/drivers/bus/vdev/Makefile b/drivers/bus/vdev/Makefile
index 24d424a..bd0bb89 100644
--- a/drivers/bus/vdev/Makefile
+++ b/drivers/bus/vdev/Makefile
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ LIB = librte_bus_vdev.a
 
 CFLAGS += -O3
 CFLAGS += $(WERROR_FLAGS)
+CFLAGS += -DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API
 
 # versioning export map
 EXPORT_MAP := rte_bus_vdev_version.map
diff --git a/drivers/bus/vdev/vdev.c b/drivers/bus/vdev/vdev.c
index 181a15a..2074802 100644
--- a/drivers/bus/vdev/vdev.c
+++ b/drivers/bus/vdev/vdev.c
@@ -196,8 +196,8 @@ alloc_devargs(const char *name, const char *args)
 	return devargs;
 }
 
-int
-rte_vdev_init(const char *name, const char *args)
+static int
+insert_vdev(const char *name, const char *args, struct rte_vdev_device **p_dev)
 {
 	struct rte_vdev_device *dev;
 	struct rte_devargs *devargs;
@@ -229,6 +229,33 @@ rte_vdev_init(const char *name, const char *args)
 	TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&vdev_device_list, dev, next);
 	rte_spinlock_unlock(&vdev_device_list_lock);
 
+	TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&devargs_list, devargs, next);
+
+	if (p_dev)
+		*p_dev = dev;
+
+	return 0;
+
+fail:
+	free(devargs->args);
+	free(devargs);
+	free(dev);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+int
+rte_vdev_init(const char *name, const char *args)
+{
+	struct rte_vdev_device *dev;
+	struct rte_devargs *devargs;
+	int ret;
+
+	ret = insert_vdev(name, args, &dev);
+	if (ret < 0)
+		return ret;
+
+	devargs = dev->device.devargs;
+
 	ret = vdev_probe_all_drivers(dev);
 	if (ret) {
 		if (ret > 0)
@@ -237,17 +264,14 @@ rte_vdev_init(const char *name, const char *args)
 		rte_spinlock_lock(&vdev_device_list_lock);
 		TAILQ_REMOVE(&vdev_device_list, dev, next);
 		rte_spinlock_unlock(&vdev_device_list_lock);
-		goto fail;
-	}
 
-	TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&devargs_list, devargs, next);
+		TAILQ_REMOVE(&devargs_list, devargs, next);
 
-	return 0;
+		free(devargs->args);
+		free(devargs);
+		free(dev);
+	}
 
-fail:
-	free(devargs->args);
-	free(devargs);
-	free(dev);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -305,6 +329,68 @@ rte_vdev_uninit(const char *name)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+struct vdev_param {
+#define VDEV_SCAN_REQ	1
+#define VDEV_SCAN_ONE	2
+#define VDEV_SCAN_REP	3
+	int type;
+	int num;
+	char name[RTE_DEV_NAME_MAX_LEN];
+};
+
+static int vdev_plug(struct rte_device *dev);
+
+static int
+vdev_action(const struct rte_mp_msg *mp_msg, const void *peer)
+{
+	struct rte_vdev_device *dev;
+	struct rte_mp_msg mp_resp;
+	struct vdev_param *ou = (struct vdev_param *)&mp_resp.param;
+	const struct vdev_param *in = (const struct vdev_param *)mp_msg->param;
+	const char *devname;
+	int num;
+
+	strcpy(mp_resp.name, "vdev");
+	mp_resp.len_param = sizeof(*ou);
+	mp_resp.num_fds = 0;
+
+	switch (in->type) {
+	case VDEV_SCAN_REQ:
+		ou->type = VDEV_SCAN_ONE;
+		ou->num = 1;
+		num = 0;
+
+		rte_spinlock_lock(&vdev_device_list_lock);
+		TAILQ_FOREACH(dev, &vdev_device_list, next) {
+			devname = rte_vdev_device_name(dev);
+			if (strlen(devname) == 0)
+				VDEV_LOG(INFO, "vdev with no name is not sent");
+			VDEV_LOG(INFO, "send vdev, %s", devname);
+			strncpy(ou->name, devname, RTE_DEV_NAME_MAX_LEN);
+			if (rte_mp_sendmsg(&mp_resp) < 0)
+				VDEV_LOG(ERR, "send vdev, %s, failed, %s",
+					 devname, strerror(rte_errno));
+			num++;
+		}
+		rte_spinlock_unlock(&vdev_device_list_lock);
+
+		ou->type = VDEV_SCAN_REP;
+		ou->num = num;
+		if (rte_mp_reply(&mp_resp, peer) < 0)
+			VDEV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to reply a scan request");
+		break;
+	case VDEV_SCAN_ONE:
+		VDEV_LOG(INFO, "receive vdev, %s", in->name);
+		if (insert_vdev(in->name, NULL, NULL) < 0)
+			VDEV_LOG(ERR, "failed to add vdev, %s", in->name);
+		break;
+	default:
+		VDEV_LOG(ERR, "vdev cannot recognize this message");
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int
 vdev_scan(void)
 {
@@ -312,6 +398,34 @@ vdev_scan(void)
 	struct rte_devargs *devargs;
 	struct vdev_custom_scan *custom_scan;
 
+	if (rte_mp_action_register("vdev", vdev_action) < 0 &&
+	    rte_errno != EEXIST) {
+		VDEV_LOG(ERR, "vdev fails to add action");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (rte_eal_process_type() == RTE_PROC_SECONDARY) {
+		struct rte_mp_msg mp_req, *mp_rep;
+		struct rte_mp_reply mp_reply;
+		struct timespec ts = {.tv_sec = 5, .tv_nsec = 0};
+		struct vdev_param *req = (struct vdev_param *)mp_req.param;
+		struct vdev_param *resp;
+
+		strcpy(mp_req.name, "vdev");
+		mp_req.len_param = sizeof(*req);
+		mp_req.num_fds = 0;
+		req->type = VDEV_SCAN_REQ;
+		if (rte_mp_request_sync(&mp_req, &mp_reply, &ts) == 0 &&
+		    mp_reply.nb_received == 1) {
+			mp_rep = &mp_reply.msgs[0];
+			resp = (struct vdev_param *)mp_rep->param;
+			VDEV_LOG(INFO, "Received %d vdevs", resp->num);
+		} else
+			VDEV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to request vdev from primary");
+
+		/* Fall through to allow private vdevs in secondary process */
+	}
+
 	/* call custom scan callbacks if any */
 	rte_spinlock_lock(&vdev_custom_scan_lock);
 	TAILQ_FOREACH(custom_scan, &vdev_custom_scans, next) {
