diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/Makefile b/drivers/net/mlx5/Makefile
index 9a7da18196..34dc957ac0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/Makefile
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/Makefile
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ SRCS-$(CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_MLX5_PMD) += mlx5_flow.c
 SRCS-$(CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_MLX5_PMD) += mlx5_flow_dv.c
 SRCS-$(CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_MLX5_PMD) += mlx5_flow_tcf.c
 SRCS-$(CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_MLX5_PMD) += mlx5_flow_verbs.c
-SRCS-$(CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_MLX5_PMD) += mlx5_socket.c
+SRCS-$(CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_MLX5_PMD) += mlx5_mp.c
 SRCS-$(CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_MLX5_PMD) += mlx5_nl.c
 SRCS-$(CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_MLX5_PMD) += mlx5_devx_cmds.c
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/meson.build b/drivers/net/mlx5/meson.build
index 0cf2f0873e..d99667670c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/meson.build
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/meson.build
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ if build
 		'mlx5_rxmode.c',
 		'mlx5_rxq.c',
 		'mlx5_rxtx.c',
-		'mlx5_socket.c',
+		'mlx5_mp.c',
 		'mlx5_stats.c',
 		'mlx5_trigger.c',
 		'mlx5_txq.c',
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.c
index f0ad5c73af..6ed2418106 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.c
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ mlx5_prepare_shared_data(void)
 			rte_mem_event_callback_register("MLX5_MEM_EVENT_CB",
 							mlx5_mr_mem_event_cb,
 							NULL);
+			mlx5_mp_init();
 		}
 	}
 	rte_spinlock_unlock(&mlx5_shared_data_lock);
@@ -291,8 +292,6 @@ mlx5_dev_close(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 		rte_free(priv->rss_conf.rss_key);
 	if (priv->reta_idx != NULL)
 		rte_free(priv->reta_idx);
-	if (priv->primary_socket)
-		mlx5_socket_uninit(dev);
 	if (priv->config.vf)
 		mlx5_nl_mac_addr_flush(dev);
 	if (priv->nl_socket_route >= 0)
@@ -929,7 +928,7 @@ mlx5_dev_spawn(struct rte_device *dpdk_dev,
 			goto error;
 		}
 		/* Receive command fd from primary process */
-		err = mlx5_socket_connect(eth_dev);
+		err = mlx5_mp_req_verbs_cmd_fd(eth_dev);
 		if (err < 0) {
 			err = rte_errno;
 			goto error;
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.h b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.h
index 5384453670..80da97bd46 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.h
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.h
@@ -56,6 +56,21 @@ enum {
 	PCI_DEVICE_ID_MELLANOX_CONNECTX6VF = 0x101c,
 };
 
+/* Request types for IPC. */
+enum mlx5_mp_req_type {
+	MLX5_MP_REQ_VERBS_CMD_FD = 1,
+};
+
+/* Pameters for IPC. */
+struct mlx5_mp_param {
+	enum mlx5_mp_req_type type;
+	int port_id;
+	int result;
+};
+
+/** Key string for IPC. */
+#define MLX5_MP_NAME "net_mlx5_mp"
+
 /** Switch information returned by mlx5_nl_switch_info(). */
 struct mlx5_switch_info {
 	uint32_t master:1; /**< Master device. */
@@ -241,9 +256,7 @@ struct mlx5_priv {
 	uint32_t link_speed_capa; /* Link speed capabilities. */
 	struct mlx5_xstats_ctrl xstats_ctrl; /* Extended stats control. */
 	struct mlx5_stats_ctrl stats_ctrl; /* Stats control. */
-	int primary_socket; /* Unix socket for primary process. */
 	void *uar_base; /* Reserved address space for UAR mapping */
-	struct rte_intr_handle intr_handle_socket; /* Interrupt handler. */
 	struct mlx5_dev_config config; /* Device configuration. */
 	struct mlx5_verbs_alloc_ctx verbs_alloc_ctx;
 	/* Context for Verbs allocator. */
@@ -399,12 +412,9 @@ int mlx5_ctrl_flow(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 int mlx5_flow_create_drop_queue(struct rte_eth_dev *dev);
 void mlx5_flow_delete_drop_queue(struct rte_eth_dev *dev);
 
-/* mlx5_socket.c */
-
-int mlx5_socket_init(struct rte_eth_dev *priv);
-void mlx5_socket_uninit(struct rte_eth_dev *priv);
-void mlx5_socket_handle(struct rte_eth_dev *priv);
-int mlx5_socket_connect(struct rte_eth_dev *priv);
+/* mlx5_mp.c */
+int mlx5_mp_req_verbs_cmd_fd(struct rte_eth_dev *dev);
+void mlx5_mp_init(void);
 
 /* mlx5_nl.c */
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_ethdev.c
index f84f7cf69b..17e65154d2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_ethdev.c
@@ -1091,20 +1091,6 @@ mlx5_dev_interrupt_handler(void *cb_arg)
 }
 
 /**
- * Handle interrupts from the socket.
- *
- * @param cb_arg
- *   Callback argument.
- */
-static void
-mlx5_dev_handler_socket(void *cb_arg)
-{
-	struct rte_eth_dev *dev = cb_arg;
-
-	mlx5_socket_handle(dev);
-}
-
-/**
  * Uninstall interrupt handler.
  *
  * @param dev
@@ -1119,13 +1105,8 @@ mlx5_dev_interrupt_handler_uninstall(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 	    dev->data->dev_conf.intr_conf.rmv)
 		rte_intr_callback_unregister(&priv->intr_handle,
 					     mlx5_dev_interrupt_handler, dev);
-	if (priv->primary_socket)
-		rte_intr_callback_unregister(&priv->intr_handle_socket,
-					     mlx5_dev_handler_socket, dev);
 	priv->intr_handle.fd = 0;
 	priv->intr_handle.type = RTE_INTR_HANDLE_UNKNOWN;
-	priv->intr_handle_socket.fd = 0;
-	priv->intr_handle_socket.type = RTE_INTR_HANDLE_UNKNOWN;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1159,16 +1140,6 @@ mlx5_dev_interrupt_handler_install(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 		rte_intr_callback_register(&priv->intr_handle,
 					   mlx5_dev_interrupt_handler, dev);
 	}
-	ret = mlx5_socket_init(dev);
-	if (ret)
-		DRV_LOG(ERR, "port %u cannot initialise socket: %s",
-			dev->data->port_id, strerror(rte_errno));
-	else if (priv->primary_socket) {
-		priv->intr_handle_socket.fd = priv->primary_socket;
-		priv->intr_handle_socket.type = RTE_INTR_HANDLE_EXT;
-		rte_intr_callback_register(&priv->intr_handle_socket,
-					   mlx5_dev_handler_socket, dev);
-	}
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_mp.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_mp.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..19a1f25f0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_mp.c
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+ * Copyright 2019 6WIND S.A.
+ * Copyright 2019 Mellanox Technologies, Ltd
+ */
+
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <time.h>
+
+#include <rte_eal.h>
+#include <rte_ethdev_driver.h>
+#include <rte_string_fns.h>
+
+#include "mlx5.h"
+#include "mlx5_utils.h"
+
+/**
+ * Initialize IPC message.
+ *
+ * @param[in] dev
+ *   Pointer to Ethernet structure.
+ * @param[out] msg
+ *   Pointer to message to fill in.
+ * @param[in] type
+ *   Message type.
+ */
+static inline void
+mp_init_msg(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct rte_mp_msg *msg,
+	    enum mlx5_mp_req_type type)
+{
+	struct mlx5_mp_param *param = (struct mlx5_mp_param *)msg->param;
+
+	memset(msg, 0, sizeof(*msg));
+	strlcpy(msg->name, MLX5_MP_NAME, sizeof(msg->name));
+	msg->len_param = sizeof(*param);
+	param->type = type;
+	param->port_id = dev->data->port_id;
+}
+
+/**
+ * IPC message handler of primary process.
+ *
+ * @param[in] dev
+ *   Pointer to Ethernet structure.
+ * @param[in] peer
+ *   Pointer to the peer socket path.
+ *
+ * @return
+ *   0 on success, a negative errno value otherwise and rte_errno is set.
+ */
+static int
+mp_primary_handle(const struct rte_mp_msg *mp_msg, const void *peer)
+{
+	struct rte_mp_msg mp_res;
+	struct mlx5_mp_param *res = (struct mlx5_mp_param *)mp_res.param;
+	const struct mlx5_mp_param *param =
+		(const struct mlx5_mp_param *)mp_msg->param;
+	struct rte_eth_dev *dev = &rte_eth_devices[param->port_id];
+	struct mlx5_priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
+	int ret = 0;
+
+	assert(rte_eal_process_type() == RTE_PROC_PRIMARY);
+	switch (param->type) {
+	case MLX5_MP_REQ_VERBS_CMD_FD:
+		mp_init_msg(dev, &mp_res, param->type);
+		mp_res.num_fds = 1;
+		mp_res.fds[0] = priv->ctx->cmd_fd;
+		res->result = 0;
+		ret = rte_mp_reply(&mp_res, peer);
+		break;
+	default:
+		rte_errno = EINVAL;
+		DRV_LOG(ERR, "port %u invalid mp request type",
+			dev->data->port_id);
+		return -rte_errno;
+	}
+	return ret;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Request Verbs command file descriptor for mmap to the primary process.
+ *
+ * @param[in] dev
+ *   Pointer to Ethernet structure.
+ *
+ * @return
+ *   fd on success, a negative errno value otherwise and rte_errno is set.
+ */
+int
+mlx5_mp_req_verbs_cmd_fd(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
+{
+	struct rte_mp_msg mp_req;
+	struct rte_mp_msg *mp_res;
+	struct rte_mp_reply mp_rep;
+	struct mlx5_mp_param *res __rte_unused;
+	struct timespec ts = {.tv_sec = 5, .tv_nsec = 0};
+	int cmd_fd;
+	int ret;
+
+	assert(rte_eal_process_type() == RTE_PROC_SECONDARY);
+	mp_init_msg(dev, &mp_req, MLX5_MP_REQ_VERBS_CMD_FD);
+	ret = rte_mp_request_sync(&mp_req, &mp_rep, &ts);
+	if (ret) {
+		DRV_LOG(ERR,
+			"port %u failed to get command FD from primary process",
+			dev->data->port_id);
+		return -rte_errno;
+	}
+	assert(mp_rep.nb_received == 1);
+	mp_res = &mp_rep.msgs[0];
+	res = (struct mlx5_mp_param *)mp_res->param;
+	assert(!res->result);
+	assert(mp_res->num_fds == 1);
+	cmd_fd = mp_res->fds[0];
+	free(mp_rep.msgs);
+	DRV_LOG(DEBUG, "port %u command FD from primary is %d",
+		dev->data->port_id, cmd_fd);
+	return cmd_fd;
+}
+
+void
+mlx5_mp_init(void)
+{
+	if (rte_eal_process_type() == RTE_PROC_PRIMARY)
+		rte_mp_action_register(MLX5_MP_NAME, mp_primary_handle);
+}
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_socket.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_socket.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 41cac3c6aa..0000000000
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_socket.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,306 +0,0 @@
-/* SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
- * Copyright 2016 6WIND S.A.
- * Copyright 2016 Mellanox Technologies, Ltd
- */
-
-#include <sys/types.h>
-#include <sys/socket.h>
-#include <sys/un.h>
-#include <fcntl.h>
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <unistd.h>
-#include <sys/stat.h>
-
-#include "mlx5.h"
-#include "mlx5_utils.h"
-
-/**
- * Initialise the socket to communicate with the secondary process
- *
- * @param[in] dev
- *   Pointer to Ethernet device.
- *
- * @return
- *   0 on success, a negative errno value otherwise and rte_errno is set.
- */
-int
-mlx5_socket_init(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
-{
-	struct mlx5_priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
-	struct sockaddr_un sun = {
-		.sun_family = AF_UNIX,
-	};
-	int ret;
-	int flags;
-
-	/*
-	 * Close the last socket that was used to communicate
-	 * with the secondary process
-	 */
-	if (priv->primary_socket)
-		mlx5_socket_uninit(dev);
-	/*
-	 * Initialise the socket to communicate with the secondary
-	 * process.
-	 */
-	ret = socket(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
-	if (ret < 0) {
-		rte_errno = errno;
-		DRV_LOG(WARNING, "port %u secondary process not supported: %s",
-			dev->data->port_id, strerror(errno));
-		goto error;
-	}
-	priv->primary_socket = ret;
-	flags = fcntl(priv->primary_socket, F_GETFL, 0);
-	if (flags == -1) {
-		rte_errno = errno;
-		goto error;
-	}
-	ret = fcntl(priv->primary_socket, F_SETFL, flags | O_NONBLOCK);
-	if (ret < 0) {
-		rte_errno = errno;
-		goto error;
-	}
-	snprintf(sun.sun_path, sizeof(sun.sun_path), "/var/tmp/%s_%d",
-		 MLX5_DRIVER_NAME, priv->primary_socket);
-	remove(sun.sun_path);
-	ret = bind(priv->primary_socket, (const struct sockaddr *)&sun,
-		   sizeof(sun));
-	if (ret < 0) {
-		rte_errno = errno;
-		DRV_LOG(WARNING,
-			"port %u cannot bind socket, secondary process not"
-			" supported: %s",
-			dev->data->port_id, strerror(errno));
-		goto close;
-	}
-	ret = listen(priv->primary_socket, 0);
-	if (ret < 0) {
-		rte_errno = errno;
-		DRV_LOG(WARNING, "port %u secondary process not supported: %s",
-			dev->data->port_id, strerror(errno));
-		goto close;
-	}
-	return 0;
-close:
-	remove(sun.sun_path);
-error:
-	claim_zero(close(priv->primary_socket));
-	priv->primary_socket = 0;
-	return -rte_errno;
-}
-
-/**
- * Un-Initialise the socket to communicate with the secondary process
- *
- * @param[in] dev
- */
-void
-mlx5_socket_uninit(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
-{
-	struct mlx5_priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
-
-	MKSTR(path, "/var/tmp/%s_%d", MLX5_DRIVER_NAME, priv->primary_socket);
-	claim_zero(close(priv->primary_socket));
-	priv->primary_socket = 0;
-	claim_zero(remove(path));
-}
-
-/**
- * Handle socket interrupts.
- *
- * @param dev
- *   Pointer to Ethernet device.
- */
-void
-mlx5_socket_handle(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
-{
-	struct mlx5_priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
-	int conn_sock;
-	int ret = 0;
-	struct cmsghdr *cmsg = NULL;
-	struct ucred *cred = NULL;
-	char buf[CMSG_SPACE(sizeof(struct ucred))] = { 0 };
-	char vbuf[1024] = { 0 };
-	struct iovec io = {
-		.iov_base = vbuf,
-		.iov_len = sizeof(*vbuf),
-	};
-	struct msghdr msg = {
-		.msg_iov = &io,
-		.msg_iovlen = 1,
-		.msg_control = buf,
-		.msg_controllen = sizeof(buf),
-	};
-	int *fd;
-
-	/* Accept the connection from the client. */
-	conn_sock = accept(priv->primary_socket, NULL, NULL);
-	if (conn_sock < 0) {
-		DRV_LOG(WARNING, "port %u connection failed: %s",
-			dev->data->port_id, strerror(errno));
-		return;
-	}
-	ret = setsockopt(conn_sock, SOL_SOCKET, SO_PASSCRED, &(int){1},
-					 sizeof(int));
-	if (ret < 0) {
-		ret = errno;
-		DRV_LOG(WARNING, "port %u cannot change socket options: %s",
-			dev->data->port_id, strerror(rte_errno));
-		goto error;
-	}
-	ret = recvmsg(conn_sock, &msg, MSG_WAITALL);
-	if (ret < 0) {
-		ret = errno;
-		DRV_LOG(WARNING, "port %u received an empty message: %s",
-			dev->data->port_id, strerror(rte_errno));
-		goto error;
-	}
-	/* Expect to receive credentials only. */
-	cmsg = CMSG_FIRSTHDR(&msg);
-	if (cmsg == NULL) {
-		DRV_LOG(WARNING, "port %u no message", dev->data->port_id);
-		goto error;
-	}
-	if ((cmsg->cmsg_type == SCM_CREDENTIALS) &&
-		(cmsg->cmsg_len >= sizeof(*cred))) {
-		cred = (struct ucred *)CMSG_DATA(cmsg);
-		assert(cred != NULL);
-	}
-	cmsg = CMSG_NXTHDR(&msg, cmsg);
-	if (cmsg != NULL) {
-		DRV_LOG(WARNING, "port %u message wrongly formatted",
-			dev->data->port_id);
-		goto error;
-	}
-	/* Make sure all the ancillary data was received and valid. */
-	if ((cred == NULL) || (cred->uid != getuid()) ||
-	    (cred->gid != getgid())) {
-		DRV_LOG(WARNING, "port %u wrong credentials",
-			dev->data->port_id);
-		goto error;
-	}
-	/* Set-up the ancillary data. */
-	cmsg = CMSG_FIRSTHDR(&msg);
-	assert(cmsg != NULL);
-	cmsg->cmsg_level = SOL_SOCKET;
-	cmsg->cmsg_type = SCM_RIGHTS;
-	cmsg->cmsg_len = CMSG_LEN(sizeof(priv->ctx->cmd_fd));
-	fd = (int *)CMSG_DATA(cmsg);
-	*fd = priv->ctx->cmd_fd;
-	ret = sendmsg(conn_sock, &msg, 0);
-	if (ret < 0)
-		DRV_LOG(WARNING, "port %u cannot send response",
-			dev->data->port_id);
-error:
-	close(conn_sock);
-}
-
-/**
- * Connect to the primary process.
- *
- * @param[in] dev
- *   Pointer to Ethernet structure.
- *
- * @return
- *   fd on success, negative errno value otherwise and rte_errno is set.
- */
-int
-mlx5_socket_connect(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
-{
-	struct mlx5_priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
-	struct sockaddr_un sun = {
-		.sun_family = AF_UNIX,
-	};
-	int socket_fd = -1;
-	int *fd = NULL;
-	int ret;
-	struct ucred *cred;
-	char buf[CMSG_SPACE(sizeof(*cred))] = { 0 };
-	char vbuf[1024] = { 0 };
-	struct iovec io = {
-		.iov_base = vbuf,
-		.iov_len = sizeof(*vbuf),
-	};
-	struct msghdr msg = {
-		.msg_control = buf,
-		.msg_controllen = sizeof(buf),
-		.msg_iov = &io,
-		.msg_iovlen = 1,
-	};
-	struct cmsghdr *cmsg;
-
-	ret = socket(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
-	if (ret < 0) {
-		rte_errno = errno;
-		DRV_LOG(WARNING, "port %u cannot connect to primary",
-			dev->data->port_id);
-		goto error;
-	}
-	socket_fd = ret;
-	snprintf(sun.sun_path, sizeof(sun.sun_path), "/var/tmp/%s_%d",
-		 MLX5_DRIVER_NAME, priv->primary_socket);
-	ret = connect(socket_fd, (const struct sockaddr *)&sun, sizeof(sun));
-	if (ret < 0) {
-		rte_errno = errno;
-		DRV_LOG(WARNING, "port %u cannot connect to primary",
-			dev->data->port_id);
-		goto error;
-	}
-	cmsg = CMSG_FIRSTHDR(&msg);
-	if (cmsg == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = EINVAL;
-		DRV_LOG(DEBUG, "port %u cannot get first message",
-			dev->data->port_id);
-		goto error;
-	}
-	cmsg->cmsg_level = SOL_SOCKET;
-	cmsg->cmsg_type = SCM_CREDENTIALS;
-	cmsg->cmsg_len = CMSG_LEN(sizeof(*cred));
-	cred = (struct ucred *)CMSG_DATA(cmsg);
-	if (cred == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = EINVAL;
-		DRV_LOG(DEBUG, "port %u no credentials received",
-			dev->data->port_id);
-		goto error;
-	}
-	cred->pid = getpid();
-	cred->uid = getuid();
-	cred->gid = getgid();
-	ret = sendmsg(socket_fd, &msg, MSG_DONTWAIT);
-	if (ret < 0) {
-		rte_errno = errno;
-		DRV_LOG(WARNING,
-			"port %u cannot send credentials to primary: %s",
-			dev->data->port_id, strerror(errno));
-		goto error;
-	}
-	ret = recvmsg(socket_fd, &msg, MSG_WAITALL);
-	if (ret <= 0) {
-		rte_errno = errno;
-		DRV_LOG(WARNING, "port %u no message from primary: %s",
-			dev->data->port_id, strerror(errno));
-		goto error;
-	}
-	cmsg = CMSG_FIRSTHDR(&msg);
-	if (cmsg == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = EINVAL;
-		DRV_LOG(WARNING, "port %u no file descriptor received",
-			dev->data->port_id);
-		goto error;
-	}
-	fd = (int *)CMSG_DATA(cmsg);
-	if (*fd < 0) {
-		DRV_LOG(WARNING, "port %u no file descriptor received: %s",
-			dev->data->port_id, strerror(errno));
-		rte_errno = *fd;
-		goto error;
-	}
-	ret = *fd;
-	close(socket_fd);
-	return ret;
-error:
-	if (socket_fd != -1)
-		close(socket_fd);
-	return -rte_errno;
-}
