diff --git a/doc/guides/nics/memif.rst b/doc/guides/nics/memif.rst
index ddeebed25ccd..9c67d7141cbe 100644
--- a/doc/guides/nics/memif.rst
+++ b/doc/guides/nics/memif.rst
@@ -106,13 +106,13 @@ region n (no-zero-copy):
 +-----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
 | Rings                 | Buffers                                                                 |
 +-----------+-----------+-----------------+---+---------------------------------------------------+
-| S2M rings | M2S rings | packet buffer 0 | . | pb ((1 << pmd->run.log2_ring_size)*(s2m + m2s))-1 |
+| S2M rings | M2S rings | packet buffer 0 | . | pb ((1 << pmd->run.log2_ring_size)*(w2i + i2w))-1 |
 +-----------+-----------+-----------------+---+---------------------------------------------------+
 
 S2M OR M2S Rings:
 
 +--------+--------+-----------------------+
-| ring 0 | ring 1 | ring num_s2m_rings - 1|
+| ring 0 | ring 1 | ring num_w2i_rings - 1|
 +--------+--------+-----------------------+
 
 ring 0:
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_launch.c b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_launch.c
index cf52d717f68e..43a0af196db2 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_launch.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_launch.c
@@ -21,55 +21,55 @@
  * Wait until a lcore finished its job.
  */
 int
-rte_eal_wait_lcore(unsigned slave_id)
+rte_eal_wait_lcore(unsigned worker_id)
 {
-	if (lcore_config[slave_id].state == WAIT)
+	if (lcore_config[worker_id].state == WAIT)
 		return 0;
 
-	while (lcore_config[slave_id].state != WAIT &&
-	       lcore_config[slave_id].state != FINISHED)
+	while (lcore_config[worker_id].state != WAIT &&
+	       lcore_config[worker_id].state != FINISHED)
 		rte_pause();
 
 	rte_rmb();
 
 	/* we are in finished state, go to wait state */
-	lcore_config[slave_id].state = WAIT;
-	return lcore_config[slave_id].ret;
+	lcore_config[worker_id].state = WAIT;
+	return lcore_config[worker_id].ret;
 }
 
 /*
- * Check that every SLAVE lcores are in WAIT state, then call
- * rte_eal_remote_launch() for all of them. If call_master is true
- * (set to CALL_MASTER), also call the function on the master lcore.
+ * Check that every WORKER lcores are in WAIT state, then call
+ * rte_eal_remote_launch() for all of them. If call_initial is true
+ * (set to CALL_INITIAL), also call the function on the initial lcore.
  */
 int
 rte_eal_mp_remote_launch(int (*f)(void *), void *arg,
-			 enum rte_rmt_call_master_t call_master)
+			 enum rte_rmt_call_initial_t call_initial)
 {
 	int lcore_id;
-	int master = rte_get_master_lcore();
+	int initial = rte_get_initial_lcore();
 
 	/* check state of lcores */
-	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_SLAVE(lcore_id) {
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id) {
 		if (lcore_config[lcore_id].state != WAIT)
 			return -EBUSY;
 	}
 
 	/* send messages to cores */
-	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_SLAVE(lcore_id) {
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id) {
 		rte_eal_remote_launch(f, arg, lcore_id);
 	}
 
-	if (call_master == CALL_MASTER) {
-		lcore_config[master].ret = f(arg);
-		lcore_config[master].state = FINISHED;
+	if (call_initial == CALL_INITIAL) {
+		lcore_config[initial].ret = f(arg);
+		lcore_config[initial].state = FINISHED;
 	}
 
 	return 0;
 }
 
 /*
- * Return the state of the lcore identified by slave_id.
+ * Return the state of the lcore identified by worker_id.
  */
 enum rte_lcore_state_t
 rte_eal_get_lcore_state(unsigned lcore_id)
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ rte_eal_mp_wait_lcore(void)
 {
 	unsigned lcore_id;
 
-	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_SLAVE(lcore_id) {
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id) {
 		rte_eal_wait_lcore(lcore_id);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_lcore.c b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_lcore.c
index 5404922a87d2..a8c8b7206992 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_lcore.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_lcore.c
@@ -16,9 +16,14 @@
 #include "eal_private.h"
 #include "eal_thread.h"
 
+unsigned int rte_get_initial_lcore(void)
+{
+	return rte_eal_get_configuration()->initial_lcore;
+}
+
 unsigned int rte_get_master_lcore(void)
 {
-	return rte_eal_get_configuration()->master_lcore;
+	return rte_eal_get_configuration()->initial_lcore;
 }
 
 unsigned int rte_lcore_count(void)
@@ -72,7 +77,7 @@ int rte_lcore_is_enabled(unsigned int lcore_id)
 	return cfg->lcore_role[lcore_id] == ROLE_RTE;
 }
 
-unsigned int rte_get_next_lcore(unsigned int i, int skip_master, int wrap)
+unsigned int rte_get_next_lcore(unsigned int i, int skip_initial, int wrap)
 {
 	i++;
 	if (wrap)
@@ -80,7 +85,7 @@ unsigned int rte_get_next_lcore(unsigned int i, int skip_master, int wrap)
 
 	while (i < RTE_MAX_LCORE) {
 		if (!rte_lcore_is_enabled(i) ||
-		    (skip_master && (i == rte_get_master_lcore()))) {
+		    (skip_initial && (i == rte_get_initial_lcore()))) {
 			i++;
 			if (wrap)
 				i %= RTE_MAX_LCORE;
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_options.c b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_options.c
index 24b223ebfd0f..48a82cce9ad7 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_options.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_options.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ eal_long_options[] = {
 	{OPT_TRACE_DIR,         1, NULL, OPT_TRACE_DIR_NUM        },
 	{OPT_TRACE_BUF_SIZE,    1, NULL, OPT_TRACE_BUF_SIZE_NUM   },
 	{OPT_TRACE_MODE,        1, NULL, OPT_TRACE_MODE_NUM       },
-	{OPT_MASTER_LCORE,      1, NULL, OPT_MASTER_LCORE_NUM     },
+	{OPT_INITIAL_LCORE,      1, NULL, OPT_INITIAL_LCORE_NUM     },
 	{OPT_MBUF_POOL_OPS_NAME, 1, NULL, OPT_MBUF_POOL_OPS_NAME_NUM},
 	{OPT_NO_HPET,           0, NULL, OPT_NO_HPET_NUM          },
 	{OPT_NO_HUGE,           0, NULL, OPT_NO_HUGE_NUM          },
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ struct device_option {
 static struct device_option_list devopt_list =
 TAILQ_HEAD_INITIALIZER(devopt_list);
 
-static int master_lcore_parsed;
+static int initial_lcore_parsed;
 static int mem_parsed;
 static int core_parsed;
 
@@ -485,12 +485,12 @@ eal_parse_service_coremask(const char *coremask)
 		for (j = 0; j < BITS_PER_HEX && idx < RTE_MAX_LCORE;
 				j++, idx++) {
 			if ((1 << j) & val) {
-				/* handle master lcore already parsed */
+				/* handle initial lcore already parsed */
 				uint32_t lcore = idx;
-				if (master_lcore_parsed &&
-						cfg->master_lcore == lcore) {
+				if (initial_lcore_parsed &&
+						cfg->initial_lcore == lcore) {
 					RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL,
-						"lcore %u is master lcore, cannot use as service core\n",
+						"lcore %u is initial lcore, cannot use as service core\n",
 						idx);
 					return -1;
 				}
@@ -658,12 +658,12 @@ eal_parse_service_corelist(const char *corelist)
 				min = idx;
 			for (idx = min; idx <= max; idx++) {
 				if (cfg->lcore_role[idx] != ROLE_SERVICE) {
-					/* handle master lcore already parsed */
+					/* handle initial lcore already parsed */
 					uint32_t lcore = idx;
-					if (cfg->master_lcore == lcore &&
-							master_lcore_parsed) {
+					if (cfg->initial_lcore == lcore &&
+							initial_lcore_parsed) {
 						RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL,
-							"Error: lcore %u is master lcore, cannot use as service core\n",
+							"Error: lcore %u is initial lcore, cannot use as service core\n",
 							idx);
 						return -1;
 					}
@@ -746,25 +746,25 @@ eal_parse_corelist(const char *corelist, int *cores)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-/* Changes the lcore id of the master thread */
+/* Changes the lcore id of the initial thread */
 static int
-eal_parse_master_lcore(const char *arg)
+eal_parse_initial_lcore(const char *arg)
 {
 	char *parsing_end;
 	struct rte_config *cfg = rte_eal_get_configuration();
 
 	errno = 0;
-	cfg->master_lcore = (uint32_t) strtol(arg, &parsing_end, 0);
+	cfg->initial_lcore = (uint32_t) strtol(arg, &parsing_end, 0);
 	if (errno || parsing_end[0] != 0)
 		return -1;
-	if (cfg->master_lcore >= RTE_MAX_LCORE)
+	if (cfg->initial_lcore >= RTE_MAX_LCORE)
 		return -1;
-	master_lcore_parsed = 1;
+	initial_lcore_parsed = 1;
 
-	/* ensure master core is not used as service core */
-	if (lcore_config[cfg->master_lcore].core_role == ROLE_SERVICE) {
+	/* ensure initial core is not used as service core */
+	if (lcore_config[cfg->initial_lcore].core_role == ROLE_SERVICE) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL,
-			"Error: Master lcore is used as a service core\n");
+			"Error: Initial lcore is used as a service core\n");
 		return -1;
 	}
 
@@ -1502,10 +1502,10 @@ eal_parse_common_option(int opt, const char *optarg,
 		conf->process_type = eal_parse_proc_type(optarg);
 		break;
 
-	case OPT_MASTER_LCORE_NUM:
-		if (eal_parse_master_lcore(optarg) < 0) {
+	case OPT_INITIAL_LCORE_NUM:
+		if (eal_parse_initial_lcore(optarg) < 0) {
 			RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "invalid parameter for --"
-					OPT_MASTER_LCORE "\n");
+					OPT_INITIAL_LCORE "\n");
 			return -1;
 		}
 		break;
@@ -1673,9 +1673,9 @@ compute_ctrl_threads_cpuset(struct internal_config *internal_cfg)
 
 	RTE_CPU_AND(cpuset, cpuset, &default_set);
 
-	/* if no remaining cpu, use master lcore cpu affinity */
+	/* if no remaining cpu, use initial lcore cpu affinity */
 	if (!CPU_COUNT(cpuset)) {
-		memcpy(cpuset, &lcore_config[rte_get_master_lcore()].cpuset,
+		memcpy(cpuset, &lcore_config[rte_get_initial_lcore()].cpuset,
 			sizeof(*cpuset));
 	}
 }
@@ -1707,12 +1707,12 @@ eal_adjust_config(struct internal_config *internal_cfg)
 	if (internal_conf->process_type == RTE_PROC_AUTO)
 		internal_conf->process_type = eal_proc_type_detect();
 
-	/* default master lcore is the first one */
-	if (!master_lcore_parsed) {
-		cfg->master_lcore = rte_get_next_lcore(-1, 0, 0);
-		if (cfg->master_lcore >= RTE_MAX_LCORE)
+	/* default initial lcore is the first one */
+	if (!initial_lcore_parsed) {
+		cfg->initial_lcore = rte_get_next_lcore(-1, 0, 0);
+		if (cfg->initial_lcore >= RTE_MAX_LCORE)
 			return -1;
-		lcore_config[cfg->master_lcore].core_role = ROLE_RTE;
+		lcore_config[cfg->initial_lcore].core_role = ROLE_RTE;
 	}
 
 	compute_ctrl_threads_cpuset(internal_cfg);
@@ -1732,8 +1732,8 @@ eal_check_common_options(struct internal_config *internal_cfg)
 	const struct internal_config *internal_conf =
 		eal_get_internal_configuration();
 
-	if (cfg->lcore_role[cfg->master_lcore] != ROLE_RTE) {
-		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Master lcore is not enabled for DPDK\n");
+	if (cfg->lcore_role[cfg->initial_lcore] != ROLE_RTE) {
+		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Initial lcore is not enabled for DPDK\n");
 		return -1;
 	}
 
@@ -1831,7 +1831,7 @@ eal_common_usage(void)
 	       "                      '( )' can be omitted for single element group,\n"
 	       "                      '@' can be omitted if cpus and lcores have the same value\n"
 	       "  -s SERVICE COREMASK Hexadecimal bitmask of cores to be used as service cores\n"
-	       "  --"OPT_MASTER_LCORE" ID   Core ID that is used as master\n"
+	       "  --"OPT_INITIAL_LCORE" ID   Core ID that is used as initial\n"
 	       "  --"OPT_MBUF_POOL_OPS_NAME" Pool ops name for mbuf to use\n"
 	       "  -n CHANNELS         Number of memory channels\n"
 	       "  -m MB               Memory to allocate (see also --"OPT_SOCKET_MEM")\n"
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_options.h b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_options.h
index 18e6da9ab37b..0ffe1a5ec0a3 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_options.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_options.h
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ enum {
 	OPT_TRACE_BUF_SIZE_NUM,
 #define OPT_TRACE_MODE        "trace-mode"
 	OPT_TRACE_MODE_NUM,
-#define OPT_MASTER_LCORE      "master-lcore"
-	OPT_MASTER_LCORE_NUM,
+#define OPT_INITIAL_LCORE     "initial-lcore"
+	OPT_INITIAL_LCORE_NUM,
 #define OPT_MBUF_POOL_OPS_NAME "mbuf-pool-ops-name"
 	OPT_MBUF_POOL_OPS_NAME_NUM,
 #define OPT_PROC_TYPE         "proc-type"
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_private.h b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_private.h
index 46bcae930590..9ef057d9b0f3 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_private.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_private.h
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
  */
 struct lcore_config {
 	pthread_t thread_id;       /**< pthread identifier */
-	int pipe_master2slave[2];  /**< communication pipe with master */
-	int pipe_slave2master[2];  /**< communication pipe with master */
+	int pipe_init2worker[2];  /**< communication pipe with initial core */
+	int pipe_worker2init[2];  /**< communication pipe with initial core */
 
 	lcore_function_t * volatile f; /**< function to call */
 	void * volatile arg;       /**< argument of function */
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ extern struct lcore_config lcore_config[RTE_MAX_LCORE];
  * The global RTE configuration structure.
  */
 struct rte_config {
-	uint32_t master_lcore;       /**< Id of the master lcore */
+	uint32_t initial_lcore;       /**< Id of the initial lcore */
 	uint32_t lcore_count;        /**< Number of available logical cores. */
 	uint32_t numa_node_count;    /**< Number of detected NUMA nodes. */
 	uint32_t numa_nodes[RTE_MAX_NUMA_NODES]; /**< List of detected NUMA nodes. */
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_thread.h b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_thread.h
index b40ed249edab..35301d852bc2 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_thread.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_thread.h
@@ -16,12 +16,12 @@
 __rte_noreturn void *eal_thread_loop(void *arg);
 
 /**
- * Init per-lcore info for master thread
+ * Init per-lcore info for initial thread
  *
  * @param lcore_id
- *   identifier of master lcore
+ *   identifier of initial lcore
  */
-void eal_thread_init_master(unsigned lcore_id);
+void eal_thread_initial_lcore(unsigned lcore_id);
 
 /**
  * Get the NUMA socket id from cpu id.
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/rte_random.c b/lib/librte_eal/common/rte_random.c
index b7a089ac4fe0..6bae53bdf659 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/rte_random.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/rte_random.c
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ struct rte_rand_state *__rte_rand_get_state(void)
 	lcore_id = rte_lcore_id();
 
 	if (unlikely(lcore_id == LCORE_ID_ANY))
-		lcore_id = rte_get_master_lcore();
+		lcore_id = rte_get_initial_lcore();
 
 	return &rand_states[lcore_id];
 }
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/rte_service.c b/lib/librte_eal/common/rte_service.c
index 6123a2124d33..6a80b1675559 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/rte_service.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/rte_service.c
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ rte_service_init(void)
 	struct rte_config *cfg = rte_eal_get_configuration();
 	for (i = 0; i < RTE_MAX_LCORE; i++) {
 		if (lcore_config[i].core_role == ROLE_SERVICE) {
-			if ((unsigned int)i == cfg->master_lcore)
+			if ((unsigned int)i == cfg->initial_lcore)
 				continue;
 			rte_service_lcore_add(i);
 			count++;
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/freebsd/eal.c b/lib/librte_eal/freebsd/eal.c
index 8c75cba79a71..f914400db50f 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/freebsd/eal.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/freebsd/eal.c
@@ -622,10 +622,10 @@ eal_check_mem_on_local_socket(void)
 	int socket_id;
 	const struct rte_config *config = rte_eal_get_configuration();
 
-	socket_id = rte_lcore_to_socket_id(config->master_lcore);
+	socket_id = rte_lcore_to_socket_id(config->initial_lcore);
 
 	if (rte_memseg_list_walk(check_socket, &socket_id) == 0)
-		RTE_LOG(WARNING, EAL, "WARNING: Master core has no memory on local socket!\n");
+		RTE_LOG(WARNING, EAL, "WARNING: Initial core has no memory on local socket!\n");
 }
 
 
@@ -845,23 +845,23 @@ rte_eal_init(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	eal_check_mem_on_local_socket();
 
-	eal_thread_init_master(config->master_lcore);
+	eal_thread_initial_lcore(config->initial_lcore);
 
 	ret = eal_thread_dump_affinity(cpuset, sizeof(cpuset));
 
-	RTE_LOG(DEBUG, EAL, "Master lcore %u is ready (tid=%p;cpuset=[%s%s])\n",
-		config->master_lcore, thread_id, cpuset,
+	RTE_LOG(DEBUG, EAL, "Initial lcore %u is ready (tid=%p;cpuset=[%s%s])\n",
+		rte_config.initial_lcore, thread_id, cpuset,
 		ret == 0 ? "" : "...");
 
-	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_SLAVE(i) {
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(i) {
 
 		/*
-		 * create communication pipes between master thread
+		 * create communication pipes between initial thread
 		 * and children
 		 */
-		if (pipe(lcore_config[i].pipe_master2slave) < 0)
+		if (pipe(lcore_config[i].pipe_init2worker) < 0)
 			rte_panic("Cannot create pipe\n");
-		if (pipe(lcore_config[i].pipe_slave2master) < 0)
+		if (pipe(lcore_config[i].pipe_worker2init) < 0)
 			rte_panic("Cannot create pipe\n");
 
 		lcore_config[i].state = WAIT;
@@ -874,15 +874,15 @@ rte_eal_init(int argc, char **argv)
 
 		/* Set thread_name for aid in debugging. */
 		snprintf(thread_name, sizeof(thread_name),
-				"lcore-slave-%d", i);
+				"lcore-work-%d", i);
 		rte_thread_setname(lcore_config[i].thread_id, thread_name);
 	}
 
 	/*
-	 * Launch a dummy function on all slave lcores, so that master lcore
+	 * Launch a dummy function on all worker lcores, so that initial lcore
 	 * knows they are all ready when this function returns.
 	 */
-	rte_eal_mp_remote_launch(sync_func, NULL, SKIP_MASTER);
+	rte_eal_mp_remote_launch(sync_func, NULL, SKIP_INITIAL);
 	rte_eal_mp_wait_lcore();
 
 	/* initialize services so vdevs register service during bus_probe. */
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/freebsd/eal_thread.c b/lib/librte_eal/freebsd/eal_thread.c
index b52019782ac6..5fff09c017c1 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/freebsd/eal_thread.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/freebsd/eal_thread.c
@@ -30,35 +30,35 @@ RTE_DEFINE_PER_LCORE(unsigned, _socket_id) = (unsigned)SOCKET_ID_ANY;
 RTE_DEFINE_PER_LCORE(rte_cpuset_t, _cpuset);
 
 /*
- * Send a message to a slave lcore identified by slave_id to call a
+ * Send a message to a worker lcore identified by worker_id to call a
  * function f with argument arg. Once the execution is done, the
  * remote lcore switch in FINISHED state.
  */
 int
-rte_eal_remote_launch(int (*f)(void *), void *arg, unsigned slave_id)
+rte_eal_remote_launch(int (*f)(void *), void *arg, unsigned worker_id)
 {
 	int n;
 	char c = 0;
-	int m2s = lcore_config[slave_id].pipe_master2slave[1];
-	int s2m = lcore_config[slave_id].pipe_slave2master[0];
+	int i2w = lcore_config[worker_id].pipe_init2worker[1];
+	int w2i = lcore_config[worker_id].pipe_worker2init[0];
 	int rc = -EBUSY;
 
-	if (lcore_config[slave_id].state != WAIT)
+	if (lcore_config[worker_id].state != WAIT)
 		goto finish;
 
-	lcore_config[slave_id].f = f;
-	lcore_config[slave_id].arg = arg;
+	lcore_config[worker_id].f = f;
+	lcore_config[worker_id].arg = arg;
 
 	/* send message */
 	n = 0;
 	while (n == 0 || (n < 0 && errno == EINTR))
-		n = write(m2s, &c, 1);
+		n = write(i2w, &c, 1);
 	if (n < 0)
 		rte_panic("cannot write on configuration pipe\n");
 
 	/* wait ack */
 	do {
-		n = read(s2m, &c, 1);
+		n = read(w2i, &c, 1);
 	} while (n < 0 && errno == EINTR);
 
 	if (n <= 0)
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ rte_eal_remote_launch(int (*f)(void *), void *arg, unsigned slave_id)
 
 	rc = 0;
 finish:
-	rte_eal_trace_thread_remote_launch(f, arg, slave_id, rc);
+	rte_eal_trace_thread_remote_launch(f, arg, worker_id, rc);
 	return rc;
 }
 
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ eal_thread_set_affinity(void)
 	return rte_thread_set_affinity(&lcore_config[lcore_id].cpuset);
 }
 
-void eal_thread_init_master(unsigned lcore_id)
+void eal_thread_set_initial_lcore(unsigned lcore_id)
 {
 	/* set the lcore ID in per-lcore memory area */
 	RTE_PER_LCORE(_lcore_id) = lcore_id;
@@ -101,21 +101,21 @@ eal_thread_loop(__rte_unused void *arg)
 	int n, ret;
 	unsigned lcore_id;
 	pthread_t thread_id;
-	int m2s, s2m;
+	int i2w, w2i;
 	char cpuset[RTE_CPU_AFFINITY_STR_LEN];
 
 	thread_id = pthread_self();
 
 	/* retrieve our lcore_id from the configuration structure */
-	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_SLAVE(lcore_id) {
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id) {
 		if (thread_id == lcore_config[lcore_id].thread_id)
 			break;
 	}
 	if (lcore_id == RTE_MAX_LCORE)
 		rte_panic("cannot retrieve lcore id\n");
 
-	m2s = lcore_config[lcore_id].pipe_master2slave[0];
-	s2m = lcore_config[lcore_id].pipe_slave2master[1];
+	i2w = lcore_config[lcore_id].pipe_init2worker[0];
+	w2i = lcore_config[lcore_id].pipe_worker2init[1];
 
 	/* set the lcore ID in per-lcore memory area */
 	RTE_PER_LCORE(_lcore_id) = lcore_id;
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ eal_thread_loop(__rte_unused void *arg)
 
 		/* wait command */
 		do {
-			n = read(m2s, &c, 1);
+			n = read(i2w, &c, 1);
 		} while (n < 0 && errno == EINTR);
 
 		if (n <= 0)
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ eal_thread_loop(__rte_unused void *arg)
 		/* send ack */
 		n = 0;
 		while (n == 0 || (n < 0 && errno == EINTR))
-			n = write(s2m, &c, 1);
+			n = write(w2i, &c, 1);
 		if (n < 0)
 			rte_panic("cannot write on configuration pipe\n");
 
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_eal.h b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_eal.h
index 2f9ed298de63..c01b9e913d48 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_eal.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_eal.h
@@ -73,11 +73,11 @@ int rte_eal_iopl_init(void);
 /**
  * Initialize the Environment Abstraction Layer (EAL).
  *
- * This function is to be executed on the MASTER lcore only, as soon
+ * This function is to be executed on the initial lcore only, as soon
  * as possible in the application's main() function.
  *
  * The function finishes the initialization process before main() is called.
- * It puts the SLAVE lcores in the WAIT state.
+ * It puts the worker lcores in the WAIT state.
  *
  * When the multi-partition feature is supported, depending on the
  * configuration (if CONFIG_RTE_EAL_MAIN_PARTITION is disabled), this
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_eal_trace.h b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_eal_trace.h
index bcfef0cfaa62..f2b47184d72f 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_eal_trace.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_eal_trace.h
@@ -210,10 +210,10 @@ RTE_TRACE_POINT(
 RTE_TRACE_POINT(
 	rte_eal_trace_thread_remote_launch,
 	RTE_TRACE_POINT_ARGS(int (*f)(void *), void *arg,
-		unsigned int slave_id, int rc),
+		unsigned int worker_id, int rc),
 	rte_trace_point_emit_ptr(f);
 	rte_trace_point_emit_ptr(arg);
-	rte_trace_point_emit_u32(slave_id);
+	rte_trace_point_emit_u32(worker_id);
 	rte_trace_point_emit_int(rc);
 )
 RTE_TRACE_POINT(
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_launch.h b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_launch.h
index 06a671752ace..9b68685d99d4 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_launch.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_launch.h
@@ -32,12 +32,12 @@ typedef int (lcore_function_t)(void *);
 /**
  * Launch a function on another lcore.
  *
- * To be executed on the MASTER lcore only.
+ * To be executed on the INITIAL lcore only.
  *
- * Sends a message to a slave lcore (identified by the slave_id) that
+ * Sends a message to a worker lcore (identified by the id) that
  * is in the WAIT state (this is true after the first call to
  * rte_eal_init()). This can be checked by first calling
- * rte_eal_wait_lcore(slave_id).
+ * rte_eal_wait_lcore(id).
  *
  * When the remote lcore receives the message, it switches to
  * the RUNNING state, then calls the function f with argument arg. Once the
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ typedef int (lcore_function_t)(void *);
  * the return value of f is stored in a local variable to be read using
  * rte_eal_wait_lcore().
  *
- * The MASTER lcore returns as soon as the message is sent and knows
+ * The INITIAL lcore returns as soon as the message is sent and knows
  * nothing about the completion of f.
  *
  * Note: This function is not designed to offer optimum
@@ -56,37 +56,43 @@ typedef int (lcore_function_t)(void *);
  *   The function to be called.
  * @param arg
  *   The argument for the function.
- * @param slave_id
+ * @param id
  *   The identifier of the lcore on which the function should be executed.
  * @return
  *   - 0: Success. Execution of function f started on the remote lcore.
  *   - (-EBUSY): The remote lcore is not in a WAIT state.
  */
-int rte_eal_remote_launch(lcore_function_t *f, void *arg, unsigned slave_id);
+int rte_eal_remote_launch(lcore_function_t *f, void *arg, unsigned id);
 
 /**
- * This enum indicates whether the master core must execute the handler
+ * This enum indicates whether the initial core must execute the handler
  * launched on all logical cores.
  */
-enum rte_rmt_call_master_t {
-	SKIP_MASTER = 0, /**< lcore handler not executed by master core. */
-	CALL_MASTER,     /**< lcore handler executed by master core. */
+enum rte_rmt_call_initial_t {
+	SKIP_INITIAL = 0, /**< lcore handler not executed by initial core. */
+	CALL_INITIAL,     /**< lcore handler executed by initial core. */
 };
 
+/**
+ * Deprecated backward compatiable definitions
+ */
+#define SKIP_MASTER	SKIP_INITIAL
+#define CALL_MASTER	CALL_INITIAL
+
 /**
  * Launch a function on all lcores.
  *
- * Check that each SLAVE lcore is in a WAIT state, then call
+ * Check that each worker lcore is in a WAIT state, then call
  * rte_eal_remote_launch() for each lcore.
  *
  * @param f
  *   The function to be called.
  * @param arg
  *   The argument for the function.
- * @param call_master
- *   If call_master set to SKIP_MASTER, the MASTER lcore does not call
- *   the function. If call_master is set to CALL_MASTER, the function
- *   is also called on master before returning. In any case, the master
+ * @param call_initial
+ *   If call_initial set to SKIP_INITIAL, the INITIAL lcore does not call
+ *   the function. If call_initial is set to CALL_INITIAL, the function
+ *   is also called on initial before returning. In any case, the initial
  *   lcore returns as soon as it finished its job and knows nothing
  *   about the completion of f on the other lcores.
  * @return
@@ -95,49 +101,49 @@ enum rte_rmt_call_master_t {
  *     case, no message is sent to any of the lcores.
  */
 int rte_eal_mp_remote_launch(lcore_function_t *f, void *arg,
-			     enum rte_rmt_call_master_t call_master);
+			     enum rte_rmt_call_initial_t call_initial);
 
 /**
- * Get the state of the lcore identified by slave_id.
+ * Get the state of the lcore identified by id.
  *
- * To be executed on the MASTER lcore only.
+ * To be executed on the INITIAL lcore only.
  *
- * @param slave_id
+ * @param id
  *   The identifier of the lcore.
  * @return
  *   The state of the lcore.
  */
-enum rte_lcore_state_t rte_eal_get_lcore_state(unsigned slave_id);
+enum rte_lcore_state_t rte_eal_get_lcore_state(unsigned id);
 
 /**
  * Wait until an lcore finishes its job.
  *
- * To be executed on the MASTER lcore only.
+ * To be executed on the INITIAL lcore only.
  *
- * If the slave lcore identified by the slave_id is in a FINISHED state,
+ * If the lcore identified by the id is in a FINISHED state,
  * switch to the WAIT state. If the lcore is in RUNNING state, wait until
  * the lcore finishes its job and moves to the FINISHED state.
  *
- * @param slave_id
+ * @param id
  *   The identifier of the lcore.
  * @return
- *   - 0: If the lcore identified by the slave_id is in a WAIT state.
+ *   - 0: If the lcore identified by the id is in a WAIT state.
  *   - The value that was returned by the previous remote launch
- *     function call if the lcore identified by the slave_id was in a
+ *     function call if the lcore identified by the id was in a
  *     FINISHED or RUNNING state. In this case, it changes the state
  *     of the lcore to WAIT.
  */
-int rte_eal_wait_lcore(unsigned slave_id);
+int rte_eal_wait_lcore(unsigned id);
 
 /**
  * Wait until all lcores finish their jobs.
  *
- * To be executed on the MASTER lcore only. Issue an
+ * To be executed on the INITIAL lcore only. Issue an
  * rte_eal_wait_lcore() for every lcore. The return values are
  * ignored.
  *
  * After a call to rte_eal_mp_wait_lcore(), the caller can assume
- * that all slave lcores are in a WAIT state.
+ * that all worker lcores are in a WAIT state.
  */
 void rte_eal_mp_wait_lcore(void);
 
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_lcore.h b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_lcore.h
index 339046bc8691..069cb1f427b9 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_lcore.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_lcore.h
@@ -54,10 +54,18 @@ rte_lcore_id(void)
 }
 
 /**
- * Get the id of the master lcore
+ * Get the id of the initial lcore
  *
  * @return
- *   the id of the master lcore
+ *   the id of the initial lcore
+ */
+unsigned int rte_get_initial_lcore(void);
+
+/**
+ * Deprecated API to get the id of the initial lcore
+ *
+ * @return
+ *   the id of the initial lcore
  */
 unsigned int rte_get_master_lcore(void);
 
@@ -179,15 +187,15 @@ int rte_lcore_is_enabled(unsigned int lcore_id);
  *
  * @param i
  *   The current lcore (reference).
- * @param skip_master
- *   If true, do not return the ID of the master lcore.
+ * @param skip_initial
+ *   If true, do not return the ID of the initial lcore.
  * @param wrap
  *   If true, go back to 0 when RTE_MAX_LCORE is reached; otherwise,
  *   return RTE_MAX_LCORE.
  * @return
  *   The next lcore_id or RTE_MAX_LCORE if not found.
  */
-unsigned int rte_get_next_lcore(unsigned int i, int skip_master, int wrap);
+unsigned int rte_get_next_lcore(unsigned int i, int skip_initial, int wrap);
 
 /**
  * Macro to browse all running lcores.
@@ -198,13 +206,20 @@ unsigned int rte_get_next_lcore(unsigned int i, int skip_master, int wrap);
 	     i = rte_get_next_lcore(i, 0, 0))
 
 /**
- * Macro to browse all running lcores except the master lcore.
+ * Macro to browse all running lcores except the initial lcore.
  */
-#define RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_SLAVE(i)					\
+#define RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(i)					\
 	for (i = rte_get_next_lcore(-1, 1, 0);				\
 	     i<RTE_MAX_LCORE;						\
 	     i = rte_get_next_lcore(i, 1, 0))
 
+/**
+ * Backward compatibility
+ */
+#define RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_SLAVE(x)		\
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(x)
+
+
 /**
  * Set core affinity of the current thread.
  * Support both EAL and non-EAL thread and update TLS.
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/linux/eal.c b/lib/librte_eal/linux/eal.c
index 3b56d14da1d4..5289b99d1959 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/linux/eal.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/linux/eal.c
@@ -855,10 +855,10 @@ eal_check_mem_on_local_socket(void)
 	int socket_id;
 	const struct rte_config *config = rte_eal_get_configuration();
 
-	socket_id = rte_lcore_to_socket_id(config->master_lcore);
+	socket_id = rte_lcore_to_socket_id(config->initial_lcore);
 
 	if (rte_memseg_list_walk(check_socket, &socket_id) == 0)
-		RTE_LOG(WARNING, EAL, "WARNING: Master core has no memory on local socket!\n");
+		RTE_LOG(WARNING, EAL, "WARNING: Initial core has no memory on local socket!\n");
 }
 
 static int
@@ -1184,23 +1184,23 @@ rte_eal_init(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	eal_check_mem_on_local_socket();
 
-	eal_thread_init_master(config->master_lcore);
+	eal_thread_initial_lcore(config->initial_lcore);
 
 	ret = eal_thread_dump_affinity(cpuset, sizeof(cpuset));
 
-	RTE_LOG(DEBUG, EAL, "Master lcore %u is ready (tid=%zx;cpuset=[%s%s])\n",
-		config->master_lcore, (uintptr_t)thread_id, cpuset,
+	RTE_LOG(DEBUG, EAL, "Initial lcore %u is ready (tid=%zx;cpuset=[%s%s])\n",
+		config->initial_lcore, (uintptr_t)thread_id, cpuset,
 		ret == 0 ? "" : "...");
 
-	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_SLAVE(i) {
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(i) {
 
 		/*
-		 * create communication pipes between master thread
+		 * create communication pipes between initial thread
 		 * and children
 		 */
-		if (pipe(lcore_config[i].pipe_master2slave) < 0)
+		if (pipe(lcore_config[i].pipe_init2worker) < 0)
 			rte_panic("Cannot create pipe\n");
-		if (pipe(lcore_config[i].pipe_slave2master) < 0)
+		if (pipe(lcore_config[i].pipe_worker2init) < 0)
 			rte_panic("Cannot create pipe\n");
 
 		lcore_config[i].state = WAIT;
@@ -1213,7 +1213,7 @@ rte_eal_init(int argc, char **argv)
 
 		/* Set thread_name for aid in debugging. */
 		snprintf(thread_name, sizeof(thread_name),
-			"lcore-slave-%d", i);
+			"lcore-work-%d", i);
 		ret = rte_thread_setname(lcore_config[i].thread_id,
 						thread_name);
 		if (ret != 0)
@@ -1222,10 +1222,10 @@ rte_eal_init(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 
 	/*
-	 * Launch a dummy function on all slave lcores, so that master lcore
+	 * Launch a dummy function on all worker lcores, so that initial lcore
 	 * knows they are all ready when this function returns.
 	 */
-	rte_eal_mp_remote_launch(sync_func, NULL, SKIP_MASTER);
+	rte_eal_mp_remote_launch(sync_func, NULL, SKIP_INITIAL);
 	rte_eal_mp_wait_lcore();
 
 	/* initialize services so vdevs register service during bus_probe. */
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/linux/eal_memory.c b/lib/librte_eal/linux/eal_memory.c
index 89725291b0ce..1cbb8aab6016 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/linux/eal_memory.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/linux/eal_memory.c
@@ -1737,7 +1737,7 @@ memseg_primary_init_32(void)
 	/* the allocation logic is a little bit convoluted, but here's how it
 	 * works, in a nutshell:
 	 *  - if user hasn't specified on which sockets to allocate memory via
-	 *    --socket-mem, we allocate all of our memory on master core socket.
+	 *    --socket-mem, we allocate all of our memory on initial core socket.
 	 *  - if user has specified sockets to allocate memory on, there may be
 	 *    some "unused" memory left (e.g. if user has specified --socket-mem
 	 *    such that not all memory adds up to 2 gigabytes), so add it to all
@@ -1751,7 +1751,7 @@ memseg_primary_init_32(void)
 	for (i = 0; i < rte_socket_count(); i++) {
 		int hp_sizes = (int) internal_conf->num_hugepage_sizes;
 		uint64_t max_socket_mem, cur_socket_mem;
-		unsigned int master_lcore_socket;
+		unsigned int initial_lcore_socket;
 		struct rte_config *cfg = rte_eal_get_configuration();
 		bool skip;
 
@@ -1767,10 +1767,10 @@ memseg_primary_init_32(void)
 		skip = active_sockets != 0 &&
 				internal_conf->socket_mem[socket_id] == 0;
 		/* ...or if we didn't specifically request memory on *any*
-		 * socket, and this is not master lcore
+		 * socket, and this is not initial lcore
 		 */
-		master_lcore_socket = rte_lcore_to_socket_id(cfg->master_lcore);
-		skip |= active_sockets == 0 && socket_id != master_lcore_socket;
+		initial_lcore_socket = rte_lcore_to_socket_id(cfg->initial_lcore);
+		skip |= active_sockets == 0 && socket_id != initial_lcore_socket;
 
 		if (skip) {
 			RTE_LOG(DEBUG, EAL, "Will not preallocate memory on socket %u\n",
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/linux/eal_thread.c b/lib/librte_eal/linux/eal_thread.c
index cd9d6e0ebf5b..324e9a73060b 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/linux/eal_thread.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/linux/eal_thread.c
@@ -30,35 +30,35 @@ RTE_DEFINE_PER_LCORE(unsigned, _socket_id) = (unsigned)SOCKET_ID_ANY;
 RTE_DEFINE_PER_LCORE(rte_cpuset_t, _cpuset);
 
 /*
- * Send a message to a slave lcore identified by slave_id to call a
+ * Send a message to a worker lcore identified by worker_id to call a
  * function f with argument arg. Once the execution is done, the
  * remote lcore switch in FINISHED state.
  */
 int
-rte_eal_remote_launch(int (*f)(void *), void *arg, unsigned slave_id)
+rte_eal_remote_launch(int (*f)(void *), void *arg, unsigned worker_id)
 {
 	int n;
 	char c = 0;
-	int m2s = lcore_config[slave_id].pipe_master2slave[1];
-	int s2m = lcore_config[slave_id].pipe_slave2master[0];
+	int i2w = lcore_config[worker_id].pipe_init2worker[1];
+	int w2i = lcore_config[worker_id].pipe_worker2init[0];
 	int rc = -EBUSY;
 
-	if (lcore_config[slave_id].state != WAIT)
+	if (lcore_config[worker_id].state != WAIT)
 		goto finish;
 
-	lcore_config[slave_id].f = f;
-	lcore_config[slave_id].arg = arg;
+	lcore_config[worker_id].f = f;
+	lcore_config[worker_id].arg = arg;
 
 	/* send message */
 	n = 0;
 	while (n == 0 || (n < 0 && errno == EINTR))
-		n = write(m2s, &c, 1);
+		n = write(i2w, &c, 1);
 	if (n < 0)
 		rte_panic("cannot write on configuration pipe\n");
 
 	/* wait ack */
 	do {
-		n = read(s2m, &c, 1);
+		n = read(w2i, &c, 1);
 	} while (n < 0 && errno == EINTR);
 
 	if (n <= 0)
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ rte_eal_remote_launch(int (*f)(void *), void *arg, unsigned slave_id)
 
 	rc = 0;
 finish:
-	rte_eal_trace_thread_remote_launch(f, arg, slave_id, rc);
+	rte_eal_trace_thread_remote_launch(f, arg, worker_id, rc);
 	return rc;
 }
 
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ eal_thread_set_affinity(void)
 	return rte_thread_set_affinity(&lcore_config[lcore_id].cpuset);
 }
 
-void eal_thread_init_master(unsigned lcore_id)
+void eal_thread_initial_lcore(unsigned lcore_id)
 {
 	/* set the lcore ID in per-lcore memory area */
 	RTE_PER_LCORE(_lcore_id) = lcore_id;
@@ -101,21 +101,21 @@ eal_thread_loop(__rte_unused void *arg)
 	int n, ret;
 	unsigned lcore_id;
 	pthread_t thread_id;
-	int m2s, s2m;
+	int i2w, w2i;
 	char cpuset[RTE_CPU_AFFINITY_STR_LEN];
 
 	thread_id = pthread_self();
 
 	/* retrieve our lcore_id from the configuration structure */
-	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_SLAVE(lcore_id) {
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id) {
 		if (thread_id == lcore_config[lcore_id].thread_id)
 			break;
 	}
 	if (lcore_id == RTE_MAX_LCORE)
 		rte_panic("cannot retrieve lcore id\n");
 
-	m2s = lcore_config[lcore_id].pipe_master2slave[0];
-	s2m = lcore_config[lcore_id].pipe_slave2master[1];
+	i2w = lcore_config[lcore_id].pipe_init2worker[0];
+	w2i = lcore_config[lcore_id].pipe_worker2init[1];
 
 	/* set the lcore ID in per-lcore memory area */
 	RTE_PER_LCORE(_lcore_id) = lcore_id;
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ eal_thread_loop(__rte_unused void *arg)
 
 		/* wait command */
 		do {
-			n = read(m2s, &c, 1);
+			n = read(i2w, &c, 1);
 		} while (n < 0 && errno == EINTR);
 
 		if (n <= 0)
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ eal_thread_loop(__rte_unused void *arg)
 		/* send ack */
 		n = 0;
 		while (n == 0 || (n < 0 && errno == EINTR))
-			n = write(s2m, &c, 1);
+			n = write(w2i, &c, 1);
 		if (n < 0)
 			rte_panic("cannot write on configuration pipe\n");
 
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map b/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map
index 196eef5afab7..fb8f8a32beaf 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ DPDK_20.0 {
 	rte_hexdump;
 	rte_hypervisor_get;
 	rte_hypervisor_get_name;
+	rte_init_lcore_id;
 	rte_intr_allow_others;
 	rte_intr_callback_register;
 	rte_intr_callback_unregister;
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/windows/eal.c b/lib/librte_eal/windows/eal.c
index eb10b4ef9689..7d1fe127eae0 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/windows/eal.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/windows/eal.c
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ rte_eal_init(int argc, char **argv)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	eal_thread_init_master(config->master_lcore);
+	eal_thread_initial_lcore(config->initial_lcore);
 
 	bscan = rte_bus_scan();
 	if (bscan < 0) {
@@ -342,16 +342,16 @@ rte_eal_init(int argc, char **argv)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_SLAVE(i) {
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(i) {
 
 		/*
-		 * create communication pipes between master thread
+		 * create communication pipes between initial thread
 		 * and children
 		 */
-		if (_pipe(lcore_config[i].pipe_master2slave,
+		if (_pipe(lcore_config[i].pipe_init2worker,
 			sizeof(char), _O_BINARY) < 0)
 			rte_panic("Cannot create pipe\n");
-		if (_pipe(lcore_config[i].pipe_slave2master,
+		if (_pipe(lcore_config[i].pipe_worker2init,
 			sizeof(char), _O_BINARY) < 0)
 			rte_panic("Cannot create pipe\n");
 
@@ -363,10 +363,10 @@ rte_eal_init(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 
 	/*
-	 * Launch a dummy function on all slave lcores, so that master lcore
+	 * Launch a dummy function on all worker lcores, so that initial lcore
 	 * knows they are all ready when this function returns.
 	 */
-	rte_eal_mp_remote_launch(sync_func, NULL, SKIP_MASTER);
+	rte_eal_mp_remote_launch(sync_func, NULL, SKIP_INITIAL);
 	rte_eal_mp_wait_lcore();
 	return fctret;
 }
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/windows/eal_thread.c b/lib/librte_eal/windows/eal_thread.c
index 3dd56519c99a..b3a8a47be313 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/windows/eal_thread.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/windows/eal_thread.c
@@ -21,34 +21,34 @@ RTE_DEFINE_PER_LCORE(unsigned int, _socket_id) = (unsigned int)SOCKET_ID_ANY;
 RTE_DEFINE_PER_LCORE(rte_cpuset_t, _cpuset);
 
 /*
- * Send a message to a slave lcore identified by slave_id to call a
+ * Send a message to a worker lcore identified by worker_id to call a
  * function f with argument arg. Once the execution is done, the
  * remote lcore switch in FINISHED state.
  */
 int
-rte_eal_remote_launch(lcore_function_t *f, void *arg, unsigned int slave_id)
+rte_eal_remote_launch(lcore_function_t *f, void *arg, unsigned int worker_id)
 {
 	int n;
 	char c = 0;
-	int m2s = lcore_config[slave_id].pipe_master2slave[1];
-	int s2m = lcore_config[slave_id].pipe_slave2master[0];
+	int i2w = lcore_config[worker_id].pipe_init2worker[1];
+	int w2i = lcore_config[worker_id].pipe_worker2init[0];
 
-	if (lcore_config[slave_id].state != WAIT)
+	if (lcore_config[worker_id].state != WAIT)
 		return -EBUSY;
 
-	lcore_config[slave_id].f = f;
-	lcore_config[slave_id].arg = arg;
+	lcore_config[worker_id].f = f;
+	lcore_config[worker_id].arg = arg;
 
 	/* send message */
 	n = 0;
 	while (n == 0 || (n < 0 && errno == EINTR))
-		n = _write(m2s, &c, 1);
+		n = _write(i2w, &c, 1);
 	if (n < 0)
 		rte_panic("cannot write on configuration pipe\n");
 
 	/* wait ack */
 	do {
-		n = _read(s2m, &c, 1);
+		n = _read(w2i, &c, 1);
 	} while (n < 0 && errno == EINTR);
 
 	if (n <= 0)
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ rte_eal_remote_launch(lcore_function_t *f, void *arg, unsigned int slave_id)
 }
 
 void
-eal_thread_init_master(unsigned int lcore_id)
+eal_thread_set_initial_lcore(unsigned int lcore_id)
 {
 	/* set the lcore ID in per-lcore memory area */
 	RTE_PER_LCORE(_lcore_id) = lcore_id;
@@ -72,21 +72,21 @@ eal_thread_loop(void *arg __rte_unused)
 	int n, ret;
 	unsigned int lcore_id;
 	pthread_t thread_id;
-	int m2s, s2m;
+	int i2w, w2i;
 	char cpuset[RTE_CPU_AFFINITY_STR_LEN];
 
 	thread_id = pthread_self();
 
 	/* retrieve our lcore_id from the configuration structure */
-	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_SLAVE(lcore_id) {
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id) {
 		if (thread_id == lcore_config[lcore_id].thread_id)
 			break;
 	}
 	if (lcore_id == RTE_MAX_LCORE)
 		rte_panic("cannot retrieve lcore id\n");
 
-	m2s = lcore_config[lcore_id].pipe_master2slave[0];
-	s2m = lcore_config[lcore_id].pipe_slave2master[1];
+	i2w = lcore_config[lcore_id].pipe_init2worker[0];
+	w2i = lcore_config[lcore_id].pipe_worker2init[1];
 
 	/* set the lcore ID in per-lcore memory area */
 	RTE_PER_LCORE(_lcore_id) = lcore_id;
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ eal_thread_loop(void *arg __rte_unused)
 
 		/* wait command */
 		do {
-			n = _read(m2s, &c, 1);
+			n = _read(i2w, &c, 1);
 		} while (n < 0 && errno == EINTR);
 
 		if (n <= 0)
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ eal_thread_loop(void *arg __rte_unused)
 		/* send ack */
 		n = 0;
 		while (n == 0 || (n < 0 && errno == EINTR))
-			n = _write(s2m, &c, 1);
+			n = _write(w2i, &c, 1);
 		if (n < 0)
 			rte_panic("cannot write on configuration pipe\n");
 
