diff --git a/etc/defaults/rc.conf b/etc/defaults/rc.conf
index 127b05c..edeedbf 100644
--- a/etc/defaults/rc.conf
+++ b/etc/defaults/rc.conf
@@ -428,6 +428,30 @@ varsym_enable="NO"	# Proccess /etc/varsym.conf
 watchdogd_enable="NO"	# Start the software watchdog daemon
 
 ##############################################################
+###  VKernel options #########################################
+##############################################################
+
+vkernel_enable="NO"	# Set to YES to enable starting of vkernels
+vkernel_list=""		# Space separated list of names of vkernels
+
+#
+# Create an entry for each vkernel specified in vkernel_list
+# replacing 'example' by the name of the vkernel.
+#
+#vkernel_example_bin="/usr/obj/usr/src/sys/VKERNEL/kernel.debug"
+	# Path to the vkernel binary
+#vkernel_example_memsize="64m"
+	# Amount of memory for the vkernel
+#vkernel_example_rootimg_list="/var/vkernel/rootimg.01"
+	# Space separated list of disk images
+#vkernel_example_iface_list="auto:bridge0"
+	# Optional: space separated list network interfaces for the vkernel
+#vkernel_example_logfile="/dev/null"
+	# Optional: path to the console log file
+#vkernel_example_flags="-U"
+	# Optional: aditional flags to start the vkernel with
+
+##############################################################
 ### Define source_rc_confs, the mechanism used by /etc/rc.* ##
 ### scripts to source rc_conf_files overrides safely.	    ##
 ##############################################################
diff --git a/etc/rc.d/Makefile b/etc/rc.d/Makefile
index 1d1421c..16f8f0c 100644
--- a/etc/rc.d/Makefile
+++ b/etc/rc.d/Makefile
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ FILES=	DAEMON LOGIN NETWORKING SERVERS abi accounting addswap adjkerntz \
 	quota random rarpd rcconf.sh resident rndcontrol root route6d routed \
 	routing rpcbind rtadvd rtsold rwho sysdb savecore securelevel sendmail \
 	serial sppp sshd swap1 syscons sysctl syslogd timed ttys usbd \
-	vinum virecover watchdogd ypbind yppasswdd ypserv ypset ypupdated \
+	vinum virecover vkernel watchdogd \
+	ypbind yppasswdd ypserv ypset ypupdated \
 	ypxfrd varsym
 FILESDIR=	/etc/rc.d
 FILESMODE=	${BINMODE}
diff --git a/etc/rc.d/vkernel b/etc/rc.d/vkernel
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4d0597e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/etc/rc.d/vkernel
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# $DragonFly$
+#
+
+# PROVIDE: vkernel
+# REQUIRE: LOGIN NETWORKING
+
+. /etc/rc.subr
+
+name="vkernel"
+rcvar=`set_rcvar`
+start_cmd="vkernel_start"
+stop_cmd="vkernel_stop"
+
+vkernel_start()
+{
+	echo -n 'Starting virtual kernels:'
+	for _vkernel in ${vkernel_list} 
+	do
+		# Configure vkernel binary
+		eval _bin=\"\${vkernel_${_vkernel}_bin}\"
+		if [ -z "${_bin}" ]; then
+			echo
+			warn "No binary has been defined for vkernel '${_vkernel}'. Skipping."
+			continue
+		else
+			bin=${_bin}
+		fi
+
+		# Configure vkernel memory
+		eval _memsize=\"\$vkernel_${_vkernel}_memsize\"
+		if [ -z "${_memsize}" ]; then
+			echo
+			warn "No memsize has been defined for vkernel '${_vkernel}'. Skipping."
+			continue
+		else
+			memsize="-m ${_memsize}"
+		fi
+
+		# Configure vkernel root image(s)
+		eval _rootimgs=\"\${vkernel_${_vkernel}_rootimg_list}\"
+		if [ -z "${_rootimgs}" ]; then
+			echo
+			warn "No root image has been defined for vkernel '${_vkernel}'. Skipping."
+			continue
+		else
+			for _rootimg in ${_rootimgs}
+			do
+				eval rootimgs=\"${rootimgs} -r ${_rootimg}\"
+			done
+		fi
+
+		# Configure optional vkernel network interface(s)
+		eval _ifaces=\"\${vkernel_${_vkernel}_iface_list}\"
+		if [ -n "${_ifaces}" ]; then
+			for _iface in ${_ifaces}
+			do
+				eval ifaces=\"${ifaces} -I ${_iface}\"
+			done
+		fi
+
+		# Configure optional console logfile
+		eval logfile=\"\${vkernel_${_vkernel}_logfile}\"
+		[ -z "${logfile}" ] && logfile="/dev/null"
+
+		# Configure optional flags
+		eval flags=\"\${vkernel_${_vkernel}_flags}\"
+
+		eval "daemon ${bin} ${memsize} ${rootimgs} ${ifaces} ${flags} >>${logfile} 2>&1"
+		echo -n " ${_vkernel}"
+	done
+	echo '.'
+}
+
+vkernel_stop()
+{
+	for _vkernel in ${vkernel_list} 
+	do
+		eval _bin=\"\${vkernel_${_vkernel}_bin}\"
+		if [ -n "$_bin" ]; then
+			eval pid=`ps auxwww | grep ${_bin} | grep -v grep | awk '{print $2}'`
+			if [ -z "${pid}" ]; then
+				warn "vkernel '${_vkernel}' not running?"
+			else
+				eval kill -TERM ${pid}
+			fi
+		fi
+	done
+}
+
+
+load_rc_config $name
+run_rc_command "$1"
diff --git a/share/man/man5/rc.conf.5 b/share/man/man5/rc.conf.5
index f492617..c545d39 100644
--- a/share/man/man5/rc.conf.5
+++ b/share/man/man5/rc.conf.5
@@ -2668,6 +2668,35 @@ If set, start a watchdog timer in the background which will terminate
 if
 .Xr shutdown 8
 has not completed within the specified time (in seconds).
+.It Va vkernel_enable
+.Pq Vt bool
+If set to
+.Dq Li NO ,
+any configured vkernels will not be started.
+.It Va vkernel_list
+.Pq Vt str
+A space separated list of names for vkernels.
+This is purely a configuration aid to help identify and
+configure multiple vkernels.
+The names specified in this list will be used to
+identify settings common to a vkernel instance.
+Assuming that the vkernel in question was named
+.Li example ,
+you would have the following dependent variables
+(filled with reference values in this text):
+.Bd -literal
+vkernel_example_bin="/usr/obj/usr/src/sys/VKERNEL/kernel.debug"
+vkernel_example_memsize="64m"
+vkernel_example_rootimg_list="/var/vkernel/rootimg.01"
+vkernel_example_iface_list="auto:bridge0"
+vkernel_example_logfile="/dev/null"
+vkernel_example_flags="-U"
+.Ed
+.Pp
+The last three are optional.
+They default to an empty string if not set, except for logfile which defaults to
+.Pa /dev/null
+if it is not set.
 .El
 .Sh FILES
 .Bl -tag -width ".Pa /etc/defaults/rc.conf" -compact