diff --git a/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/SelectorLoop.java b/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/SelectorLoop.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc88e16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/SelectorLoop.java
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+package org.onlab.nio;
+
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.nio.channels.Selector;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
+
+/**
+ * Abstraction of an I/O processing loop based on an NIO selector.
+ */
+public abstract class SelectorLoop implements Runnable {
+
+    protected final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
+
+    /**
+     * Selector used by this loop to pace the I/O operations.
+     */
+    protected final Selector selector;
+
+    /**
+     * Selection operations timeout; specified in millis.
+     */
+    protected long selectTimeout;
+
+    /**
+     * Retains the error that caused the loop to exit prematurely.
+     */
+    private Throwable error;
+
+    // State indicator
+    private enum State { STARTING, STARTED, STOPPING, STOPPED };
+    private volatile State state = State.STOPPED;
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new selector loop with the given selection timeout.
+     *
+     * @param selectTimeout selection timeout; specified in millis
+     * @throws IOException if the backing selector cannot be opened
+     */
+    public SelectorLoop(long selectTimeout) throws IOException {
+        checkArgument(selectTimeout > 0, "Timeout must be positive");
+        this.selectTimeout = selectTimeout;
+        this.selector = openSelector();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Opens a new selector for the use by the loop.
+     *
+     * @return newly open selector
+     * @throws IOException if the backing selector cannot be opened
+     */
+    protected Selector openSelector() throws IOException {
+        return Selector.open();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Indicates that the loop is marked to run.
+     */
+    protected boolean isRunning() {
+        return state == State.STARTED || state == State.STARTING;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the error, if there was one, that caused the loop to terminate
+     * prematurely.
+     *
+     * @return error or null if there was none
+     */
+    public Throwable getError() {
+        return error;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Contains the body of the I/O selector loop.
+     *
+     * @throws IOException if an error is encountered while selecting I/O
+     */
+    protected abstract void loop() throws IOException;
+
+    @Override
+    public void run() {
+        error = null;
+        state = State.STARTING;
+        try {
+            loop();
+        } catch (Throwable e) {
+            error = e;
+            log.error("Loop aborted", e);
+        }
+        notifyDone();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Notifies observers waiting for loop to become ready.
+     */
+    protected synchronized void notifyReady() {
+        state = State.STARTED;
+        notifyAll();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Triggers loop shutdown.
+     */
+    public void shutdown() {
+        // Mark the loop as no longer running and wake up the selector.
+        state = State.STOPPING;
+        selector.wakeup();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Notifies observers waiting for loop to fully stop.
+     */
+    private synchronized void notifyDone() {
+        state = State.STOPPED;
+        notifyAll();
+    }
+
+}