diff --git a/ompi/mca/fbtl/fbtl.h b/ompi/mca/fbtl/fbtl.h
index 81a020ddae..8205010488 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/fbtl/fbtl.h
+++ b/ompi/mca/fbtl/fbtl.h
@@ -122,13 +122,15 @@ typedef ssize_t (*mca_fbtl_base_module_pwritev_fn_t)
     (struct mca_io_ompio_file_t *file );
 typedef ssize_t (*mca_fbtl_base_module_ipreadv_fn_t)
     (struct mca_io_ompio_file_t *file,
-     ompi_request_t **request);
+     ompi_request_t *request);
 typedef ssize_t (*mca_fbtl_base_module_ipwritev_fn_t)
     (struct mca_io_ompio_file_t *file,
-     ompi_request_t **request);
+     ompi_request_t *request);
 typedef bool (*mca_fbtl_base_module_progress_fn_t)
     ( struct mca_ompio_request_t *request);
 
+typedef void (*mca_fbtl_base_module_request_free_fn_t)
+    ( struct mca_ompio_request_t *request);
 /*
  * ***********************************************************************
  * ***************************  module structure *************************
@@ -144,11 +146,12 @@ struct mca_fbtl_base_module_1_0_0_t {
     mca_fbtl_base_module_finalize_1_0_0_fn_t fbtl_module_finalize;
     
     /* FBTL function pointers */
-    mca_fbtl_base_module_preadv_fn_t     fbtl_preadv;
-    mca_fbtl_base_module_ipreadv_fn_t    fbtl_ipreadv;
-    mca_fbtl_base_module_pwritev_fn_t    fbtl_pwritev;
-    mca_fbtl_base_module_ipwritev_fn_t   fbtl_ipwritev;
-    mca_fbtl_base_module_progress_fn_t   fbtl_progress;
+    mca_fbtl_base_module_preadv_fn_t        fbtl_preadv;
+    mca_fbtl_base_module_ipreadv_fn_t       fbtl_ipreadv;
+    mca_fbtl_base_module_pwritev_fn_t       fbtl_pwritev;
+    mca_fbtl_base_module_ipwritev_fn_t      fbtl_ipwritev;
+    mca_fbtl_base_module_progress_fn_t      fbtl_progress;
+    mca_fbtl_base_module_request_free_fn_t  fbtl_request_free;
 };
 typedef struct mca_fbtl_base_module_1_0_0_t mca_fbtl_base_module_1_0_0_t;
 typedef mca_fbtl_base_module_1_0_0_t mca_fbtl_base_module_t;
diff --git a/ompi/mca/fbtl/plfs/fbtl_plfs.c b/ompi/mca/fbtl/plfs/fbtl_plfs.c
index d5e775874e..5696cf0298 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/fbtl/plfs/fbtl_plfs.c
+++ b/ompi/mca/fbtl/plfs/fbtl_plfs.c
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ static mca_fbtl_base_module_1_0_0_t plfs =  {
     NULL,                          /* non-blocking read */
     mca_fbtl_plfs_pwritev,         /* blocking write */
     NULL,                          /* non-blocking write */
-    NULL                           /* module specific progress */
+    NULL,                          /* module specific progress */
+    NULL                           /* free module specific data items on the request */
 };
 /*
  * *******************************************************************
diff --git a/ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix.c b/ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix.c
index 9685d81f83..5854473d60 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix.c
+++ b/ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix.c
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  *                         University of Stuttgart.  All rights reserved.
  * Copyright (c) 2004-2005 The Regents of the University of California.
  *                         All rights reserved.
- * Copyright (c) 2008-2011 University of Houston. All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (c) 2008-2014 University of Houston. All rights reserved.
  * $COPYRIGHT$
  * 
  * Additional copyrights may follow
@@ -25,6 +25,13 @@
 
 #include "ompi_config.h"
 #include "mpi.h"
+
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <sys/uio.h>
+#if HAVE_AIO_H
+#include <aio.h>
+#endif
+
 #include "ompi/mca/fbtl/fbtl.h"
 #include "ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix.h"
 
@@ -37,10 +44,21 @@ static mca_fbtl_base_module_1_0_0_t posix =  {
     mca_fbtl_posix_module_init,     /* initalise after being selected */
     mca_fbtl_posix_module_finalize, /* close a module on a communicator */
     mca_fbtl_posix_preadv,          /* blocking read */
+#if defined (FBTL_POSIX_HAVE_AIO)
+    mca_fbtl_posix_ipreadv,         /* non-blocking read*/
+#else
     NULL,                           /* non-blocking read */
+#endif
     mca_fbtl_posix_pwritev,         /* blocking write */
+#if defined (FBTL_POSIX_HAVE_AIO)
+    mca_fbtl_posix_ipwritev,        /* non-blocking write */
+    mca_fbtl_posix_progress,        /* module specific progress */
+    mca_fbtl_posix_request_free     /* free module specific data items on the request */
+#else
     NULL,                           /* non-blocking write */
-    NULL                            /* module specific progress */
+    NULL,                           /* module specific progress */
+    NULL                            /* free module specific data items on the request */
+#endif
 };
 /*
  * *******************************************************************
@@ -84,3 +102,66 @@ int mca_fbtl_posix_module_init (mca_io_ompio_file_t *file) {
 int mca_fbtl_posix_module_finalize (mca_io_ompio_file_t *file) {
     return OMPI_SUCCESS;
 }
+
+bool mca_fbtl_posix_progress ( mca_ompio_request_t *req)
+{
+    bool ret=false;
+#if defined (FBTL_POSIX_HAVE_AIO)
+    int i=0;
+    mca_fbtl_posix_request_data_t *data=(mca_fbtl_posix_request_data_t *)req->req_data;
+
+    for (i=0; i < data->aio_req_count; i++ ) {
+	if ( EINPROGRESS == data->aio_req_status[i] ) {
+	    data->aio_req_status[i] = aio_error ( &data->aio_reqs[i]);
+	    if ( 0 == data->aio_req_status[i]){
+		data->aio_open_reqs--;
+		/* assuming right now that aio_return will return 
+		** the number of bytes written/read and not an error code,
+		** since aio_error should have returned an error in that 
+		** case and not 0 ( which means request is complete)
+		*/
+		data->aio_total_len += aio_return (&data->aio_reqs[i]);
+	    }
+	    else if ( EINPROGRESS == data->aio_req_status[i]){
+		/* not yet done */
+		continue;
+	    }
+	    else {
+		/* an error occured. Mark the request done, but 
+		   set an error code in the status */
+		req->req_ompi.req_status.MPI_ERROR = OMPI_ERROR;
+		req->req_ompi.req_status._ucount = data->aio_total_len;
+		ret = true;
+		break;
+	    }
+	}
+    }
+
+    if ( 0 == data->aio_open_reqs ) {
+	/* all pending operations are finished for this request */
+	req->req_ompi.req_status.MPI_ERROR = OMPI_SUCCESS;
+	req->req_ompi.req_status._ucount = data->aio_total_len;
+	ret = true;
+    }
+#endif
+    return ret;
+}
+
+void mca_fbtl_posix_request_free ( mca_ompio_request_t *req)
+{
+#if defined (FBTL_POSIX_HAVE_AIO)
+    /* Free the fbtl specific data structures */
+    mca_fbtl_posix_request_data_t *data=(mca_fbtl_posix_request_data_t *)req->req_data;
+    if (NULL != data ) {
+	if ( NULL != data->aio_reqs ) {
+	    free ( data->aio_reqs);
+	}
+	if ( NULL != data->aio_req_status ) {
+	    free ( data->aio_req_status );
+	}
+	free ( data );
+	req->req_data = NULL;
+    }
+#endif
+  return;
+}
diff --git a/ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix.h b/ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix.h
index 64c3cf016d..499a35f4d3 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix.h
+++ b/ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "opal/mca/mca.h"
 #include "ompi/mca/fbtl/fbtl.h"
 #include "ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio.h"
+#include "ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_request.h"
 
 extern int mca_fbtl_posix_priority;
 
@@ -48,9 +49,24 @@ OMPI_MODULE_DECLSPEC extern mca_fbtl_base_component_2_0_0_t mca_fbtl_posix_compo
 ssize_t mca_fbtl_posix_preadv (mca_io_ompio_file_t *file );
 ssize_t mca_fbtl_posix_pwritev (mca_io_ompio_file_t *file );
 ssize_t mca_fbtl_posix_ipreadv (mca_io_ompio_file_t *file,
-                               ompi_request_t **request);
+                               ompi_request_t *request);
 ssize_t mca_fbtl_posix_ipwritev (mca_io_ompio_file_t *file,
-                                ompi_request_t **request);
+                                ompi_request_t *request);
+
+bool mca_fbtl_posix_progress     ( mca_ompio_request_t *req);
+void mca_fbtl_posix_request_free ( mca_ompio_request_t *req);
+ 
+struct mca_fbtl_posix_request_data_t {
+    int              aio_req_count; 
+    int              aio_open_reqs;
+    struct aiocb         *aio_reqs;
+    int            *aio_req_status;
+    ssize_t          aio_total_len;
+};
+typedef struct mca_fbtl_posix_request_data_t mca_fbtl_posix_request_data_t;
+
+/* Right now statically defined, will become a configure check */
+#define FBTL_POSIX_HAVE_AIO 1
 
 /*
  * ******************************************************************
diff --git a/ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix_ipreadv.c b/ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix_ipreadv.c
index 08cb3210c2..67d26d33f2 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix_ipreadv.c
+++ b/ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix_ipreadv.c
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  *                         University of Stuttgart.  All rights reserved.
  * Copyright (c) 2004-2005 The Regents of the University of California.
  *                         All rights reserved.
- * Copyright (c) 2008-2011 University of Houston. All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (c) 2008-2014 University of Houston. All rights reserved.
  * $COPYRIGHT$
  * 
  * Additional copyrights may follow
@@ -21,13 +21,65 @@
 #include "ompi_config.h"
 #include "fbtl_posix.h"
 
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <sys/uio.h>
+#if HAVE_AIO_H
+#include <aio.h>
+#endif
+
 #include "mpi.h"
 #include "ompi/constants.h"
 #include "ompi/mca/fbtl/fbtl.h"
 
-ssize_t mca_fbtl_posix_ipreadv (mca_io_ompio_file_t *file,
-			       ompi_request_t **request)
+ssize_t mca_fbtl_posix_ipreadv (mca_io_ompio_file_t *fh,
+			       ompi_request_t *request)
 {
-    printf ("POSIX IPREADV\n");
+#if defined (FBTL_POSIX_HAVE_AIO)
+    mca_fbtl_posix_request_data_t *data;
+    mca_ompio_request_t *req = (mca_ompio_request_t *) request;
+    int i=0;
+
+    data = (mca_fbtl_posix_request_data_t *) malloc ( sizeof (mca_fbtl_posix_request_data_t));
+    if ( NULL == data ) {
+        opal_output (1,"could not allocate memory\n");
+        return 0;
+    }
+    
+    data->aio_req_count = fh->f_num_of_io_entries;
+    data->aio_open_reqs = fh->f_num_of_io_entries;
+    data->aio_total_len = 0;
+    data->aio_reqs = (struct aiocb *) malloc (sizeof(struct aiocb) * 
+                                              fh->f_num_of_io_entries);
+    if (NULL == data->aio_reqs) {
+        opal_output(1, "OUT OF MEMORY\n");
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    data->aio_req_status = (int *) malloc (sizeof(int) * fh->f_num_of_io_entries);
+    if (NULL == data->aio_req_status) {
+        opal_output(1, "OUT OF MEMORY\n");
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    for ( i=0; i<fh->f_num_of_io_entries; i++ ) {
+        data->aio_reqs[i].aio_offset  = (OMPI_MPI_OFFSET_TYPE)(intptr_t)
+            fh->f_io_array[i].offset;
+        data->aio_reqs[i].aio_buf     = fh->f_io_array[i].memory_address;
+        data->aio_reqs[i].aio_nbytes  = fh->f_io_array[i].length;
+        data->aio_reqs[i].aio_fildes  = fh->fd;
+        data->aio_reqs[i].aio_reqprio = 0;
+        data->aio_reqs[i].aio_sigevent.sigev_notify = SIGEV_NONE;
+	data->aio_req_status[i]        = EINPROGRESS;
+        
+        if (-1 == aio_read(&data->aio_reqs[i])) {
+            perror("aio_read() error");
+            return OMPI_ERROR;
+        }
+    }
+
+    req->req_data = data;
+    req->req_progress_fn = mca_fbtl_posix_progress;
+    req->req_free_fn     = mca_fbtl_posix_request_free;
+#endif
     return OMPI_SUCCESS;
 }
diff --git a/ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix_ipwritev.c b/ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix_ipwritev.c
index a19a7805e2..856be64c82 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix_ipwritev.c
+++ b/ompi/mca/fbtl/posix/fbtl_posix_ipwritev.c
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  *                         University of Stuttgart.  All rights reserved.
  * Copyright (c) 2004-2005 The Regents of the University of California.
  *                         All rights reserved.
- * Copyright (c) 2008-2011 University of Houston. All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (c) 2008-2014 University of Houston. All rights reserved.
  * $COPYRIGHT$
  * 
  * Additional copyrights may follow
@@ -20,97 +20,65 @@
 #include "ompi_config.h"
 #include "fbtl_posix.h"
 
-#include "mpi.h"
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <sys/uio.h>
+#if HAVE_AIO_H
 #include <aio.h>
+#endif
+
+#include "mpi.h"
 #include "ompi/constants.h"
 #include "ompi/mca/fbtl/fbtl.h"
 
 ssize_t  mca_fbtl_posix_ipwritev (mca_io_ompio_file_t *fh,
-				 ompi_request_t **request)
+				 ompi_request_t *request)
 {
-    int i;
-    int num_req = 0;
-    int merge = 0;
-    size_t k;
-    char *merge_buf = NULL;
-    size_t merge_length = 0;
-    OMPI_MPI_OFFSET_TYPE merge_offset = 0;
-    struct aiocb *aiocbp;
+#if defined(FBTL_POSIX_HAVE_AIO)
+    mca_fbtl_posix_request_data_t *data;
+    mca_ompio_request_t *req = (mca_ompio_request_t *) request;
+    int i=0;
 
-    aiocbp = (struct aiocb *) malloc (sizeof(struct aiocb) * 
-                                      fh->f_num_of_io_entries);
-    if (NULL == aiocbp) {
+    data = (mca_fbtl_posix_request_data_t *) malloc ( sizeof (mca_fbtl_posix_request_data_t));
+    if ( NULL == data ) {
+        opal_output (1,"could not allocate memory\n");
+        return 0;
+    }
+    
+    data->aio_req_count = fh->f_num_of_io_entries;
+    data->aio_open_reqs = fh->f_num_of_io_entries;
+    data->aio_total_len = 0;
+    data->aio_reqs = (struct aiocb *) malloc (sizeof(struct aiocb) * 
+                                              fh->f_num_of_io_entries);
+    if (NULL == data->aio_reqs) {
         opal_output(1, "OUT OF MEMORY\n");
-        return OMPI_ERR_OUT_OF_RESOURCE;
+        return 0;
     }
 
-    for (i=0 ; i<fh->f_num_of_io_entries ; i++) {
-	if (fh->f_num_of_io_entries != i+1) {
-	    if (((OMPI_MPI_OFFSET_TYPE)(intptr_t)fh->f_io_array[i].offset + 
-		 (OPAL_PTRDIFF_TYPE)fh->f_io_array[i].length) == 
-		(OMPI_MPI_OFFSET_TYPE)(intptr_t)fh->f_io_array[i+1].offset) {
-		if (!merge) {
-		    merge_offset = (OMPI_MPI_OFFSET_TYPE)(intptr_t)
-			fh->f_io_array[i].offset;
-		    merge_length = fh->f_io_array[i].length;
-		}
-		merge_length += fh->f_io_array[i+1].length;
-		merge++;
-		continue;
-	    }
-	}
-	
-	if (merge) {
-	    merge_buf = malloc (merge_length);
-	    if (NULL == merge_buf) {
-		opal_output(1, "OUT OF MEMORY\n");
-		return OMPI_ERR_OUT_OF_RESOURCE;
-	    }
-	    k = 0;
-	    while (merge >= 0) {
-		memcpy (merge_buf + k, 
-			fh->f_io_array[i-merge].memory_address,
-			fh->f_io_array[i-merge].length);
-		k += fh->f_io_array[i-merge].length;
-		merge --;
-	    }
-	    aiocbp[num_req].aio_offset  = merge_offset;
-	    aiocbp[num_req].aio_buf     = merge_buf;
-	    aiocbp[num_req].aio_nbytes  = merge_length;
-	    aiocbp[num_req].aio_fildes  = fh->fd;
-	    aiocbp[num_req].aio_reqprio = 0;
-	    aiocbp[num_req].aio_sigevent.sigev_notify = SIGEV_NONE;
-	    
-	    if (-1 == aio_write(&aiocbp[num_req])) {
-		perror("aio_write() error");
-		return OMPI_ERROR;
-	    }
-	    merge = 0;
-	    merge_offset = 0;
-	    merge_length = 0;
-	    if (NULL != merge_buf) {
-		free (merge_buf);
-		merge_buf = NULL;
-	    }
-	}
-	else {
-	    aiocbp[num_req].aio_offset  = (OMPI_MPI_OFFSET_TYPE)(intptr_t)
-                    fh->f_io_array[i].offset;
-	    aiocbp[num_req].aio_buf     = fh->f_io_array[i].memory_address;
-	    aiocbp[num_req].aio_nbytes  = fh->f_io_array[i].length;
-	    aiocbp[num_req].aio_fildes  = fh->fd;
-	    aiocbp[num_req].aio_reqprio = 0;
-	    aiocbp[num_req].aio_sigevent.sigev_notify = SIGEV_NONE;
-	    
-	    if (-1 == aio_write(&aiocbp[num_req])) {
-		perror("aio_write() error");
-		return OMPI_ERROR;
-	    }
-	}
-	num_req ++;
+    data->aio_req_status = (int *) malloc (sizeof(int) * fh->f_num_of_io_entries);
+    if (NULL == data->aio_req_status) {
+        opal_output(1, "OUT OF MEMORY\n");
+        return 0;
     }
 
+    for ( i=0; i<fh->f_num_of_io_entries; i++ ) {
+        data->aio_reqs[i].aio_offset  = (OMPI_MPI_OFFSET_TYPE)(intptr_t)
+            fh->f_io_array[i].offset;
+        data->aio_reqs[i].aio_buf     = fh->f_io_array[i].memory_address;
+        data->aio_reqs[i].aio_nbytes  = fh->f_io_array[i].length;
+        data->aio_reqs[i].aio_fildes  = fh->fd;
+        data->aio_reqs[i].aio_reqprio = 0;
+        data->aio_reqs[i].aio_sigevent.sigev_notify = SIGEV_NONE;
+	data->aio_req_status[i]        = EINPROGRESS;
+        
+        if (-1 == aio_write(&data->aio_reqs[i])) {
+            perror("aio_write() error");
+            return OMPI_ERROR;
+        }
+    }
+
+    req->req_data = data;
+    req->req_progress_fn = mca_fbtl_posix_progress;
+    req->req_free_fn     = mca_fbtl_posix_request_free;
+#endif
     return OMPI_SUCCESS;
 }
diff --git a/ompi/mca/fbtl/pvfs2/fbtl_pvfs2.c b/ompi/mca/fbtl/pvfs2/fbtl_pvfs2.c
index 4edb058167..cd017918e5 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/fbtl/pvfs2/fbtl_pvfs2.c
+++ b/ompi/mca/fbtl/pvfs2/fbtl_pvfs2.c
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  *                         University of Stuttgart.  All rights reserved.
  * Copyright (c) 2004-2005 The Regents of the University of California.
  *                         All rights reserved.
- * Copyright (c) 2008-2011 University of Houston. All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (c) 2008-2014 University of Houston. All rights reserved.
  * $COPYRIGHT$
  * 
  * Additional copyrights may follow
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ static mca_fbtl_base_module_1_0_0_t pvfs2 =  {
     NULL,                           /* non-blocking read */
     mca_fbtl_pvfs2_pwritev,         /* blocking write */
     NULL,                           /* non-blocking write */
-    NULL                            /* module specific progress */
+    NULL,                           /* module specific progress */
+    NULL                            /* free module specific data items on the request */
 };
 /*
  * *******************************************************************
diff --git a/ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_file_read.c b/ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_file_read.c
index 74fc0290be..4dfd875179 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_file_read.c
+++ b/ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_file_read.c
@@ -267,9 +267,16 @@ int ompio_io_ompio_file_iread (mca_io_ompio_file_t *fh,
 				      &total_bytes_read);
 	    
 	if (fh->f_num_of_io_entries) {
-	    fh->f_fbtl->fbtl_ipreadv (fh, request);
+	  fh->f_fbtl->fbtl_ipreadv (fh, (ompi_request_t *) ompio_req);
 	}
-	
+
+	if ( false == mca_io_ompio_progress_is_registered ) {
+            // Lazy initialization of progress function to minimize impact
+            // on other ompi functionality in case its not used.
+            opal_progress_register (mca_io_ompio_component_progress);
+            mca_io_ompio_progress_is_registered=true;
+        }
+
 	fh->f_num_of_io_entries = 0;
 	if (NULL != fh->f_io_array) {
 	    free (fh->f_io_array);
diff --git a/ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_file_write.c b/ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_file_write.c
index e9c77d25e1..06f364dea5 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_file_write.c
+++ b/ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_file_write.c
@@ -255,7 +255,14 @@ int ompio_io_ompio_file_iwrite (mca_io_ompio_file_t *fh,
 				      &total_bytes_written);
 	
         if (fh->f_num_of_io_entries) {
-            fh->f_fbtl->fbtl_ipwritev (fh, request);
+	  fh->f_fbtl->fbtl_ipwritev (fh, (ompi_request_t *) ompio_req);
+        }
+	
+	if ( false == mca_io_ompio_progress_is_registered ) {
+	    // Lazy initialization of progress function to minimize impact
+	    // on other ompi functionality in case its not used.
+	    opal_progress_register (mca_io_ompio_component_progress);
+	    mca_io_ompio_progress_is_registered=true;
         }
 	
         fh->f_num_of_io_entries = 0;
diff --git a/ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_request.c b/ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_request.c
index 36edf06e45..46e6e40f2a 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_request.c
+++ b/ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_request.c
@@ -23,10 +23,14 @@
 static void mca_io_ompio_request_construct(mca_ompio_request_t* req);
 static void mca_io_ompio_request_destruct(mca_ompio_request_t *req);
 
+bool mca_io_ompio_progress_is_registered=false;
 
 static int mca_io_ompio_request_free ( struct ompi_request_t **req)
 {
     mca_ompio_request_t *ompio_req = ( mca_ompio_request_t *)*req;
+    if ( NULL != ompio_req->req_free_fn ) {
+	ompio_req->req_free_fn (ompio_req );
+    }
     opal_list_remove_item (&mca_io_ompio_pending_requests, &ompio_req->req_item);
 
     OBJ_RELEASE (*req);
@@ -49,6 +53,7 @@ void mca_io_ompio_request_construct(mca_ompio_request_t* req)
     req->req_ompi.req_cancel = mca_io_ompio_request_cancel;
     req->req_data            = NULL;
     req->req_progress_fn     = NULL;
+    req->req_free_fn         = NULL;
 
     OBJ_CONSTRUCT(&req->req_item, opal_list_item_t);
     opal_list_append (&mca_io_ompio_pending_requests, &req->req_item);
@@ -64,3 +69,29 @@ void mca_io_ompio_request_destruct(mca_ompio_request_t* req)
 
     return;
 }
+
+int mca_io_ompio_component_progress ( void )
+{
+    mca_ompio_request_t *req=NULL;
+    opal_list_item_t *litem=NULL;
+    int completed=0;
+
+    OPAL_LIST_FOREACH(litem, &mca_io_ompio_pending_requests, opal_list_item_t) {
+        req = GET_OMPIO_REQ_FROM_ITEM(litem);
+	if ( true == req->req_ompi.req_complete ) {
+	    continue;
+	}
+        if ( NULL != req->req_progress_fn ) {
+            if ( req->req_progress_fn(req) ) {
+                completed++;
+                ompi_request_complete (&req->req_ompi, 1);
+                /* The fbtl progress function is expected to set the 
+		** status elements 
+		*/
+            }
+        }
+        
+    }
+
+    return completed;
+}
diff --git a/ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_request.h b/ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_request.h
index f8b6d99721..7d99023186 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_request.h
+++ b/ompi/mca/io/ompio/io_ompio_request.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 BEGIN_C_DECLS
 
 extern opal_list_t mca_io_ompio_pending_requests;
+extern bool mca_io_ompio_progress_is_registered;
 
 /**
  * Type of request.
@@ -45,22 +46,20 @@ typedef enum {
  * Main structure for OMPIO requests
  */
 struct mca_ompio_request_t {
-    ompi_request_t                               req_ompi;
-    mca_ompio_request_type_t                     req_type;
-    void                                        *req_data;
-    opal_list_item_t                             req_item;
-    mca_fbtl_base_module_progress_fn_t   *req_progress_fn;
+    ompi_request_t                                 req_ompi;
+    mca_ompio_request_type_t                       req_type;
+    void                                          *req_data;
+    opal_list_item_t                               req_item;
+    mca_fbtl_base_module_progress_fn_t      req_progress_fn;
+    mca_fbtl_base_module_request_free_fn_t      req_free_fn;
 };
 typedef struct mca_ompio_request_t mca_ompio_request_t;
 OBJ_CLASS_DECLARATION(mca_ompio_request_t);
 
-#define container_of(ptr, type, member) ({ \
-    const typeof( ((type *)0)->member ) *__mptr = (ptr); \
-    (type *)( (char *)__mptr - offsetof(type,member) );})
-
-#define GET_OMPIO_REQ_FROMM_ITEM(ITEM)  container_of((ITEM), mca_ompio_request_t, req_item)
-
+#define GET_OMPIO_REQ_FROM_ITEM(ITEM) ((mca_ompio_request_t *)((char *)ITEM - offsetof(struct mca_ompio_request_t,req_item)))
+ 
 
+OMPI_DECLSPEC int mca_io_ompio_component_progress ( void);
 
 END_C_DECLS