diff --git a/opal/class/opal_bitmap.c b/opal/class/opal_bitmap.c
index b5ba126503..fa46c7b253 100644
--- a/opal/class/opal_bitmap.c
+++ b/opal/class/opal_bitmap.c
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
  * Copyright (c) 2004-2005 The Regents of the University of California.
  *                         All rights reserved.
  * Copyright (c) 2007      Cisco Systems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
- * Copyright (c) 2010-2011 Oak Ridge National Labs.  All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (c) 2010-2012 Oak Ridge National Labs.  All rights reserved.
  * $COPYRIGHT$
  * 
  * Additional copyrights may follow
@@ -412,3 +412,31 @@ char * opal_bitmap_get_string(opal_bitmap_t *bitmap)
 
     return bitmap_str;
 }
+
+int opal_bitmap_num_unset_bits(opal_bitmap_t *bm, int len)
+{
+    return (len - opal_bitmap_num_set_bits(bm, len));
+}
+
+int opal_bitmap_num_set_bits(opal_bitmap_t *bm, int len)
+{
+    int i, cnt = 0;
+    int index, offset;
+
+#if OPAL_ENABLE_DEBUG
+    if ((len < 0) || NULL == bm || (len >= (bm->array_size * SIZE_OF_CHAR))) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+#endif
+
+    for(i = 0; i < len; ++i) {
+        index = i / SIZE_OF_CHAR; 
+        offset = i % SIZE_OF_CHAR;
+
+        if(0 != (bm->bitmap[index] & (1 << offset))) {
+            ++cnt;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return cnt;
+}
diff --git a/opal/class/opal_bitmap.h b/opal/class/opal_bitmap.h
index 162f22a979..6ecfbe50e0 100644
--- a/opal/class/opal_bitmap.h
+++ b/opal/class/opal_bitmap.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
  * Copyright (c) 2004-2005 The Regents of the University of California.
  *                         All rights reserved.
  * Copyright (c) 2007      Cisco Systems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
- * Copyright (c) 2010-2011 Oak Ridge National Labs.  All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (c) 2010-2012 Oak Ridge National Labs.  All rights reserved.
  * $COPYRIGHT$
  * 
  * Additional copyrights may follow
@@ -228,6 +228,24 @@ OPAL_DECLSPEC bool opal_bitmap_are_different(opal_bitmap_t *left, opal_bitmap_t
  */
 OPAL_DECLSPEC char * opal_bitmap_get_string(opal_bitmap_t *bitmap);
 
+/**
+ * Return the number of 'unset' bits, upto the specified length
+ *
+ * @param bitmap Pointer to the bitmap
+ * @param len Number of bits to check
+ * @return Integer
+ */
+OPAL_DECLSPEC int opal_bitmap_num_unset_bits(opal_bitmap_t *bm, int len);
+
+/**
+ * Return the number of 'set' bits, upto the specified length
+ *
+ * @param bitmap Pointer to the bitmap
+ * @param len Number of bits to check
+ * @return Integer
+ */
+OPAL_DECLSPEC int opal_bitmap_num_set_bits(opal_bitmap_t *bm, int len);
+
 END_C_DECLS
 
 #endif