diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/jack_port.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/jack_port.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c8add2c270
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/jack_port.h
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+/*
+    Copyright (C) 2002 Paul Davis 
+
+    This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+    it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+    (at your option) any later version.
+
+    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+    GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+    along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+    Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
+
+*/
+
+#ifndef __ardour_jack_port_h__
+#define __ardour_jack_port_h__
+
+#include <sigc++/signal.h>
+#include <pbd/failed_constructor.h>
+#include <ardour/port.h>
+#include <jack/jack.h>
+
+namespace ARDOUR {
+
+class AudioEngine;
+class Buffer;
+
+/** Abstract class representing JACK ports
+ */
+class JackPort : public virtual Port {
+   public:
+
+	~JackPort();
+
+	std::string short_name() { 
+		return jack_port_short_name (_port);
+	}
+	
+	int set_name (std::string str);
+
+	bool is_mine () const;
+
+	int connected () const {
+		return jack_port_connected (_port);
+	}
+	
+	int reestablish ();
+	
+	bool connected_to (const std::string& portname) const {
+		return jack_port_connected_to (_port, portname.c_str());
+	}
+
+	const char ** get_connections () const {
+		return jack_port_get_connections (_port);
+	}
+	
+	bool monitoring_input () const {
+		return jack_port_monitoring_input (_port);
+	}
+
+	void ensure_monitor_input (bool yn) {
+
+#ifdef HAVE_JACK_PORT_ENSURE_MONITOR
+		jack_port_ensure_monitor (_port, yn);
+#else
+		jack_port_request_monitor(_port, yn);
+#endif
+
+	}
+
+	/*XXX completely bloody useless imho*/
+	void request_monitor_input (bool yn) {
+		jack_port_request_monitor (_port, yn);
+	}
+
+	nframes_t latency () const {
+		return jack_port_get_latency (_port);
+	}
+
+	nframes_t total_latency() const;
+
+	void set_latency (nframes_t nframes) {
+		jack_port_set_latency (_port, nframes);
+	}
+
+
+  protected:
+	friend class AudioEngine;
+
+	JackPort (const std::string&, DataType type, Flags flags);
+	jack_port_t*  _port;
+
+ 	int disconnect ();
+	void recompute_total_latency() const;
+
+	static void set_engine (AudioEngine*);
+	static AudioEngine* engine;
+};
+ 
+} // namespace ARDOUR
+
+#endif /* __ardour_jack_port_h__ */