diff --git a/src/libply-splash-core/Makefile.am b/src/libply-splash-core/Makefile.am
index e05dcb33..287b11b2 100644
--- a/src/libply-splash-core/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/libply-splash-core/Makefile.am
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ libply_splash_coredir = $(includedir)/plymouth-1/ply-splash-core
 libply_splash_core_HEADERS = \
 		    ply-boot-splash.h                                         \
 		    ply-boot-splash-plugin.h                                  \
+		    ply-device-manager.h                                      \
 		    ply-keyboard.h                                            \
 		    ply-pixel-buffer.h                                        \
 		    ply-pixel-display.h                                       \
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ libply_splash_core_la_LDFLAGS = -export-symbols-regex '^[^_].*' \
 		    -no-undefined
 libply_splash_core_la_SOURCES = \
 		    $(libply_splash_core_HEADERS)                              \
+		    ply-device-manager.c                                      \
 		    ply-keyboard.c                                           \
 		    ply-pixel-display.c                                      \
 		    ply-text-display.c                                       \
diff --git a/src/libply-splash-core/ply-device-manager.c b/src/libply-splash-core/ply-device-manager.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f53c0446
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libply-splash-core/ply-device-manager.c
@@ -0,0 +1,468 @@
+/* ply-device-manager.c - device manager
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 Red Hat, Inc.
+ *
+ * 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, 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., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA
+ * 02111-1307, USA.
+ */
+#include "config.h"
+#include "ply-device-manager.h"
+
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <fcntl.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#include <sys/types.h>
+
+#include "ply-logger.h"
+#include "ply-event-loop.h"
+#include "ply-hashtable.h"
+#include "ply-list.h"
+#include "ply-utils.h"
+
+struct _ply_device_manager
+{
+  ply_device_manager_flags_t  flags;
+  ply_event_loop_t           *loop;
+  ply_hashtable_t            *terminals;
+  ply_terminal_t             *local_console_terminal;
+  ply_list_t                 *seats;
+
+  ply_seat_added_handler_t    seat_added_handler;
+  ply_seat_removed_handler_t  seat_removed_handler;
+  void                       *seat_event_handler_data;
+};
+
+static void
+detach_from_event_loop (ply_device_manager_t *manager)
+{
+  assert (manager != NULL);
+
+  manager->loop = NULL;
+}
+
+static void
+attach_to_event_loop (ply_device_manager_t *manager,
+                      ply_event_loop_t     *loop)
+{
+  assert (manager != NULL);
+  assert (loop != NULL);
+  assert (manager->loop == NULL);
+
+  manager->loop = loop;
+
+  ply_event_loop_watch_for_exit (loop, (ply_event_loop_exit_handler_t)
+                                 detach_from_event_loop,
+                                 manager);
+}
+
+static void
+free_seats (ply_device_manager_t *manager)
+{
+  ply_list_node_t *node;
+
+  ply_trace ("removing seats");
+  node = ply_list_get_first_node (manager->seats);
+  while (node != NULL)
+    {
+      ply_seat_t *seat;
+      ply_list_node_t *next_node;
+
+      seat = ply_list_node_get_data (node);
+      next_node = ply_list_get_next_node (manager->seats, node);
+
+      if (manager->seat_removed_handler != NULL)
+        manager->seat_removed_handler (manager->seat_event_handler_data, seat);
+
+      ply_seat_free (seat);
+      ply_list_remove_node (manager->seats, node);
+
+      node = next_node;
+    }
+}
+
+static void
+free_terminal (char                 *device,
+               ply_terminal_t       *terminal,
+               ply_device_manager_t *manager)
+{
+  ply_hashtable_remove (manager->terminals, device);
+
+  ply_terminal_close (terminal);
+  ply_terminal_free (terminal);
+}
+
+static void
+free_terminals (ply_device_manager_t *manager)
+{
+  ply_hashtable_foreach (manager->terminals,
+                         (ply_hashtable_foreach_func_t *)
+                         free_terminal,
+                         manager);
+}
+
+static ply_terminal_t *
+get_terminal (ply_device_manager_t *manager,
+              const char           *device_name)
+{
+  char *full_name = NULL;
+  ply_terminal_t *terminal;
+
+  if (strncmp (device_name, "/dev/", strlen ("/dev/")) == 0)
+    full_name = strdup (device_name);
+  else
+    asprintf (&full_name, "/dev/%s", device_name);
+
+  if (strcmp (full_name, "/dev/tty0") == 0 ||
+      strcmp (full_name, "/dev/tty") == 0)
+    {
+      terminal = manager->local_console_terminal;
+      goto done;
+    }
+
+  terminal = ply_hashtable_lookup (manager->terminals, full_name);
+
+  if (terminal == NULL)
+    {
+      terminal = ply_terminal_new (full_name);
+
+      ply_hashtable_insert (manager->terminals,
+                            (void *) ply_terminal_get_name (terminal),
+                            terminal);
+    }
+
+done:
+  free (full_name);
+  return terminal;
+}
+
+ply_device_manager_t *
+ply_device_manager_new (const char                 *default_tty,
+                        ply_device_manager_flags_t  flags)
+{
+  ply_device_manager_t *manager;
+
+  manager = calloc (1, sizeof (ply_device_manager_t));
+  manager->loop = NULL;
+  manager->terminals = ply_hashtable_new (ply_hashtable_string_hash, ply_hashtable_string_compare);
+  manager->local_console_terminal = ply_terminal_new (default_tty);
+  ply_hashtable_insert (manager->terminals,
+                        (void *) ply_terminal_get_name (manager->local_console_terminal),
+                        manager->local_console_terminal);
+  manager->seats = ply_list_new ();
+  manager->flags = flags;
+
+  attach_to_event_loop (manager, ply_event_loop_get_default ());
+
+  return manager;
+}
+
+void
+ply_device_manager_free (ply_device_manager_t *manager)
+{
+  ply_trace ("freeing device manager");
+
+  if (manager == NULL)
+    return;
+
+  free_seats (manager);
+  ply_list_free (manager->seats);
+
+  free_terminals (manager);
+  ply_hashtable_free (manager->terminals);
+
+  free (manager);
+}
+
+static int
+add_consoles_from_file (ply_device_manager_t *manager,
+                        const char           *path)
+{
+  int fd;
+  char contents[512] = "";
+  ssize_t contents_length;
+  int num_consoles;
+  const char *remaining_file_contents;
+
+  ply_trace ("opening %s", path);
+  fd = open (path, O_RDONLY);
+
+  if (fd < 0)
+    {
+      ply_trace ("couldn't open it: %m");
+      return 0;
+    }
+
+  ply_trace ("reading file");
+  contents_length = read (fd, contents, sizeof (contents) - 1);
+
+  if (contents_length <= 0)
+    {
+      ply_trace ("couldn't read it: %m");
+      close (fd);
+      return 0;
+    }
+  close (fd);
+
+  remaining_file_contents = contents;
+  num_consoles = 0;
+
+  while (remaining_file_contents < contents + contents_length)
+    {
+      char *console;
+      size_t console_length;
+      const char *console_device;
+      ply_terminal_t *terminal;
+
+      /* Advance past any leading whitespace */
+      remaining_file_contents += strspn (remaining_file_contents, " \n\t\v");
+
+      if (*remaining_file_contents == '\0')
+        {
+          /* There's nothing left after the whitespace, we're done */
+          break;
+        }
+
+      /* Find trailing whitespace and NUL terminate.  If strcspn
+       * doesn't find whitespace, it gives us the length of the string
+       * until the next NUL byte, which we'll just overwrite with
+       * another NUL byte anyway. */
+      console_length = strcspn (remaining_file_contents, " \n\t\v");
+      console = strndup (remaining_file_contents, console_length);
+
+      terminal = get_terminal (manager, console);
+      console_device = ply_terminal_get_name (terminal);
+
+      free (console);
+
+      ply_trace ("console %s found!", console_device);
+      num_consoles++;
+
+      /* Move past the parsed console string, and the whitespace we
+       * may have found above.  If we found a NUL above and not whitespace,
+       * then we're going to jump past the end of the buffer and the loop
+       * will terminate
+       */
+      remaining_file_contents += console_length + 1;
+    }
+
+  return num_consoles;
+}
+
+static void
+create_seat_for_terminal_and_renderer_type (ply_device_manager_t *manager,
+                                            const char           *device_path,
+                                            ply_terminal_t       *terminal,
+                                            ply_renderer_type_t   renderer_type)
+{
+  ply_seat_t *seat;
+
+  ply_trace ("creating seat for %s (renderer type: %u) (terminal: %s)",
+             device_path? : "", renderer_type, terminal? ply_terminal_get_name (terminal): "none");
+  seat = ply_seat_new (terminal);
+
+  if (!ply_seat_open (seat, renderer_type, device_path))
+    {
+      ply_trace ("could not create seat");
+      ply_seat_free (seat);
+      return;
+    }
+
+  ply_list_append_data (manager->seats, seat);
+
+  if (manager->seat_added_handler != NULL)
+    manager->seat_added_handler (manager->seat_event_handler_data, seat);
+}
+
+static void
+create_seat_for_terminal (const char           *device_path,
+                          ply_terminal_t       *terminal,
+                          ply_device_manager_t *manager)
+{
+  create_seat_for_terminal_and_renderer_type (manager,
+                                              device_path,
+                                              terminal,
+                                              PLY_RENDERER_TYPE_NONE);
+}
+static void
+create_seats_from_terminals (ply_device_manager_t *manager)
+{
+  int num_consoles;
+
+  ply_trace ("checking for consoles");
+
+  if (manager->flags & PLY_DEVICE_MANAGER_FLAGS_IGNORE_SERIAL_CONSOLES)
+    {
+      num_consoles = 0;
+      ply_trace ("ignoring all consoles but default console because explicitly told to.");
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      num_consoles = add_consoles_from_file (manager, "/sys/class/tty/console/active");
+
+      if (num_consoles == 0)
+        ply_trace ("ignoring all consoles but default console because /sys/class/tty/console/active could not be read");
+    }
+
+  if (num_consoles > 1)
+    {
+      ply_hashtable_foreach (manager->terminals,
+                             (ply_hashtable_foreach_func_t *)
+                             create_seat_for_terminal,
+                             manager);
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      create_seat_for_terminal_and_renderer_type (manager,
+                                                  ply_terminal_get_name (manager->local_console_terminal),
+                                                  manager->local_console_terminal,
+                                                  PLY_RENDERER_TYPE_AUTO);
+    }
+}
+
+void
+ply_device_manager_watch_seats (ply_device_manager_t       *manager,
+                                ply_seat_added_handler_t    seat_added_handler,
+                                ply_seat_removed_handler_t  seat_removed_handler,
+                                void                       *data)
+{
+  manager->seat_added_handler = seat_added_handler;
+  manager->seat_removed_handler = seat_removed_handler;
+  manager->seat_event_handler_data = data;
+
+  create_seats_from_terminals (manager);
+}
+
+bool
+ply_device_manager_has_open_seats (ply_device_manager_t *manager)
+{
+  ply_list_node_t *node;
+
+  node = ply_list_get_first_node (manager->seats);
+  while (node != NULL)
+    {
+      ply_seat_t *seat;
+      ply_list_node_t *next_node;
+
+      seat = ply_list_node_get_data (node);
+      next_node = ply_list_get_next_node (manager->seats, node);
+
+      if (ply_seat_is_open (seat))
+        return true;
+
+      node = next_node;
+    }
+
+  return false;
+}
+
+ply_list_t *
+ply_device_manager_get_seats (ply_device_manager_t *manager)
+{
+  return manager->seats;
+}
+
+ply_terminal_t *
+ply_device_manager_get_default_terminal (ply_device_manager_t *manager)
+{
+  return manager->local_console_terminal;
+}
+
+void
+ply_device_manager_activate_renderers (ply_device_manager_t *manager)
+{
+  ply_list_node_t *node;
+
+  ply_trace ("activating renderers");
+  node = ply_list_get_first_node (manager->seats);
+  while (node != NULL)
+    {
+      ply_seat_t *seat;
+      ply_list_node_t *next_node;
+
+      seat = ply_list_node_get_data (node);
+      next_node = ply_list_get_next_node (manager->seats, node);
+
+      ply_seat_activate_renderer (seat);
+
+      node = next_node;
+    }
+}
+
+void
+ply_device_manager_deactivate_renderers (ply_device_manager_t *manager)
+{
+  ply_list_node_t *node;
+
+  ply_trace ("deactivating renderers");
+  node = ply_list_get_first_node (manager->seats);
+  while (node != NULL)
+    {
+      ply_seat_t *seat;
+      ply_list_node_t *next_node;
+
+      seat = ply_list_node_get_data (node);
+      next_node = ply_list_get_next_node (manager->seats, node);
+
+      ply_seat_deactivate_renderer (seat);
+
+      node = next_node;
+    }
+}
+
+void
+ply_device_manager_activate_keyboards (ply_device_manager_t *manager)
+{
+  ply_list_node_t *node;
+
+  ply_trace ("activating keyboards");
+  node = ply_list_get_first_node (manager->seats);
+  while (node != NULL)
+    {
+      ply_seat_t *seat;
+      ply_list_node_t *next_node;
+
+      seat = ply_list_node_get_data (node);
+      next_node = ply_list_get_next_node (manager->seats, node);
+
+      ply_seat_activate_keyboard (seat);
+
+      node = next_node;
+    }
+}
+
+void
+ply_device_manager_deactivate_keyboards (ply_device_manager_t *manager)
+{
+  ply_list_node_t *node;
+
+  ply_trace ("deactivating keyboards");
+  node = ply_list_get_first_node (manager->seats);
+  while (node != NULL)
+    {
+      ply_seat_t *seat;
+      ply_list_node_t *next_node;
+
+      seat = ply_list_node_get_data (node);
+      next_node = ply_list_get_next_node (manager->seats, node);
+
+      ply_seat_deactivate_keyboard (seat);
+
+      node = next_node;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/libply-splash-core/ply-device-manager.h b/src/libply-splash-core/ply-device-manager.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..28d66750
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libply-splash-core/ply-device-manager.h
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/* ply-device-manager.h - udev monitor
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 Red Hat, Inc.
+ *
+ * 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, 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., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA
+ * 02111-1307, USA.
+ */
+#ifndef PLY_DEVICE_MANAGER_H
+#define PLY_DEVICE_MANAGER_H
+
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include "ply-seat.h"
+
+typedef enum
+{
+  PLY_DEVICE_MANAGER_FLAGS_NONE                   = 0,
+  PLY_DEVICE_MANAGER_FLAGS_IGNORE_SERIAL_CONSOLES = 1 << 0
+} ply_device_manager_flags_t;
+
+typedef struct _ply_device_manager ply_device_manager_t;
+typedef void (* ply_seat_added_handler_t) (void *, ply_seat_t *);
+typedef void (* ply_seat_removed_handler_t) (void *, ply_seat_t *);
+
+#ifndef PLY_HIDE_FUNCTION_DECLARATIONS
+ply_device_manager_t *ply_device_manager_new (const char                 *default_tty,
+                                              ply_device_manager_flags_t  flags);
+void ply_device_manager_watch_seats (ply_device_manager_t *manager,
+                                     ply_seat_added_handler_t seat_added_handler,
+                                     ply_seat_removed_handler_t seat_removed_handler,
+                                     void *data);
+bool ply_device_manager_has_open_seats (ply_device_manager_t *manager);
+ply_list_t *ply_device_manager_get_seats (ply_device_manager_t *manager);
+void ply_device_manager_free (ply_device_manager_t *manager);
+void ply_device_manager_activate_keyboards (ply_device_manager_t *manager);
+void ply_device_manager_deactivate_keyboards (ply_device_manager_t *manager);
+void ply_device_manager_activate_renderers (ply_device_manager_t *manager);
+void ply_device_manager_deactivate_renderers (ply_device_manager_t *manager);
+ply_terminal_t *ply_device_manager_get_default_terminal (ply_device_manager_t *manager);
+
+#endif
+
+#endif
+/* vim: set ts=4 sw=4 expandtab autoindent cindent cino={.5s,(0: */