diff --git a/servers/lloadd/Makefile.in b/servers/lloadd/Makefile.in
index 736e2bbeba..6f34aebf5f 100644
--- a/servers/lloadd/Makefile.in
+++ b/servers/lloadd/Makefile.in
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@ XSRCS	= version.c
 NT_SRCS = nt_svc.c
 NT_OBJS = nt_svc.o ../../libraries/liblutil/slapdmsg.res
 
-SRCS	= main.c globals.c backend.c config.c connection.c client.c daemon.c \
-		ch_malloc.c init.c operation.c user.c sl_malloc.c upstream.c value.c \
-		libevent_support.c \
-		$(@PLAT@_SRCS)
+SRCS	= main.c globals.c backend.c bind.c config.c connection.c client.c \
+		  daemon.c ch_malloc.c init.c operation.c user.c sl_malloc.c \
+		  upstream.c value.c libevent_support.c \
+		  $(@PLAT@_SRCS)
 
 OBJS	= $(patsubst %.c,%.o,$(SRCS)) $(@PLAT@_OBJS)
 
diff --git a/servers/lloadd/backend.c b/servers/lloadd/backend.c
index 895693b72b..534277b2c2 100644
--- a/servers/lloadd/backend.c
+++ b/servers/lloadd/backend.c
@@ -86,12 +86,12 @@ backend_select( Operation *op )
 
         ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &b->b_mutex );
         c = b->b_conns;
-        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_mutex );
+        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_io_mutex );
         if ( c->c_state == SLAP_C_READY && !c->c_pendingber ) {
             ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &b->b_mutex );
             return b->b_conns;
         }
-        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_io_mutex );
         ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &b->b_mutex );
     }
 
diff --git a/servers/lloadd/bind.c b/servers/lloadd/bind.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c0061f9f40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/servers/lloadd/bind.c
@@ -0,0 +1,275 @@
+/* $OpenLDAP$ */
+/* This work is part of OpenLDAP Software <http://www.openldap.org/>.
+ *
+ * Copyright 1998-2020 The OpenLDAP Foundation.
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted only as authorized by the OpenLDAP
+ * Public License.
+ *
+ * A copy of this license is available in the file LICENSE in the
+ * top-level directory of the distribution or, alternatively, at
+ * <http://www.OpenLDAP.org/license.html>.
+ */
+
+#include "portable.h"
+
+#include <ac/socket.h>
+#include <ac/errno.h>
+#include <ac/string.h>
+#include <ac/time.h>
+#include <ac/unistd.h>
+
+#include "lutil.h"
+#include "slap.h"
+
+static int
+request_bind( Operation *op )
+{
+    Connection *c = op->o_upstream;
+    BerElement *ber, *copy = NULL;
+    BerValue binddn;
+    ber_tag_t tag;
+    ber_int_t version;
+
+    ber = c->c_pendingber;
+    if ( ber == NULL && (ber = ber_alloc()) == NULL ) {
+        Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY, "request_bind: "
+                "ber_alloc failed\n" );
+        goto fail;
+    }
+    c->c_pendingber = ber;
+
+    if ( (copy = ber_alloc()) == NULL ) {
+        goto fail;
+    }
+    ber_init2( copy, &op->o_request, 0 );
+
+    tag = ber_get_int( copy, &version );
+    if ( tag == LBER_ERROR ) {
+        goto fail;
+    } else if ( version != LDAP_VERSION3 ) {
+        /* TODO: result code and message */
+        operation_send_reject(
+                op, LDAP_PROTOCOL_ERROR, "LDAP version unsupported" );
+        ber_free( copy, 0 );
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    tag = ber_get_stringbv( copy, &binddn, LBER_BV_NOTERM );
+    if ( tag == LBER_ERROR ) {
+        goto fail;
+    }
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_mutex );
+    if ( !BER_BVISNULL( &c->c_auth ) ) {
+        ber_memfree( c->c_auth.bv_val );
+    }
+
+    if ( !BER_BVISEMPTY( &binddn ) ) {
+        char *ptr;
+        c->c_auth.bv_len = STRLENOF("dn:") + binddn.bv_len;
+        c->c_auth.bv_val = ch_malloc( c->c_auth.bv_len + 1 );
+
+        ptr = lutil_strcopy( c->c_auth.bv_val, "dn:" );
+        ptr = lutil_strncopy( ptr, binddn.bv_val, binddn.bv_len );
+        *ptr = '\0';
+    } else {
+        BER_BVZERO( &c->c_auth );
+    }
+
+    op->o_upstream_msgid = c->c_next_msgid++;
+
+    ber_printf( ber, "t{titOtO}", LDAP_TAG_MESSAGE,
+            LDAP_TAG_MSGID, op->o_upstream_msgid,
+            LDAP_REQ_BIND, &op->o_request,
+            LDAP_TAG_CONTROLS, BER_BV_OPTIONAL( &op->o_ctrls ) );
+
+    if ( tavl_insert( &c->c_ops, op, operation_upstream_cmp, avl_dup_error ) ) {
+        assert(0);
+    }
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+
+    ber_free( copy, 0 );
+    upstream_write_cb( -1, 0, c );
+    return 0;
+
+fail:
+    if ( copy ) {
+        ber_free( copy, 0 );
+    }
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &op->o_client->c_mutex );
+    client_destroy( op->o_client );
+    return 1;
+}
+
+static int
+request_bind_as_vc( Operation *op )
+{
+    Connection *c = op->o_upstream;
+    BerElement *ber, *request, *copy = NULL;
+    BerValue binddn, auth, mech;
+    ber_int_t version;
+    ber_tag_t tag;
+    ber_len_t len;
+
+    if ( (request = ber_alloc()) == NULL ) {
+        goto fail;
+    }
+    ber_init2( request, &op->o_request, 0 );
+
+    tag = ber_scanf( request, "im", &version, &binddn );
+    if ( tag == LBER_ERROR || version != LDAP_VERSION3 ) {
+        goto fail;
+    }
+
+    copy = ber_dup( request );
+    if ( !copy ) {
+        goto fail;
+    }
+
+    tag = ber_skip_element( request, &auth );
+    if ( tag == LBER_ERROR ) {
+        goto fail;
+    }
+
+    ber = c->c_pendingber;
+    if ( ber == NULL && (ber = ber_alloc()) == NULL ) {
+        Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY, "request_bind_as_vc: "
+                "ber_alloc failed\n" );
+        goto fail;
+    }
+    c->c_pendingber = ber;
+
+    op->o_upstream_msgid = c->c_next_msgid++;
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_mutex );
+    ber_printf( ber, "t{tit{tst{{tOOtOtO}}}}", LDAP_TAG_MESSAGE,
+            LDAP_TAG_MSGID, op->o_upstream_msgid,
+            LDAP_REQ_EXTENDED,
+            LDAP_TAG_EXOP_REQ_OID, LDAP_EXOP_VERIFY_CREDENTIALS,
+            LDAP_TAG_EXOP_REQ_VALUE,
+            LDAP_TAG_EXOP_VERIFY_CREDENTIALS_COOKIE, BER_BV_OPTIONAL( &c->c_vc_cookie ),
+            &binddn, tag, &auth,
+            LDAP_TAG_EXOP_VERIFY_CREDENTIALS_CONTROLS, BER_BV_OPTIONAL( &op->o_ctrls ) );
+
+    tag = ber_peek_tag( copy, &len );
+    switch ( tag ) {
+        case LDAP_AUTH_SASL:
+            ber_get_stringbv( copy, &mech, LBER_BV_NOTERM );
+            if ( ber_bvcmp( &mech, &c->c_sasl_bind_mech ) ) {
+                ber_memfree( c->c_sasl_bind_mech.bv_val );
+                ber_dupbv( &c->c_sasl_bind_mech, &mech );
+            }
+            /* TODO: extract authzdn from the message */
+            break;
+        case LDAP_AUTH_SIMPLE:
+            if ( !BER_BVISNULL( &c->c_auth ) ) {
+                ber_memfree( c->c_auth.bv_val );
+            }
+            ber_dupbv( &c->c_auth, &binddn );
+            if ( !BER_BVISNULL( &c->c_sasl_bind_mech ) ) {
+                ber_memfree( c->c_sasl_bind_mech.bv_val );
+                BER_BVZERO( &c->c_sasl_bind_mech );
+            }
+            break;
+        default:
+            ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+            goto fail;
+    }
+    if ( tavl_insert( &c->c_ops, op, operation_upstream_cmp, avl_dup_error ) ) {
+        assert(0);
+    }
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+
+    ber_free( copy, 0 );
+    upstream_write_cb( -1, 0, c );
+    return 0;
+
+fail:
+    if ( copy ) {
+        ber_free( copy, 0 );
+    }
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &op->o_client->c_mutex );
+    client_destroy( op->o_client );
+    return 1;
+}
+
+void *
+client_reset( void *ctx, void *arg )
+{
+    Operation *op = arg;
+    Connection *c = op->o_client;
+    TAvlnode *root;
+    int freed, destroy = 1;
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_mutex );
+    root = c->c_ops;
+    c->c_ops = NULL;
+    c->c_state = SLAP_C_CLOSING;
+    if ( op->o_tag == LDAP_REQ_BIND ) {
+        c->c_state = SLAP_C_BINDING;
+        destroy = 0;
+    }
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+
+    tavl_delete( &root, op, operation_client_cmp );
+    freed = tavl_free( root, (AVL_FREE)operation_abandon );
+
+    Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE, "client_reset: "
+            "dropped %d operations\n",
+            freed );
+
+    if ( destroy ) {
+        operation_destroy( op );
+        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_mutex );
+        client_destroy( c );
+    }
+
+    return NULL;
+}
+
+void *
+client_bind( void *ctx, void *arg )
+{
+    Operation *op = arg;
+    Connection *upstream, *client = op->o_client;
+    int rc = 0;
+
+    client_reset( ctx, arg );
+
+    upstream = backend_select( op );
+    if ( !upstream ) {
+        Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_STATS, "client_bind: "
+                "no available connection found\n" );
+        operation_send_reject(
+                op, LDAP_UNAVAILABLE, "no connections available" );
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    op->o_upstream = upstream;
+    if ( upstream->c_features & SLAP_C_VC ) {
+        rc = request_bind_as_vc( op );
+    } else {
+        rc = request_bind( op );
+    }
+
+    if ( rc ) {
+        /* client doesn't exist anymore */
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &client->c_mutex );
+    rc = tavl_insert( &client->c_ops, op, operation_client_cmp, avl_dup_error );
+    assert( rc == LDAP_SUCCESS );
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &client->c_mutex );
+
+    return NULL;
+}
diff --git a/servers/lloadd/client.c b/servers/lloadd/client.c
index 7c4b1eccb3..1a3565916b 100644
--- a/servers/lloadd/client.c
+++ b/servers/lloadd/client.c
@@ -24,16 +24,15 @@
 #include "lutil.h"
 #include "slap.h"
 
-static void client_destroy( Connection *c );
-
 static void
 client_read_cb( evutil_socket_t s, short what, void *arg )
 {
     Connection *c = arg;
     BerElement *ber;
-    Operation *op;
+    Operation *op = NULL;
     ber_tag_t tag;
     ber_len_t len;
+    int rc = 0;
 
     ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_mutex );
     Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONNS, "client_read_cb: "
@@ -71,26 +70,47 @@ client_read_cb( evutil_socket_t s, short what, void *arg )
     if ( !op ) {
         Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY, "client_read_cb: "
                 "operation_init failed\n" );
-        goto fail;
-    }
-
-    if ( ldap_pvt_thread_pool_submit(
-                 &connection_pool, operation_process, op ) ) {
-        /* what could have happened? */
-        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
-        operation_destroy( op );
-        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_mutex );
-        goto fail;
-    }
-
-    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
-    return;
-fail:
-    client_destroy( c );
-
-    if ( ber ) {
         ber_free( ber, 1 );
+        goto fail;
     }
+
+    switch ( op->o_tag ) {
+        case LDAP_REQ_UNBIND:
+            /* We do not expect anything more from the client */
+            event_del( c->c_read_event );
+
+            rc = ldap_pvt_thread_pool_submit(
+                    &connection_pool, client_reset, op );
+            if ( rc ) {
+                tavl_delete( &c->c_ops, op, operation_client_cmp );
+                operation_destroy( op );
+                client_destroy( c );
+                return;
+            }
+            break;
+        case LDAP_REQ_BIND:
+            rc = ldap_pvt_thread_pool_submit(
+                    &connection_pool, client_bind, op );
+            break;
+        default:
+            rc = ldap_pvt_thread_pool_submit(
+                    &connection_pool, request_process, op );
+            break;
+    }
+
+    if ( !rc ) {
+        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+        return;
+    }
+
+fail:
+    if ( op ) {
+        tavl_delete( &c->c_ops, op, operation_client_cmp );
+        op->o_client = NULL;
+        operation_destroy( op );
+    }
+
+    client_destroy( c );
     return;
 }
 
@@ -171,12 +191,14 @@ fail:
     return NULL;
 }
 
-static void
+void
 client_destroy( Connection *c )
 {
+    assert( c->c_read_event != NULL );
     event_del( c->c_read_event );
     event_free( c->c_read_event );
 
+    assert( c->c_write_event != NULL );
     event_del( c->c_write_event );
     event_free( c->c_write_event );
 
diff --git a/servers/lloadd/operation.c b/servers/lloadd/operation.c
index 4b881ad545..0502531042 100644
--- a/servers/lloadd/operation.c
+++ b/servers/lloadd/operation.c
@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@ operation_destroy( Operation *op )
 {
     Connection *c;
 
+    ber_free( op->o_ber, 1 );
+
     /* TODO: this is a stopgap and there are many races here, just get
      * something in to test with until we implement the freelist */
     if ( op->o_client ) {
@@ -137,6 +139,7 @@ operation_init( Connection *c, BerElement *ber )
 
     op = ch_calloc( 1, sizeof(Operation) );
     op->o_client = c;
+    op->o_ber = ber;
 
     tag = ber_get_int( ber, &op->o_client_msgid );
     if ( tag != LDAP_TAG_MSGID ) {
@@ -179,8 +182,97 @@ fail:
     return NULL;
 }
 
+void
+operation_abandon( Operation *op )
+{
+    int rc;
+
+    if ( op->o_upstream ) {
+        Connection *c = op->o_upstream;
+        BerElement *ber;
+
+        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_mutex );
+        rc = ( tavl_delete( &c->c_ops, op, operation_upstream_cmp ) == NULL );
+        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+
+        if ( rc ) {
+            /* The operation has already been abandoned or finished */
+            goto done;
+        }
+
+        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+
+        ber = c->c_pendingber;
+        if ( ber == NULL && (ber = ber_alloc()) == NULL ) {
+            Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY, "operation_abandon: "
+                    "ber_alloc failed\n" );
+            ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+            return;
+        }
+        c->c_pendingber = ber;
+
+        rc = ber_printf( ber, "t{titi}", LDAP_TAG_MESSAGE,
+                LDAP_TAG_MSGID, c->c_next_msgid++,
+                LDAP_REQ_ABANDON, op->o_upstream_msgid );
+
+        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+
+        if ( rc == -1 ) {
+            ber_free( ber, 1 );
+            return;
+        }
+        upstream_write_cb( -1, 0, c );
+    }
+
+done:
+    operation_destroy( op );
+}
+
+void
+operation_send_reject( Operation *op, int result, const char *msg )
+{
+    Connection *c = op->o_client;
+    BerElement *ber;
+    int found;
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_mutex );
+    found = ( tavl_delete( &c->c_ops, op, operation_client_cmp ) == op );
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+
+    if ( !found ) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+
+    ber = c->c_pendingber;
+    if ( ber == NULL && (ber = ber_alloc()) == NULL ) {
+        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+        client_destroy( c );
+        return;
+    }
+    c->c_pendingber = ber;
+
+    ber_printf( ber, "t{tit{ess}}", LDAP_TAG_MESSAGE,
+            LDAP_TAG_MSGID, op->o_client_msgid,
+            slap_req2res( op->o_tag ), result, "", msg );
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+
+    client_write_cb( -1, 0, c );
+
+    operation_destroy( op );
+}
+
+void
+operation_lost_upstream( Operation *op )
+{
+    operation_send_reject( op, LDAP_UNAVAILABLE,
+            "connection to the remote server has been severed" );
+}
+
 void *
-operation_process( void *ctx, void *arg )
+request_process( void *ctx, void *arg )
 {
     Operation *op = arg;
     BerElement *output;
@@ -190,33 +282,34 @@ operation_process( void *ctx, void *arg )
 
     c = backend_select( op );
     if ( !c ) {
-        Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_STATS, "operation_process: "
+        Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_STATS, "request_process: "
                 "no available connection found\n" );
         goto fail;
     }
     op->o_upstream = c;
 
-    c->c_pendingber = output = ber_alloc();
-    if ( !output ) {
+    output = c->c_pendingber;
+    if ( output == NULL && (output = ber_alloc()) == NULL ) {
         goto fail;
     }
+    c->c_pendingber = output;
 
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_mutex );
     op->o_upstream_msgid = msgid = c->c_next_msgid++;
     rc = tavl_insert( &c->c_ops, op, operation_upstream_cmp, avl_dup_error );
     assert( rc == LDAP_SUCCESS );
-
-    ber_start_seq( output, LDAP_TAG_MESSAGE );
-    ber_put_int( output, msgid, LDAP_TAG_MSGID );
-    ber_put_berval( output, &op->o_request, op->o_tag );
-    if ( !BER_BVISNULL( &op->o_ctrls ) ) {
-        ber_put_berval( output, &op->o_ctrls, LDAP_TAG_CONTROLS );
-    }
-    ber_put_seq( output );
-
     ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+
+    ber_printf( output, "t{titOtO}", LDAP_TAG_MESSAGE,
+            LDAP_TAG_MSGID, msgid,
+            op->o_tag, &op->o_request,
+            LDAP_TAG_CONTROLS, BER_BV_OPTIONAL( &op->o_ctrls ) );
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+
     upstream_write_cb( -1, 0, c );
 
     return NULL;
 fail:
+    operation_send_reject( op, LDAP_OTHER, "internal error" );
     return NULL;
 }
diff --git a/servers/lloadd/proto-slap.h b/servers/lloadd/proto-slap.h
index 93bd8be1d7..4643f00900 100644
--- a/servers/lloadd/proto-slap.h
+++ b/servers/lloadd/proto-slap.h
@@ -58,11 +58,18 @@ LDAP_SLAPD_F (void) ch_free( void * );
 #define free ch_free
 #endif
 
+/*
+ * bind.c
+ */
+LDAP_SLAPD_F (void *) client_reset( void *ctx, void *arg );
+LDAP_SLAPD_F (void *) client_bind( void *ctx, void *arg );
+
 /*
  * client.c
  */
 LDAP_SLAPD_F (Connection *) client_init( ber_socket_t s, Listener *url, const char *peername, struct event_base *base, int use_tls );
 LDAP_SLAPD_F (void) client_write_cb( evutil_socket_t s, short what, void *arg );
+LDAP_SLAPD_F (void) client_destroy( Connection *c );
 
 /*
  * config.c
@@ -139,9 +146,12 @@ LDAP_SLAPD_V (const char *) slapd_slp_attrs;
 LDAP_SLAPD_F (const char *) slap_msgtype2str( ber_tag_t tag );
 LDAP_SLAPD_F (int) operation_upstream_cmp( const void *l, const void *r );
 LDAP_SLAPD_F (int) operation_client_cmp( const void *l, const void *r );
-LDAP_SLAPD_F (void *) operation_process( void *ctx, void *arg );
 LDAP_SLAPD_F (Operation *) operation_init( Connection *c, BerElement *ber );
+LDAP_SLAPD_F (void) operation_abandon( Operation *op );
+LDAP_SLAPD_F (void) operation_send_reject( Operation *op, int result, const char *msg );
+LDAP_SLAPD_F (void) operation_lost_upstream( Operation *op );
 LDAP_SLAPD_F (void) operation_destroy( Operation *op );
+LDAP_SLAPD_F (void *) request_process( void *ctx, void *arg );
 
 /*
  * sl_malloc.c
@@ -168,6 +178,7 @@ LDAP_SLAPD_F (void *) slap_sl_context( void *ptr );
 LDAP_SLAPD_F (void) upstream_write_cb( evutil_socket_t s, short what, void *arg );
 LDAP_SLAPD_F (void) upstream_read_cb( evutil_socket_t s, short what, void *arg );
 LDAP_SLAPD_F (Connection *) upstream_init( ber_socket_t s, Backend *b );
+LDAP_SLAPD_F (void) upstream_destroy( Connection *c );
 
 /*
  * user.c
diff --git a/servers/lloadd/slap.h b/servers/lloadd/slap.h
index b9181392e4..01250e5c3b 100644
--- a/servers/lloadd/slap.h
+++ b/servers/lloadd/slap.h
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@ enum lload_tls_type {
     LLOAD_STARTTLS,
 };
 
+/* Can hold mutex when locking a linked connection */
 struct Backend {
     struct slap_bindconf b_bindconf;
     ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_t b_mutex;
@@ -247,6 +248,8 @@ struct Backend {
     LDAP_STAILQ_ENTRY(Backend) b_next;
 };
 
+typedef int (*OperationHandler)( Operation *op, BerElement *ber );
+
 /* connection state (protected by c_mutex) */
 enum sc_state {
     SLAP_C_INVALID = 0, /* MUST BE ZERO (0) */
@@ -276,8 +279,16 @@ struct Connection {
     struct event *c_read_event, *c_write_event;
 
     /* can only be changed by binding thread */
-    struct berval c_sasl_bind_mech; /* mech in progress */
+    int c_features;
+#define SLAP_C_VC 1
 
+    struct berval c_sasl_bind_mech; /* mech in progress */
+    struct berval c_auth;           /* authcDN (possibly in progress) */
+
+    struct berval c_vc_cookie;
+
+    /* Can be held while acquiring c_mutex to inject things into c_ops or
+     * destroy the connection */
     ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_t c_io_mutex; /* only one pdu written at a time */
 
     BerElement *c_currentber; /* ber we're attempting to read */
diff --git a/servers/lloadd/upstream.c b/servers/lloadd/upstream.c
index 7d7de4f080..f376d92012 100644
--- a/servers/lloadd/upstream.c
+++ b/servers/lloadd/upstream.c
@@ -24,17 +24,441 @@
 #include "lutil.h"
 #include "slap.h"
 
-static void upstream_destroy( Connection *c );
+static int
+forward_response( Operation *op, BerElement *ber )
+{
+    Connection *c = op->o_client;
+    BerElement *output;
+    BerValue response, controls = BER_BVNULL;
+    ber_tag_t tag, response_tag;
+    ber_len_t len;
 
+    response_tag = ber_skip_element( ber, &response );
+
+    tag = ber_peek_tag( ber, &len );
+    if ( tag == LDAP_TAG_CONTROLS ) {
+        ber_skip_element( ber, &controls );
+    }
+
+    Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONNS, "forward_response: "
+            "%s to client %lu request #%d\n",
+            slap_msgtype2str( response_tag ), c->c_connid, op->o_client_msgid );
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+    output = c->c_pendingber;
+    if ( output == NULL && (output = ber_alloc()) == NULL ) {
+        ber_free( ber, 1 );
+        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+        return -1;
+    }
+    c->c_pendingber = output;
+
+    ber_printf( output, "t{titOtO}", LDAP_TAG_MESSAGE,
+            LDAP_TAG_MSGID, op->o_client_msgid,
+            response_tag, &response,
+            LDAP_TAG_CONTROLS, BER_BV_OPTIONAL( &controls ) );
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+
+    ber_free( ber, 1 );
+    client_write_cb( -1, 0, c );
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+forward_final_response( Operation *op, BerElement *ber )
+{
+    int rc;
+
+    Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONNS, "forward_final_response: "
+            "finishing up with request #%d for client %lu\n",
+            op->o_client_msgid, op->o_client->c_connid );
+    rc = forward_response( op, ber );
+    operation_destroy( op );
+
+    return rc;
+}
+
+static int
+handle_bind_response( Operation *op, BerElement *ber )
+{
+    Connection *c = op->o_client;
+    BerElement *copy;
+    ber_int_t msgid, result;
+    ber_tag_t tag;
+    int rc = 0;
+
+    copy = ber_dup( ber );
+    if ( !copy ) {
+        rc = -1;
+        goto done;
+    }
+
+    tag = ber_scanf( copy, "{i{e" /* "}}" */, &msgid, &result );
+    ber_free( copy, 0 );
+
+    if ( tag == LBER_ERROR ) {
+        rc = -1;
+        goto done;
+    }
+
+    Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONNS, "handle_bind_response: "
+            "received response for bind request by client %lu, result=%d\n",
+            c->c_connid, result );
+
+    switch ( result ) {
+        case LDAP_SASL_BIND_IN_PROGRESS:
+            break;
+        case LDAP_SUCCESS:
+        default: {
+            ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_mutex );
+            c->c_state = SLAP_C_READY;
+            if ( result != LDAP_SUCCESS ) {
+                ber_memfree( c->c_auth.bv_val );
+                BER_BVZERO( &c->c_auth );
+            }
+            if ( !BER_BVISNULL( &c->c_sasl_bind_mech ) ) {
+                ber_memfree( c->c_sasl_bind_mech.bv_val );
+                BER_BVZERO( &c->c_sasl_bind_mech );
+            }
+            ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+
+done:
+    if ( rc ) {
+        operation_destroy( op );
+        ber_free( ber, 1 );
+        return rc;
+    }
+    return forward_final_response( op, ber );
+}
+
+static int
+handle_vc_bind_response( Operation *op, BerElement *ber )
+{
+    Connection *c = op->o_client;
+    BerElement *output;
+    BerValue matched, diagmsg, creds = BER_BVNULL, controls = BER_BVNULL;
+    ber_int_t result;
+    ber_tag_t tag;
+    ber_len_t len;
+    int rc = 0;
+
+    tag = ber_scanf( ber, "{emm" /* "}" */,
+            &result, &matched, &diagmsg );
+    if ( tag == LBER_ERROR ) {
+        rc = -1;
+        goto done;
+    }
+
+    tag = ber_peek_tag( ber, &len );
+    if ( result == LDAP_PROTOCOL_ERROR ) {
+        Backend *b = op->o_upstream->c_private;
+        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &op->o_upstream->c_mutex );
+        Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY, "VC extended operation not supported on backend %s\n",
+                b->b_bindconf.sb_uri.bv_val );
+        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &op->o_upstream->c_mutex );
+    }
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_mutex );
+
+    Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONNS, "handle_vc_bind_response: "
+            "received response for bind request by client %lu, result=%d\n",
+            c->c_connid, result );
+
+    if ( tag == LDAP_TAG_EXOP_VERIFY_CREDENTIALS_COOKIE ) {
+        if ( !BER_BVISNULL( &c->c_vc_cookie ) ) {
+            ber_memfree( c->c_vc_cookie.bv_val );
+        }
+        tag = ber_scanf( ber, "o", &c->c_vc_cookie );
+        if ( tag == LBER_ERROR ) {
+            rc = -1;
+            ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+            goto done;
+        }
+        tag = ber_peek_tag( ber, &len );
+    }
+
+    if ( tag == LDAP_TAG_EXOP_VERIFY_CREDENTIALS_SCREDS ) {
+        tag = ber_scanf( ber, "m", &creds );
+        if ( tag == LBER_ERROR ) {
+            rc = -1;
+            ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+            goto done;
+        }
+        tag = ber_peek_tag( ber, &len );
+    }
+
+    if ( tag == LDAP_TAG_EXOP_VERIFY_CREDENTIALS_CONTROLS ) {
+        tag = ber_scanf( ber, "m", &controls );
+        if ( tag == LBER_ERROR ) {
+            rc = -1;
+            ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+            goto done;
+        }
+    }
+
+    switch ( result ) {
+        case LDAP_SASL_BIND_IN_PROGRESS:
+            break;
+        case LDAP_SUCCESS:
+        default: {
+            c->c_state = SLAP_C_READY;
+            if ( result != LDAP_SUCCESS ) {
+                ber_memfree( c->c_auth.bv_val );
+                BER_BVZERO( &c->c_auth );
+            }
+            if ( !BER_BVISNULL( &c->c_vc_cookie ) ) {
+                ber_memfree( c->c_vc_cookie.bv_val );
+                BER_BVZERO( &c->c_vc_cookie );
+            }
+            if ( !BER_BVISNULL( &c->c_sasl_bind_mech ) ) {
+                ber_memfree( c->c_sasl_bind_mech.bv_val );
+                BER_BVZERO( &c->c_sasl_bind_mech );
+            }
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+    output = c->c_pendingber;
+    if ( output == NULL && (output = ber_alloc()) == NULL ) {
+        rc = -1;
+        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+        goto done;
+    }
+    c->c_pendingber = output;
+
+    rc = ber_printf( output, "t{tit{eOOtO}tO}", LDAP_TAG_MESSAGE,
+            LDAP_TAG_MSGID, op->o_client_msgid, LDAP_RES_BIND,
+            result, &matched, &diagmsg,
+            LDAP_TAG_SASL_RES_CREDS, BER_BV_OPTIONAL( &creds ),
+            LDAP_TAG_CONTROLS, BER_BV_OPTIONAL( &controls ) );
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_io_mutex );
+    if ( rc >= 0 ) {
+        client_write_cb( -1, 0, c );
+        rc = 0;
+    }
+
+done:
+    operation_destroy( op );
+    ber_free( ber, 1 );
+    return rc;
+}
+
+static int
+handle_unsolicited( Connection *c, BerElement *ber )
+{
+    TAvlnode *root;
+    int freed;
+
+    Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONNS, "handle_unsolicited: "
+            "teardown for upstream connection %lu\n",
+            c->c_connid );
+
+    root = c->c_ops;
+    c->c_ops = NULL;
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+
+    freed = tavl_free( root, (AVL_FREE)operation_lost_upstream );
+    Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE, "handle_unsolicited: "
+            "dropped %d operations\n",
+            freed );
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_mutex );
+    upstream_destroy( c );
+    ber_free( ber, 1 );
+
+    return -1;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Pull c->c_currentber from the connection and try to look up the operation on
+ * the upstream.
+ *
+ * If it's a notice of disconnection, we won't find it and need to tear down
+ * the connection and tell the clients, if we can't find the operation, ignore
+ * the message (either client already disconnected/abandoned it or the upstream
+ * is pulling our leg).
+ *
+ * Some responses need special handling:
+ * - Bind response
+ * - VC response where the client requested a Bind (both need to update the
+ *   client's bind status)
+ * - search entries/referrals and intermediate responses (will not trigger
+ *   operation to be removed)
+ *
+ * If the worker pool is overloaded, we might be called directly from
+ * upstream_read_cb, at that point, the connection hasn't been muted.
+ *
+ * TODO: when the client already has data pending on write, we should mute the
+ * upstream.
+ * - should record the BerElement on the Op and the Op on the client
+ */
+static int
+handle_one_response( Connection *c )
+{
+    BerElement *ber;
+    Operation *op = NULL, needle = { .o_upstream = c };
+    OperationHandler handler = NULL;
+    ber_tag_t tag;
+    ber_len_t len;
+    int rc = 0;
+
+    ber = c->c_currentber;
+    c->c_currentber = NULL;
+
+    tag = ber_get_int( ber, &needle.o_upstream_msgid );
+    if ( tag != LDAP_TAG_MSGID ) {
+        rc = -1;
+        ber_free( ber, 1 );
+        goto fail;
+    }
+
+    if ( needle.o_upstream_msgid == 0 ) {
+        return handle_unsolicited( c, ber );
+    } else if ( !( op = tavl_find(
+                           c->c_ops, &needle, operation_upstream_cmp ) ) ) {
+        /* Already abandoned, do nothing */
+        /*
+    } else if ( op->o_response_pending ) {
+        c->c_pendingop = op;
+        event_del( c->c_read_event );
+    */
+    } else {
+        /*
+        op->o_response_pending = ber;
+        */
+
+        tag = ber_peek_tag( ber, &len );
+        switch ( tag ) {
+            case LDAP_RES_SEARCH_ENTRY:
+            case LDAP_RES_SEARCH_REFERENCE:
+            case LDAP_RES_INTERMEDIATE:
+                handler = forward_response;
+                break;
+            case LDAP_RES_BIND:
+                handler = handle_bind_response;
+                break;
+            case LDAP_RES_EXTENDED:
+                if ( op->o_tag == LDAP_REQ_BIND ) {
+                    handler = handle_vc_bind_response;
+                }
+                break;
+        }
+        if ( !handler ) {
+            handler = forward_final_response;
+        }
+    }
+    if ( op ) {
+        Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE, "handle_one_response: "
+                "upstream=%lu, processing response for client %lu, msgid=%d\n",
+                c->c_connid, op->o_client->c_connid, op->o_client_msgid );
+    } else {
+        tag = ber_peek_tag( ber, &len );
+        Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE, "handle_one_response: "
+                "upstream=%lu, %s, msgid=%d not for a pending operation\n",
+                c->c_connid, slap_msgtype2str( tag ), needle.o_upstream_msgid );
+    }
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+    if ( handler ) {
+        rc = handler( op, ber );
+    }
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_mutex );
+
+fail:
+    if ( rc ) {
+        Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY, "handle_one_response: "
+                "error on processing a response on upstream connection %ld\n",
+                c->c_connid );
+        upstream_destroy( c );
+    }
+    return rc;
+}
+
+/*
+ * We start off with the upstream muted and c_currentber holding the response
+ * we received.
+ *
+ * We run handle_one_response on each response, stopping once we hit an error,
+ * have to wait on reading or process slap_conn_max_pdus_per_cycle responses so
+ * as to maintain fairness and not hog the worker thread forever.
+ *
+ * If we've run out of responses from the upstream or hit the budget, we unmute
+ * the connection and run handle_one_response, it might return an 'error' when
+ * the client is blocked on writing, it's that client's job to wake us again.
+ */
+static void *
+handle_responses( void *ctx, void *arg )
+{
+    Connection *c = arg;
+    int responses_handled = 0;
+
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_mutex );
+    for ( ; responses_handled < slap_conn_max_pdus_per_cycle;
+            responses_handled++ ) {
+        BerElement *ber;
+        ber_tag_t tag;
+        ber_len_t len;
+
+        if ( handle_one_response( c ) ) {
+            /* Error, connection might already have been destroyed */
+            return NULL;
+        }
+        /* Otherwise, handle_one_response leaves the connection locked */
+
+        if ( (ber = ber_alloc()) == NULL ) {
+            Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY, "handle_responses: "
+                    "ber_alloc failed\n" );
+            upstream_destroy( c );
+            return NULL;
+        }
+        c->c_currentber = ber;
+
+        tag = ber_get_next( c->c_sb, &len, ber );
+        if ( tag != LDAP_TAG_MESSAGE ) {
+            int err = sock_errno();
+
+            if ( err != EWOULDBLOCK && err != EAGAIN ) {
+                char ebuf[128];
+                Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY, "handle_responses: "
+                        "ber_get_next on fd %d failed errno=%d (%s)\n",
+                        c->c_fd, err,
+                        sock_errstr( err, ebuf, sizeof(ebuf) ) );
+
+                c->c_currentber = NULL;
+                ber_free( ber, 1 );
+                upstream_destroy( c );
+                return NULL;
+            }
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    event_add( c->c_read_event, NULL );
+    ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
+    return NULL;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Initial read on the upstream connection, if we get an LDAP PDU, submit the
+ * processing of this and successive ones to the work queue.
+ *
+ * If we can't submit it to the queue (overload), process this one and return
+ * to the event loop immediately after.
+ */
 void
 upstream_read_cb( evutil_socket_t s, short what, void *arg )
 {
     Connection *c = arg;
     BerElement *ber;
     ber_tag_t tag;
-    Operation *op, needle = { .o_upstream = c };
     ber_len_t len;
-    int finished = 0;
 
     ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &c->c_mutex );
     Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONNS, "upstream_read_cb: "
@@ -48,6 +472,7 @@ upstream_read_cb( evutil_socket_t s, short what, void *arg )
         ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
         return;
     }
+    c->c_currentber = ber;
 
     tag = ber_get_next( c->c_sb, &len, ber );
     if ( tag != LDAP_TAG_MESSAGE ) {
@@ -60,84 +485,29 @@ upstream_read_cb( evutil_socket_t s, short what, void *arg )
                     c->c_fd, err, sock_errstr( err, ebuf, sizeof(ebuf) ) );
 
             c->c_currentber = NULL;
-            goto fail;
+            ber_free( ber, 1 );
+            upstream_destroy( c );
+            return;
         }
-        c->c_currentber = ber;
+        event_add( c->c_read_event, NULL );
         ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
         return;
     }
 
-    c->c_currentber = NULL;
-
-    tag = ber_get_int( ber, &needle.o_upstream_msgid );
-    if ( tag != LDAP_TAG_MSGID || needle.o_upstream_msgid == 0 ) {
-        goto fail;
-    }
-
-    op = tavl_find( c->c_ops, &needle, operation_upstream_cmp );
-    if ( !op ) {
-        ber_free( ber, 1 );
-    } else {
-        Connection *client = op->o_client;
-        BerElement *output;
-        BerValue response, controls;
-        ber_tag_t type;
-
-        type = ber_skip_element( ber, &response );
-        switch ( type ) {
-            case LDAP_RES_SEARCH_ENTRY:
-            case LDAP_RES_SEARCH_REFERENCE:
-            case LDAP_RES_INTERMEDIATE:
-                break;
-            default:
-                finished = 1;
-                tavl_delete( &c->c_ops, op, operation_upstream_cmp );
-                break;
+    if ( !slap_conn_max_pdus_per_cycle ||
+            ldap_pvt_thread_pool_submit(
+                    &connection_pool, handle_responses, c ) ) {
+        /* If we're overloaded or configured as such, process one and resume in
+         * the next cycle */
+        if ( handle_one_response( c ) == LDAP_SUCCESS ) {
+            ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
         }
-        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
-
-        tag = ber_peek_tag( ber, &len );
-        if ( tag == LDAP_TAG_CONTROLS ) {
-            tag = ber_skip_element( ber, &controls );
-        }
-
-        output = ber_alloc();
-        if ( !output ) {
-            goto fail;
-        }
-
-        ber_start_seq( output, LDAP_TAG_MESSAGE );
-        ber_put_int( output, op->o_client_msgid, LDAP_TAG_MSGID );
-        ber_put_berval( output, &response, type );
-        if ( tag == LDAP_TAG_CONTROLS ) {
-            ber_put_berval( output, &controls, LDAP_TAG_CONTROLS );
-        }
-        ber_put_seq( output );
-
-        if ( finished ) {
-            ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &client->c_mutex );
-            tavl_delete( &client->c_ops, op, operation_client_cmp );
-            ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &client->c_mutex );
-            operation_destroy( op );
-        }
-
-        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &client->c_io_mutex );
-        client->c_pendingber = output;
-        ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &client->c_io_mutex );
-
-        client_write_cb( -1, 0, client );
         return;
     }
+    event_del( c->c_read_event );
 
     ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
-
     return;
-fail:
-    Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY, "upstream_read_cb: "
-            "error on processing a response on upstream connection %ld\n",
-            c->c_connid );
-    ber_free( ber, 1 );
-    upstream_destroy( c );
 }
 
 void
@@ -205,6 +575,7 @@ upstream_bind_cb( evutil_socket_t s, short what, void *arg )
         ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
         return;
     }
+    c->c_currentber = ber;
 
     tag = ber_get_next( c->c_sb, &len, ber );
     if ( tag != LDAP_TAG_MESSAGE ) {
@@ -219,7 +590,6 @@ upstream_bind_cb( evutil_socket_t s, short what, void *arg )
             c->c_currentber = NULL;
             goto fail;
         }
-        c->c_currentber = ber;
         ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &c->c_mutex );
         return;
     }
@@ -409,7 +779,7 @@ fail:
     return NULL;
 }
 
-static void
+void
 upstream_destroy( Connection *c )
 {
     Backend *b = c->c_private;