diff --git a/neutron/db/agentschedulers_db.py b/neutron/db/agentschedulers_db.py
index 2f90bf9f5fb..e12b1f399d3 100644
--- a/neutron/db/agentschedulers_db.py
+++ b/neutron/db/agentschedulers_db.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ from neutron.db.availability_zone import network as network_az
 from neutron.db import model_base
 from neutron.extensions import agent as ext_agent
 from neutron.extensions import dhcpagentscheduler
+from neutron import worker as neutron_worker
 
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -82,6 +83,38 @@ class NetworkDhcpAgentBinding(model_base.BASEV2):
                               primary_key=True)
 
 
+class AgentStatusCheckWorker(neutron_worker.NeutronWorker):
+
+    def __init__(self, check_func, interval, initial_delay):
+        super(AgentStatusCheckWorker, self).__init__(worker_process_count=0)
+
+        self._check_func = check_func
+        self._loop = None
+        self._interval = interval
+        self._initial_delay = initial_delay
+
+    def start(self):
+        super(AgentStatusCheckWorker, self).start()
+        if self._loop is None:
+            self._loop = loopingcall.FixedIntervalLoopingCall(self._check_func)
+            self._loop.start(interval=self._interval,
+                             initial_delay=self._initial_delay)
+
+    def wait(self):
+        if self._loop is not None:
+            self._loop.wait()
+
+    def stop(self):
+        if self._loop is not None:
+            self._loop.stop()
+
+    def reset(self):
+        if self._loop is not None:
+            self.stop()
+            self.wait()
+            self.start()
+
+
 class AgentSchedulerDbMixin(agents_db.AgentDbMixin):
     """Common class for agent scheduler mixins."""
 
@@ -121,18 +154,16 @@ class AgentSchedulerDbMixin(agents_db.AgentDbMixin):
         return result
 
     def add_agent_status_check(self, function):
-        loop = loopingcall.FixedIntervalLoopingCall(function)
         # TODO(enikanorov): make interval configurable rather than computed
         interval = max(cfg.CONF.agent_down_time // 2, 1)
         # add random initial delay to allow agents to check in after the
         # neutron server first starts. random to offset multiple servers
         initial_delay = random.randint(interval, interval * 2)
-        loop.start(interval=interval, initial_delay=initial_delay)
 
-        if hasattr(self, 'periodic_agent_loops'):
-            self.periodic_agent_loops.append(loop)
-        else:
-            self.periodic_agent_loops = [loop]
+        check_worker = AgentStatusCheckWorker(function, interval,
+                                              initial_delay)
+
+        self.add_worker(check_worker)
 
     def agent_dead_limit_seconds(self):
         return cfg.CONF.agent_down_time * 2
@@ -167,6 +198,13 @@ class DhcpAgentSchedulerDbMixin(dhcpagentscheduler
     network_scheduler = None
 
     def start_periodic_dhcp_agent_status_check(self):
+        LOG.warning(
+            _LW("DEPRECATED method 'start_periodic_dhcp_agent_status_check'. "
+                "Please use 'add_periodic_dhcp_agent_status_check' instead")
+        )
+        self.add_periodic_dhcp_agent_status_check()
+
+    def add_periodic_dhcp_agent_status_check(self):
         if not cfg.CONF.allow_automatic_dhcp_failover:
             LOG.info(_LI("Skipping periodic DHCP agent status check because "
                          "automatic network rescheduling is disabled."))
diff --git a/neutron/db/l3_agentschedulers_db.py b/neutron/db/l3_agentschedulers_db.py
index b0516072ee1..e98e3bf294e 100644
--- a/neutron/db/l3_agentschedulers_db.py
+++ b/neutron/db/l3_agentschedulers_db.py
@@ -83,6 +83,13 @@ class L3AgentSchedulerDbMixin(l3agentscheduler.L3AgentSchedulerPluginBase,
     router_scheduler = None
 
     def start_periodic_l3_agent_status_check(self):
+        LOG.warning(
+            _LW("DEPRECATED method 'start_periodic_l3_agent_status_check'. "
+                "Please use 'add_periodic_l3_agent_status_check' instead")
+        )
+        self.add_periodic_l3_agent_status_check()
+
+    def add_periodic_l3_agent_status_check(self):
         if not cfg.CONF.allow_automatic_l3agent_failover:
             LOG.info(_LI("Skipping period L3 agent status check because "
                          "automatic router rescheduling is disabled."))
diff --git a/neutron/neutron_plugin_base_v2.py b/neutron/neutron_plugin_base_v2.py
index 12ed5bba1e6..513890f7822 100644
--- a/neutron/neutron_plugin_base_v2.py
+++ b/neutron/neutron_plugin_base_v2.py
@@ -24,9 +24,11 @@ import abc
 
 import six
 
+from neutron import worker as neutron_worker
+
 
 @six.add_metaclass(abc.ABCMeta)
-class NeutronPluginBaseV2(object):
+class NeutronPluginBaseV2(neutron_worker.WorkerSupportServiceMixin):
 
     @abc.abstractmethod
     def create_subnet(self, context, subnet):
@@ -409,12 +411,3 @@ class NeutronPluginBaseV2(object):
         """
         return (self.__class__.start_rpc_state_reports_listener !=
                 NeutronPluginBaseV2.start_rpc_state_reports_listener)
-
-    def get_workers(self):
-        """Returns a collection NeutronWorker instances
-
-        If a plugin needs to define worker processes outside of API/RPC workers
-        then it will override this and return a collection of NeutronWorker
-        instances
-        """
-        return ()
diff --git a/neutron/plugins/ml2/plugin.py b/neutron/plugins/ml2/plugin.py
index c361475c5ab..68861178c77 100644
--- a/neutron/plugins/ml2/plugin.py
+++ b/neutron/plugins/ml2/plugin.py
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ class Ml2Plugin(db_base_plugin_v2.NeutronDbPluginV2,
         self._setup_dhcp()
         self._start_rpc_notifiers()
         self.add_agent_status_check(self.agent_health_check)
+        self.add_workers(self.mechanism_manager.get_workers())
         self._verify_service_plugins_requirements()
         LOG.info(_LI("Modular L2 Plugin initialization complete"))
 
@@ -182,7 +183,7 @@ class Ml2Plugin(db_base_plugin_v2.NeutronDbPluginV2,
         self.network_scheduler = importutils.import_object(
             cfg.CONF.network_scheduler_driver
         )
-        self.start_periodic_dhcp_agent_status_check()
+        self.add_periodic_dhcp_agent_status_check()
 
     def _verify_service_plugins_requirements(self):
         for service_plugin in cfg.CONF.service_plugins:
@@ -1624,9 +1625,6 @@ class Ml2Plugin(db_base_plugin_v2.NeutronDbPluginV2,
                 return port.id
         return device
 
-    def get_workers(self):
-        return self.mechanism_manager.get_workers()
-
     def filter_hosts_with_network_access(
             self, context, network_id, candidate_hosts):
         segments = db.get_network_segments(context.session, network_id)
diff --git a/neutron/server/rpc_eventlet.py b/neutron/server/rpc_eventlet.py
index 9b218cdaeb5..36118a034f9 100644
--- a/neutron/server/rpc_eventlet.py
+++ b/neutron/server/rpc_eventlet.py
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@
 # If ../neutron/__init__.py exists, add ../ to Python search path, so that
 # it will override what happens to be installed in /usr/(local/)lib/python...
 
-import eventlet
+from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log
+from oslo_service import service as common_service
 
 from neutron._i18n import _LI
 from neutron import service
@@ -28,13 +29,14 @@ LOG = log.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 def eventlet_rpc_server():
-    pool = eventlet.GreenPool()
     LOG.info(_LI("Eventlet based AMQP RPC server starting..."))
+    rpc_workers_launcher = common_service.ProcessLauncher(
+        cfg.CONF, wait_interval=1.0
+    )
     try:
-        neutron_rpc = service.serve_rpc()
+        service.start_rpc_workers(rpc_workers_launcher)
     except NotImplementedError:
         LOG.info(_LI("RPC was already started in parent process by "
                      "plugin."))
     else:
-        pool.spawn(neutron_rpc.wait)
-    pool.waitall()
+        rpc_workers_launcher.wait()
diff --git a/neutron/server/wsgi_eventlet.py b/neutron/server/wsgi_eventlet.py
index 472ea6bf743..7381da8f834 100644
--- a/neutron/server/wsgi_eventlet.py
+++ b/neutron/server/wsgi_eventlet.py
@@ -12,7 +12,10 @@
 #    under the License.
 
 import eventlet
+
+from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log
+from oslo_service import service as common_service
 
 from neutron._i18n import _LI
 from neutron import service
@@ -26,24 +29,24 @@ def eventlet_wsgi_server():
 
 
 def start_api_and_rpc_workers(neutron_api):
-    pool = eventlet.GreenPool()
-
-    api_thread = pool.spawn(neutron_api.wait)
-
     try:
-        neutron_rpc = service.serve_rpc()
+        plugin_workers_launcher = common_service.ProcessLauncher(
+            cfg.CONF, wait_interval=1.0
+        )
+        service.start_rpc_workers(plugin_workers_launcher)
+
+        pool = eventlet.GreenPool()
+        api_thread = pool.spawn(neutron_api.wait)
+        plugin_workers_thread = pool.spawn(plugin_workers_launcher.wait)
+
+        # api and other workers should die together. When one dies,
+        # kill the other.
+        api_thread.link(lambda gt: plugin_workers_thread.kill())
+        plugin_workers_thread.link(lambda gt: api_thread.kill())
+
+        pool.waitall()
     except NotImplementedError:
         LOG.info(_LI("RPC was already started in parent process by "
                      "plugin."))
-    else:
-        rpc_thread = pool.spawn(neutron_rpc.wait)
 
-        plugin_workers = service.start_plugin_workers()
-        for worker in plugin_workers:
-            pool.spawn(worker.wait)
-
-        # api and rpc should die together.  When one dies, kill the other.
-        rpc_thread.link(lambda gt: api_thread.kill())
-        api_thread.link(lambda gt: rpc_thread.kill())
-
-    pool.waitall()
+        neutron_api.wait()
diff --git a/neutron/service.py b/neutron/service.py
index 6510f579667..7bd74467738 100644
--- a/neutron/service.py
+++ b/neutron/service.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ from neutron.common import rpc as n_rpc
 from neutron import context
 from neutron.db import api as session
 from neutron import manager
-from neutron import worker
+from neutron import worker as neutron_worker
 from neutron import wsgi
 
 
@@ -113,25 +113,15 @@ def serve_wsgi(cls):
     return service
 
 
-def start_plugin_workers():
-    launchers = []
-    # NOTE(twilson) get_service_plugins also returns the core plugin
-    for plugin in manager.NeutronManager.get_unique_service_plugins():
-        # TODO(twilson) Instead of defaulting here, come up with a good way to
-        # share a common get_workers default between NeutronPluginBaseV2 and
-        # ServicePluginBase
-        for plugin_worker in getattr(plugin, 'get_workers', tuple)():
-            launcher = common_service.ProcessLauncher(cfg.CONF)
-            launcher.launch_service(plugin_worker)
-            launchers.append(launcher)
-    return launchers
-
-
-class RpcWorker(worker.NeutronWorker):
+class RpcWorker(neutron_worker.NeutronWorker):
     """Wraps a worker to be handled by ProcessLauncher"""
     start_listeners_method = 'start_rpc_listeners'
 
-    def __init__(self, plugins):
+    def __init__(self, plugins, worker_process_count=1):
+        super(RpcWorker, self).__init__(
+            worker_process_count=worker_process_count
+        )
+
         self._plugins = plugins
         self._servers = []
 
@@ -178,7 +168,7 @@ class RpcReportsWorker(RpcWorker):
     start_listeners_method = 'start_rpc_state_reports_listener'
 
 
-def serve_rpc():
+def _get_rpc_workers():
     plugin = manager.NeutronManager.get_plugin()
     service_plugins = (
         manager.NeutronManager.get_service_plugins().values())
@@ -198,31 +188,101 @@ def serve_rpc():
                       cfg.CONF.rpc_workers)
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
+    # passing service plugins only, because core plugin is among them
+    rpc_workers = [RpcWorker(service_plugins,
+                             worker_process_count=cfg.CONF.rpc_workers)]
+
+    if (cfg.CONF.rpc_state_report_workers > 0 and
+            plugin.rpc_state_report_workers_supported()):
+        rpc_workers.append(
+            RpcReportsWorker(
+                [plugin],
+                worker_process_count=cfg.CONF.rpc_state_report_workers
+            )
+        )
+    return rpc_workers
+
+
+class AllServicesNeutronWorker(neutron_worker.NeutronWorker):
+    def __init__(self, services, worker_process_count=1):
+        super(AllServicesNeutronWorker, self).__init__(worker_process_count)
+        self._services = services
+        self._launcher = common_service.Launcher(cfg.CONF)
+
+    def start(self):
+        for srv in self._services:
+            self._launcher.launch_service(srv)
+        super(AllServicesNeutronWorker, self).start()
+
+    def stop(self):
+        self._launcher.stop()
+
+    def wait(self):
+        self._launcher.wait()
+
+    def reset(self):
+        self._launcher.restart()
+
+
+def _start_workers(worker_launcher, workers):
+    if not workers:
+        return
     try:
-        # passing service plugins only, because core plugin is among them
-        rpc = RpcWorker(service_plugins)
         # dispose the whole pool before os.fork, otherwise there will
         # be shared DB connections in child processes which may cause
         # DB errors.
         LOG.debug('using launcher for rpc, workers=%s', cfg.CONF.rpc_workers)
         session.dispose()
-        launcher = common_service.ProcessLauncher(cfg.CONF, wait_interval=1.0)
-        launcher.launch_service(rpc, workers=cfg.CONF.rpc_workers)
-        if (cfg.CONF.rpc_state_report_workers > 0 and
-            plugin.rpc_state_report_workers_supported()):
-            rpc_state_rep = RpcReportsWorker([plugin])
-            LOG.debug('using launcher for state reports rpc, workers=%s',
-                      cfg.CONF.rpc_state_report_workers)
-            launcher.launch_service(
-                rpc_state_rep, workers=cfg.CONF.rpc_state_report_workers)
 
-        return launcher
+        for worker in workers:
+            worker_launcher.launch_service(worker, worker.worker_process_count)
     except Exception:
         with excutils.save_and_reraise_exception():
             LOG.exception(_LE('Unrecoverable error: please check log for '
                               'details.'))
 
 
+def start_plugin_workers(worker_launcher):
+    # NOTE(twilson) get_service_plugins also returns the core plugin
+    plugins = manager.NeutronManager.get_unique_service_plugins()
+
+    # TODO(twilson) Instead of defaulting here, come up with a good way to
+    # share a common get_workers default between NeutronPluginBaseV2 and
+    # ServicePluginBase
+    plugin_workers = [
+        plugin_worker
+        for plugin in plugins if hasattr(plugin, 'get_workers')
+        for plugin_worker in plugin.get_workers()
+    ]
+
+    # we need to fork all necessary processes before spawning extra threads
+    # to avoid problems with infinite resource locking and other concurrency
+    # problems
+    process_plugin_workers = [
+        plugin_worker for plugin_worker in plugin_workers
+        if plugin_worker.worker_process_count > 0
+    ]
+
+    thread_plugin_workers = [
+        plugin_worker for plugin_worker in plugin_workers
+        if plugin_worker.worker_process_count < 1
+    ]
+
+    # add extra process worker and spawn there all workers with
+    # worker_process_count == 0
+    if thread_plugin_workers:
+        process_plugin_workers.append(
+            AllServicesNeutronWorker(thread_plugin_workers)
+        )
+
+    _start_workers(worker_launcher, process_plugin_workers)
+
+
+def start_rpc_workers(worker_launcher):
+    rpc_workers = _get_rpc_workers()
+    _start_workers(worker_launcher, rpc_workers)
+
+
 def _get_api_workers():
     workers = cfg.CONF.api_workers
     if not workers:
diff --git a/neutron/services/l3_router/l3_router_plugin.py b/neutron/services/l3_router/l3_router_plugin.py
index c10668cbc11..ef89c626612 100644
--- a/neutron/services/l3_router/l3_router_plugin.py
+++ b/neutron/services/l3_router/l3_router_plugin.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ from neutron.db import l3_gwmode_db
 from neutron.db import l3_hamode_db
 from neutron.plugins.common import constants
 from neutron.quota import resource_registry
+from neutron import service
 from neutron.services import service_base
 
 
@@ -62,20 +63,23 @@ class L3RouterPlugin(service_base.ServicePluginBase,
     def __init__(self):
         self.router_scheduler = importutils.import_object(
             cfg.CONF.router_scheduler_driver)
-        self.start_periodic_l3_agent_status_check()
+        self.add_periodic_l3_agent_status_check()
         super(L3RouterPlugin, self).__init__()
         if 'dvr' in self.supported_extension_aliases:
             l3_dvrscheduler_db.subscribe()
         l3_db.subscribe()
-        self.start_rpc_listeners()
+        self.agent_notifiers.update(
+            {n_const.AGENT_TYPE_L3: l3_rpc_agent_api.L3AgentNotifyAPI()})
+
+        rpc_worker = service.RpcWorker([self], worker_process_count=0)
+
+        self.add_worker(rpc_worker)
 
     @log_helpers.log_method_call
     def start_rpc_listeners(self):
         # RPC support
         self.topic = topics.L3PLUGIN
         self.conn = n_rpc.create_connection()
-        self.agent_notifiers.update(
-            {n_const.AGENT_TYPE_L3: l3_rpc_agent_api.L3AgentNotifyAPI()})
         self.endpoints = [l3_rpc.L3RpcCallback()]
         self.conn.create_consumer(self.topic, self.endpoints,
                                   fanout=False)
diff --git a/neutron/services/metering/metering_plugin.py b/neutron/services/metering/metering_plugin.py
index 11a928642a0..f7cb42411e6 100644
--- a/neutron/services/metering/metering_plugin.py
+++ b/neutron/services/metering/metering_plugin.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from neutron.common import rpc as n_rpc
 from neutron.common import topics
 from neutron.db.metering import metering_db
 from neutron.db.metering import metering_rpc
+from neutron import service
 
 
 class MeteringPlugin(metering_db.MeteringDbMixin):
@@ -28,7 +29,9 @@ class MeteringPlugin(metering_db.MeteringDbMixin):
         super(MeteringPlugin, self).__init__()
 
         self.meter_rpc = metering_rpc_agent_api.MeteringAgentNotifyAPI()
-        self.start_rpc_listeners()
+        rpc_worker = service.RpcWorker([self], worker_process_count=0)
+
+        self.add_worker(rpc_worker)
 
     def start_rpc_listeners(self):
         self.endpoints = [metering_rpc.MeteringRpcCallbacks(self)]
diff --git a/neutron/services/service_base.py b/neutron/services/service_base.py
index 5fa9bcf388d..33da0286d15 100644
--- a/neutron/services/service_base.py
+++ b/neutron/services/service_base.py
@@ -24,12 +24,14 @@ from neutron._i18n import _, _LE, _LI
 from neutron.api import extensions
 from neutron.db import servicetype_db as sdb
 from neutron.services import provider_configuration as pconf
+from neutron import worker as neutron_worker
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 @six.add_metaclass(abc.ABCMeta)
-class ServicePluginBase(extensions.PluginInterface):
+class ServicePluginBase(extensions.PluginInterface,
+                        neutron_worker.WorkerSupportServiceMixin):
     """Define base interface for any Advanced Service plugin."""
     supported_extension_aliases = []
 
@@ -46,10 +48,6 @@ class ServicePluginBase(extensions.PluginInterface):
         """Return string description of the plugin."""
         pass
 
-    def get_workers(self):
-        """Returns a collection of NeutronWorkers"""
-        return ()
-
 
 def load_drivers(service_type, plugin):
     """Loads drivers for specific service.
diff --git a/neutron/tests/base.py b/neutron/tests/base.py
index 6e3d8b3a9bc..6488cabc3d3 100644
--- a/neutron/tests/base.py
+++ b/neutron/tests/base.py
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ class PluginFixture(fixtures.Fixture):
         self.patched_default_svc_plugins = self.default_svc_plugins_p.start()
         self.dhcp_periodic_p = mock.patch(
             'neutron.db.agentschedulers_db.DhcpAgentSchedulerDbMixin.'
-            'start_periodic_dhcp_agent_status_check')
+            'add_periodic_dhcp_agent_status_check')
         self.patched_dhcp_periodic = self.dhcp_periodic_p.start()
         self.agent_health_check_p = mock.patch(
             'neutron.db.agentschedulers_db.DhcpAgentSchedulerDbMixin.'
diff --git a/neutron/tests/functional/test_server.py b/neutron/tests/functional/test_server.py
index 891bdf3276d..2c7615a5c05 100644
--- a/neutron/tests/functional/test_server.py
+++ b/neutron/tests/functional/test_server.py
@@ -22,12 +22,13 @@ import traceback
 import httplib2
 import mock
 from oslo_config import cfg
+from oslo_service import service as common_service
 import psutil
 
 from neutron.agent.linux import utils
 from neutron import service
 from neutron.tests import base
-from neutron import worker
+from neutron import worker as neutron_worker
 from neutron import wsgi
 
 
@@ -244,8 +245,9 @@ class TestRPCServer(TestNeutronServer):
                 # not interested in state report workers specifically
                 CONF.set_override("rpc_state_report_workers", 0)
 
-                launcher = service.serve_rpc()
-                launcher.wait()
+                rpc_workers_launcher = common_service.ProcessLauncher(CONF)
+                service.start_rpc_workers(rpc_workers_launcher)
+                rpc_workers_launcher.wait()
 
     def test_restart_rpc_on_sighup_multiple_workers(self):
         self._test_restart_service_on_sighup(service=self._serve_rpc,
@@ -264,12 +266,12 @@ class TestPluginWorker(TestNeutronServer):
     def _start_plugin(self, workers=1):
         with mock.patch('neutron.manager.NeutronManager.get_plugin') as gp:
             gp.return_value = self.plugin
-            launchers = service.start_plugin_workers()
-            for launcher in launchers:
-                launcher.wait()
+            plugin_workers_launcher = common_service.ProcessLauncher(CONF)
+            service.start_plugin_workers(plugin_workers_launcher)
+            plugin_workers_launcher.wait()
 
     def test_start(self):
-        class FakeWorker(worker.NeutronWorker):
+        class FakeWorker(neutron_worker.NeutronWorker):
             def start(self):
                 pass
 
diff --git a/neutron/tests/unit/db/test_agentschedulers_db.py b/neutron/tests/unit/db/test_agentschedulers_db.py
index 692e1b96de1..655073846f9 100644
--- a/neutron/tests/unit/db/test_agentschedulers_db.py
+++ b/neutron/tests/unit/db/test_agentschedulers_db.py
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ class OvsAgentSchedulerTestCaseBase(test_l3.L3NatTestCaseMixin,
         self.patched_l3_notify = self.l3_notify_p.start()
         self.l3_periodic_p = mock.patch('neutron.db.l3_agentschedulers_db.'
                                         'L3AgentSchedulerDbMixin.'
-                                        'start_periodic_l3_agent_status_check')
+                                        'add_periodic_l3_agent_status_check')
         self.patched_l3_periodic = self.l3_periodic_p.start()
         self.dhcp_notify_p = mock.patch(
             'neutron.extensions.dhcpagentscheduler.notify')
diff --git a/neutron/worker.py b/neutron/worker.py
index 80a16533eba..a602d1c01f0 100644
--- a/neutron/worker.py
+++ b/neutron/worker.py
@@ -17,6 +17,38 @@ from neutron.callbacks import registry
 from neutron.callbacks import resources
 
 
+class WorkerSupportServiceMixin(object):
+
+    @property
+    def _workers(self):
+        try:
+            return self.__workers
+        except AttributeError:
+            self.__workers = []
+        return self.__workers
+
+    def get_workers(self):
+        """Returns a collection NeutronWorker instances needed by this service
+        """
+        return list(self._workers)
+
+    def add_worker(self, worker):
+        """Adds NeutronWorker needed for this service
+
+        If a object needs to define workers thread/processes outside of API/RPC
+        workers then it will call this method to register worker. Should be
+        called on initialization stage before running services
+        """
+        self._workers.append(worker)
+
+    def add_workers(self, workers):
+        """Adds NeutronWorker list needed for this service
+
+        The same as add_worker but adds a list of workers
+        """
+        self._workers.extend(workers)
+
+
 class NeutronWorker(service.ServiceBase):
     """Partial implementation of the ServiceBase ABC
 
@@ -36,5 +68,25 @@ class NeutronWorker(service.ServiceBase):
                 super(MyPluginWorker, self).start()
                 do_sync()
     """
+
+    # default class value for case when super().__init__ is not called
+    _worker_process_count = 1
+
+    def __init__(self, worker_process_count=_worker_process_count):
+        """
+        Initialize worker
+
+        :param worker_process_count: Defines how many processes to spawn for
+            worker:
+                0 - spawn 1 new worker thread,
+                1..N - spawn N new worker processes
+        """
+        self._worker_process_count = worker_process_count
+
+    @property
+    def worker_process_count(self):
+        return self._worker_process_count
+
     def start(self):
-        registry.notify(resources.PROCESS, events.AFTER_CREATE, self.start)
+        if self.worker_process_count > 0:
+            registry.notify(resources.PROCESS, events.AFTER_CREATE, self.start)
diff --git a/neutron/wsgi.py b/neutron/wsgi.py
index 684fb69cb87..f49358579c6 100644
--- a/neutron/wsgi.py
+++ b/neutron/wsgi.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ from neutron.common import config
 from neutron.common import exceptions as n_exc
 from neutron import context
 from neutron.db import api
-from neutron import worker
+from neutron import worker as neutron_worker
 
 socket_opts = [
     cfg.IntOpt('backlog',
@@ -74,9 +74,12 @@ def encode_body(body):
     return encodeutils.to_utf8(body)
 
 
-class WorkerService(worker.NeutronWorker):
+class WorkerService(neutron_worker.NeutronWorker):
     """Wraps a worker to be handled by ProcessLauncher"""
-    def __init__(self, service, application, disable_ssl=False):
+    def __init__(self, service, application, disable_ssl=False,
+                 worker_process_count=0):
+        super(WorkerService, self).__init__(worker_process_count)
+
         self._service = service
         self._application = application
         self._disable_ssl = disable_ssl
@@ -188,7 +191,7 @@ class Server(object):
         self._launch(application, workers)
 
     def _launch(self, application, workers=0):
-        service = WorkerService(self, application, self.disable_ssl)
+        service = WorkerService(self, application, self.disable_ssl, workers)
         if workers < 1:
             # The API service should run in the current process.
             self._server = service
@@ -206,7 +209,8 @@ class Server(object):
             # wait interval past the default of 0.01s.
             self._server = common_service.ProcessLauncher(cfg.CONF,
                                                           wait_interval=1.0)
-            self._server.launch_service(service, workers=workers)
+            self._server.launch_service(service,
+                                        workers=service.worker_process_count)
 
     @property
     def host(self):