diff --git a/src/cpp/ripple/AutoSocket.cpp b/src/cpp/ripple/AutoSocket.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dd553a4c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cpp/ripple/AutoSocket.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+
+#include "AutoSocket.h"
+
+#include <boost/bind.hpp>
+
+void AutoSocket::handle_autodetect(const error_code& ec)
+{
+	if (ec)
+	{
+		if (mCallback)
+			mCallback(ec);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if ((mBuffer[0] < 127) && (mBuffer[0] > 31) &&
+		(mBuffer[1] < 127) && (mBuffer[1] > 31) &&
+		(mBuffer[2] < 127) && (mBuffer[2] > 31) &&
+		(mBuffer[3] < 127) && (mBuffer[3] > 31))
+	{ // non-SSL
+		mSecure = false;
+		if (mCallback)
+			mCallback(ec);
+	}
+	else
+	{ // ssl
+		mSecure = true;
+		SSLSocket().async_handshake(ssl_socket::server, mCallback);
+		mCallback = callback();
+	}
+}
+
+// vim:ts=4
diff --git a/src/cpp/ripple/AutoSocket.h b/src/cpp/ripple/AutoSocket.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d8529ea28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cpp/ripple/AutoSocket.h
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+#ifndef __AUTOSOCKET_H_
+#define __AUTOSOCKET_H_
+
+#include <vector>
+
+#include <boost/function.hpp>
+#include <boost/bind.hpp>
+#include <boost/asio.hpp>
+#include <boost/asio/ssl.hpp>
+
+// Socket wrapper that supports both SSL and non-SSL connections.
+// Generally, handle it as you would an SSL connection.
+// To force a non-SSL connection, just don't call async_handshake.
+// To force SSL only inbound, call setSSLOnly.
+
+namespace basio = boost::asio;
+namespace bassl = basio::ssl;
+
+class AutoSocket
+{
+public:
+    typedef bassl::stream<basio::ip::tcp::socket>	ssl_socket;
+    typedef ssl_socket::next_layer_type				plain_socket;
+    typedef boost::system::error_code				error_code;
+    typedef boost::function<void(error_code)> 		callback;
+
+protected:
+	ssl_socket			mSocket;
+	bool				mSecure;
+	callback			mCallback;
+
+	std::vector<char>	mBuffer;
+
+public:
+	AutoSocket(basio::io_service& s, bassl::context& c) : mSocket(s, c), mSecure(false), mBuffer(4) { ; }
+
+	bool			isSecure()		{ return mSecure; }
+	ssl_socket&		SSLSocket()		{ return mSocket; }
+	plain_socket&	PlainSocket()	{ return mSocket.next_layer(); }
+
+	void setSSLOnly()				{ mBuffer.clear(); }
+
+	void async_handshake(ssl_socket::handshake_type type, callback cbFunc)
+	{
+		mSecure = true;
+		if ((type == ssl_socket::client) || (mBuffer.empty()))
+			SSLSocket().async_handshake(type, cbFunc);
+		else
+		{
+			mCallback = cbFunc;
+			PlainSocket().async_receive(basio::buffer(mBuffer), basio::socket_base::message_peek,
+				boost::bind(&AutoSocket::handle_autodetect, this, basio::placeholders::error));
+ 			            
+		}
+	}
+
+	template <typename StreamType> StreamType& getSocket()
+	{
+		if (isSecure())
+			return SSLSocket();
+		if (!isSecure())
+			return PlainSocket();
+	}
+	
+	template <typename ShutdownHandler> void async_shutdown(ShutdownHandler handler)
+	{
+		if (isSecure())
+			SSLSocket().async_shutdown(handler);
+		else
+		{
+			PlainSocket().shutdown(plain_socket::shutdown_both);
+			if (handler)
+				mSocket.get_io_service().post(handler);
+		}
+	}
+
+	template <typename Seq, typename Handler> void async_read_some(const Seq& buffers, Handler handler)
+	{
+		if (isSecure())
+			SSLSocket().async_read_some(buffers, handler);
+		else
+			PlainSocket().async_read_some(buffers, handler);
+	}
+
+	template <typename Seq, typename Handler> void async_write_some(const Seq& buffers, Handler handler)
+	{
+		if (isSecure())
+			SSLSocket().async_write_some(buffers, handler);
+		else
+			PlainSocket().async_write_some(buffers, handler);
+	}
+
+protected:
+	void handle_autodetect(const error_code&);
+};
+
+#endif
+
+// vim:ts=4