diff --git a/include/exec/memory.h b/include/exec/memory.h
index 5728a681b2..38a3b41ac1 100644
--- a/include/exec/memory.h
+++ b/include/exec/memory.h
@@ -42,6 +42,12 @@ typedef struct IOMMUMemoryRegionClass IOMMUMemoryRegionClass;
 DECLARE_OBJ_CHECKERS(IOMMUMemoryRegion, IOMMUMemoryRegionClass,
                      IOMMU_MEMORY_REGION, TYPE_IOMMU_MEMORY_REGION)
 
+#define TYPE_RAM_DISCARD_MANAGER "qemu:ram-discard-manager"
+typedef struct RamDiscardManagerClass RamDiscardManagerClass;
+typedef struct RamDiscardManager RamDiscardManager;
+DECLARE_OBJ_CHECKERS(RamDiscardManager, RamDiscardManagerClass,
+                     RAM_DISCARD_MANAGER, TYPE_RAM_DISCARD_MANAGER);
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_FUZZ
 void fuzz_dma_read_cb(size_t addr,
                       size_t len,
@@ -65,6 +71,28 @@ struct ReservedRegion {
     unsigned type;
 };
 
+/**
+ * struct MemoryRegionSection: describes a fragment of a #MemoryRegion
+ *
+ * @mr: the region, or %NULL if empty
+ * @fv: the flat view of the address space the region is mapped in
+ * @offset_within_region: the beginning of the section, relative to @mr's start
+ * @size: the size of the section; will not exceed @mr's boundaries
+ * @offset_within_address_space: the address of the first byte of the section
+ *     relative to the region's address space
+ * @readonly: writes to this section are ignored
+ * @nonvolatile: this section is non-volatile
+ */
+struct MemoryRegionSection {
+    Int128 size;
+    MemoryRegion *mr;
+    FlatView *fv;
+    hwaddr offset_within_region;
+    hwaddr offset_within_address_space;
+    bool readonly;
+    bool nonvolatile;
+};
+
 typedef struct IOMMUTLBEntry IOMMUTLBEntry;
 
 /* See address_space_translate: bit 0 is read, bit 1 is write.  */
@@ -441,6 +469,206 @@ struct IOMMUMemoryRegionClass {
                                      Error **errp);
 };
 
+typedef struct RamDiscardListener RamDiscardListener;
+typedef int (*NotifyRamPopulate)(RamDiscardListener *rdl,
+                                 MemoryRegionSection *section);
+typedef void (*NotifyRamDiscard)(RamDiscardListener *rdl,
+                                 MemoryRegionSection *section);
+
+struct RamDiscardListener {
+    /*
+     * @notify_populate:
+     *
+     * Notification that previously discarded memory is about to get populated.
+     * Listeners are able to object. If any listener objects, already
+     * successfully notified listeners are notified about a discard again.
+     *
+     * @rdl: the #RamDiscardListener getting notified
+     * @section: the #MemoryRegionSection to get populated. The section
+     *           is aligned within the memory region to the minimum granularity
+     *           unless it would exceed the registered section.
+     *
+     * Returns 0 on success. If the notification is rejected by the listener,
+     * an error is returned.
+     */
+    NotifyRamPopulate notify_populate;
+
+    /*
+     * @notify_discard:
+     *
+     * Notification that previously populated memory was discarded successfully
+     * and listeners should drop all references to such memory and prevent
+     * new population (e.g., unmap).
+     *
+     * @rdl: the #RamDiscardListener getting notified
+     * @section: the #MemoryRegionSection to get populated. The section
+     *           is aligned within the memory region to the minimum granularity
+     *           unless it would exceed the registered section.
+     */
+    NotifyRamDiscard notify_discard;
+
+    /*
+     * @double_discard_supported:
+     *
+     * The listener suppors getting @notify_discard notifications that span
+     * already discarded parts.
+     */
+    bool double_discard_supported;
+
+    MemoryRegionSection *section;
+    QLIST_ENTRY(RamDiscardListener) next;
+};
+
+static inline void ram_discard_listener_init(RamDiscardListener *rdl,
+                                             NotifyRamPopulate populate_fn,
+                                             NotifyRamDiscard discard_fn,
+                                             bool double_discard_supported)
+{
+    rdl->notify_populate = populate_fn;
+    rdl->notify_discard = discard_fn;
+    rdl->double_discard_supported = double_discard_supported;
+}
+
+typedef int (*ReplayRamPopulate)(MemoryRegionSection *section, void *opaque);
+
+/*
+ * RamDiscardManagerClass:
+ *
+ * A #RamDiscardManager coordinates which parts of specific RAM #MemoryRegion
+ * regions are currently populated to be used/accessed by the VM, notifying
+ * after parts were discarded (freeing up memory) and before parts will be
+ * populated (consuming memory), to be used/acessed by the VM.
+ *
+ * A #RamDiscardManager can only be set for a RAM #MemoryRegion while the
+ * #MemoryRegion isn't mapped yet; it cannot change while the #MemoryRegion is
+ * mapped.
+ *
+ * The #RamDiscardManager is intended to be used by technologies that are
+ * incompatible with discarding of RAM (e.g., VFIO, which may pin all
+ * memory inside a #MemoryRegion), and require proper coordination to only
+ * map the currently populated parts, to hinder parts that are expected to
+ * remain discarded from silently getting populated and consuming memory.
+ * Technologies that support discarding of RAM don't have to bother and can
+ * simply map the whole #MemoryRegion.
+ *
+ * An example #RamDiscardManager is virtio-mem, which logically (un)plugs
+ * memory within an assigned RAM #MemoryRegion, coordinated with the VM.
+ * Logically unplugging memory consists of discarding RAM. The VM agreed to not
+ * access unplugged (discarded) memory - especially via DMA. virtio-mem will
+ * properly coordinate with listeners before memory is plugged (populated),
+ * and after memory is unplugged (discarded).
+ *
+ * Listeners are called in multiples of the minimum granularity (unless it
+ * would exceed the registered range) and changes are aligned to the minimum
+ * granularity within the #MemoryRegion. Listeners have to prepare for memory
+ * becomming discarded in a different granularity than it was populated and the
+ * other way around.
+ */
+struct RamDiscardManagerClass {
+    /* private */
+    InterfaceClass parent_class;
+
+    /* public */
+
+    /**
+     * @get_min_granularity:
+     *
+     * Get the minimum granularity in which listeners will get notified
+     * about changes within the #MemoryRegion via the #RamDiscardManager.
+     *
+     * @rdm: the #RamDiscardManager
+     * @mr: the #MemoryRegion
+     *
+     * Returns the minimum granularity.
+     */
+    uint64_t (*get_min_granularity)(const RamDiscardManager *rdm,
+                                    const MemoryRegion *mr);
+
+    /**
+     * @is_populated:
+     *
+     * Check whether the given #MemoryRegionSection is completely populated
+     * (i.e., no parts are currently discarded) via the #RamDiscardManager.
+     * There are no alignment requirements.
+     *
+     * @rdm: the #RamDiscardManager
+     * @section: the #MemoryRegionSection
+     *
+     * Returns whether the given range is completely populated.
+     */
+    bool (*is_populated)(const RamDiscardManager *rdm,
+                         const MemoryRegionSection *section);
+
+    /**
+     * @replay_populated:
+     *
+     * Call the #ReplayRamPopulate callback for all populated parts within the
+     * #MemoryRegionSection via the #RamDiscardManager.
+     *
+     * In case any call fails, no further calls are made.
+     *
+     * @rdm: the #RamDiscardManager
+     * @section: the #MemoryRegionSection
+     * @replay_fn: the #ReplayRamPopulate callback
+     * @opaque: pointer to forward to the callback
+     *
+     * Returns 0 on success, or a negative error if any notification failed.
+     */
+    int (*replay_populated)(const RamDiscardManager *rdm,
+                            MemoryRegionSection *section,
+                            ReplayRamPopulate replay_fn, void *opaque);
+
+    /**
+     * @register_listener:
+     *
+     * Register a #RamDiscardListener for the given #MemoryRegionSection and
+     * immediately notify the #RamDiscardListener about all populated parts
+     * within the #MemoryRegionSection via the #RamDiscardManager.
+     *
+     * In case any notification fails, no further notifications are triggered
+     * and an error is logged.
+     *
+     * @rdm: the #RamDiscardManager
+     * @rdl: the #RamDiscardListener
+     * @section: the #MemoryRegionSection
+     */
+    void (*register_listener)(RamDiscardManager *rdm,
+                              RamDiscardListener *rdl,
+                              MemoryRegionSection *section);
+
+    /**
+     * @unregister_listener:
+     *
+     * Unregister a previously registered #RamDiscardListener via the
+     * #RamDiscardManager after notifying the #RamDiscardListener about all
+     * populated parts becoming unpopulated within the registered
+     * #MemoryRegionSection.
+     *
+     * @rdm: the #RamDiscardManager
+     * @rdl: the #RamDiscardListener
+     */
+    void (*unregister_listener)(RamDiscardManager *rdm,
+                                RamDiscardListener *rdl);
+};
+
+uint64_t ram_discard_manager_get_min_granularity(const RamDiscardManager *rdm,
+                                                 const MemoryRegion *mr);
+
+bool ram_discard_manager_is_populated(const RamDiscardManager *rdm,
+                                      const MemoryRegionSection *section);
+
+int ram_discard_manager_replay_populated(const RamDiscardManager *rdm,
+                                         MemoryRegionSection *section,
+                                         ReplayRamPopulate replay_fn,
+                                         void *opaque);
+
+void ram_discard_manager_register_listener(RamDiscardManager *rdm,
+                                           RamDiscardListener *rdl,
+                                           MemoryRegionSection *section);
+
+void ram_discard_manager_unregister_listener(RamDiscardManager *rdm,
+                                             RamDiscardListener *rdl);
+
 typedef struct CoalescedMemoryRange CoalescedMemoryRange;
 typedef struct MemoryRegionIoeventfd MemoryRegionIoeventfd;
 
@@ -487,6 +715,7 @@ struct MemoryRegion {
     const char *name;
     unsigned ioeventfd_nb;
     MemoryRegionIoeventfd *ioeventfds;
+    RamDiscardManager *rdm; /* Only for RAM */
 };
 
 struct IOMMUMemoryRegion {
@@ -806,28 +1035,6 @@ typedef bool (*flatview_cb)(Int128 start,
  */
 void flatview_for_each_range(FlatView *fv, flatview_cb cb, void *opaque);
 
-/**
- * struct MemoryRegionSection: describes a fragment of a #MemoryRegion
- *
- * @mr: the region, or %NULL if empty
- * @fv: the flat view of the address space the region is mapped in
- * @offset_within_region: the beginning of the section, relative to @mr's start
- * @size: the size of the section; will not exceed @mr's boundaries
- * @offset_within_address_space: the address of the first byte of the section
- *     relative to the region's address space
- * @readonly: writes to this section are ignored
- * @nonvolatile: this section is non-volatile
- */
-struct MemoryRegionSection {
-    Int128 size;
-    MemoryRegion *mr;
-    FlatView *fv;
-    hwaddr offset_within_region;
-    hwaddr offset_within_address_space;
-    bool readonly;
-    bool nonvolatile;
-};
-
 static inline bool MemoryRegionSection_eq(MemoryRegionSection *a,
                                           MemoryRegionSection *b)
 {
@@ -2003,6 +2210,41 @@ bool memory_region_present(MemoryRegion *container, hwaddr addr);
  */
 bool memory_region_is_mapped(MemoryRegion *mr);
 
+/**
+ * memory_region_get_ram_discard_manager: get the #RamDiscardManager for a
+ * #MemoryRegion
+ *
+ * The #RamDiscardManager cannot change while a memory region is mapped.
+ *
+ * @mr: the #MemoryRegion
+ */
+RamDiscardManager *memory_region_get_ram_discard_manager(MemoryRegion *mr);
+
+/**
+ * memory_region_has_ram_discard_manager: check whether a #MemoryRegion has a
+ * #RamDiscardManager assigned
+ *
+ * @mr: the #MemoryRegion
+ */
+static inline bool memory_region_has_ram_discard_manager(MemoryRegion *mr)
+{
+    return !!memory_region_get_ram_discard_manager(mr);
+}
+
+/**
+ * memory_region_set_ram_discard_manager: set the #RamDiscardManager for a
+ * #MemoryRegion
+ *
+ * This function must not be called for a mapped #MemoryRegion, a #MemoryRegion
+ * that does not cover RAM, or a #MemoryRegion that already has a
+ * #RamDiscardManager assigned.
+ *
+ * @mr: the #MemoryRegion
+ * @urn: #RamDiscardManager to set
+ */
+void memory_region_set_ram_discard_manager(MemoryRegion *mr,
+                                           RamDiscardManager *rdm);
+
 /**
  * memory_region_find: translate an address/size relative to a
  * MemoryRegion into a #MemoryRegionSection.
diff --git a/softmmu/memory.c b/softmmu/memory.c
index d4493ef9e4..26ea87d77a 100644
--- a/softmmu/memory.c
+++ b/softmmu/memory.c
@@ -2030,6 +2030,70 @@ int memory_region_iommu_num_indexes(IOMMUMemoryRegion *iommu_mr)
     return imrc->num_indexes(iommu_mr);
 }
 
+RamDiscardManager *memory_region_get_ram_discard_manager(MemoryRegion *mr)
+{
+    if (!memory_region_is_mapped(mr) || !memory_region_is_ram(mr)) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    return mr->rdm;
+}
+
+void memory_region_set_ram_discard_manager(MemoryRegion *mr,
+                                           RamDiscardManager *rdm)
+{
+    g_assert(memory_region_is_ram(mr) && !memory_region_is_mapped(mr));
+    g_assert(!rdm || !mr->rdm);
+    mr->rdm = rdm;
+}
+
+uint64_t ram_discard_manager_get_min_granularity(const RamDiscardManager *rdm,
+                                                 const MemoryRegion *mr)
+{
+    RamDiscardManagerClass *rdmc = RAM_DISCARD_MANAGER_GET_CLASS(rdm);
+
+    g_assert(rdmc->get_min_granularity);
+    return rdmc->get_min_granularity(rdm, mr);
+}
+
+bool ram_discard_manager_is_populated(const RamDiscardManager *rdm,
+                                      const MemoryRegionSection *section)
+{
+    RamDiscardManagerClass *rdmc = RAM_DISCARD_MANAGER_GET_CLASS(rdm);
+
+    g_assert(rdmc->is_populated);
+    return rdmc->is_populated(rdm, section);
+}
+
+int ram_discard_manager_replay_populated(const RamDiscardManager *rdm,
+                                         MemoryRegionSection *section,
+                                         ReplayRamPopulate replay_fn,
+                                         void *opaque)
+{
+    RamDiscardManagerClass *rdmc = RAM_DISCARD_MANAGER_GET_CLASS(rdm);
+
+    g_assert(rdmc->replay_populated);
+    return rdmc->replay_populated(rdm, section, replay_fn, opaque);
+}
+
+void ram_discard_manager_register_listener(RamDiscardManager *rdm,
+                                           RamDiscardListener *rdl,
+                                           MemoryRegionSection *section)
+{
+    RamDiscardManagerClass *rdmc = RAM_DISCARD_MANAGER_GET_CLASS(rdm);
+
+    g_assert(rdmc->register_listener);
+    rdmc->register_listener(rdm, rdl, section);
+}
+
+void ram_discard_manager_unregister_listener(RamDiscardManager *rdm,
+                                             RamDiscardListener *rdl)
+{
+    RamDiscardManagerClass *rdmc = RAM_DISCARD_MANAGER_GET_CLASS(rdm);
+
+    g_assert(rdmc->unregister_listener);
+    rdmc->unregister_listener(rdm, rdl);
+}
+
 void memory_region_set_log(MemoryRegion *mr, bool log, unsigned client)
 {
     uint8_t mask = 1 << client;
@@ -3310,10 +3374,17 @@ static const TypeInfo iommu_memory_region_info = {
     .abstract           = true,
 };
 
+static const TypeInfo ram_discard_manager_info = {
+    .parent             = TYPE_INTERFACE,
+    .name               = TYPE_RAM_DISCARD_MANAGER,
+    .class_size         = sizeof(RamDiscardManagerClass),
+};
+
 static void memory_register_types(void)
 {
     type_register_static(&memory_region_info);
     type_register_static(&iommu_memory_region_info);
+    type_register_static(&ram_discard_manager_info);
 }
 
 type_init(memory_register_types)
