diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index 6cb1d7c..2c21388 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -2,7 +2,11 @@
 new features:
 	new address types SCTP-CONNECT and SCTP-LISTEN implement SCTP stream
 	mode for IPv4 and IPv6; new address options sctp-maxseg and
-	sctp-nodelay
+	sctp-nodelay (suggested by David A. Madore; thanks to Jonathan Brennan
+	for providing an initial patch)
+
+	new address "interface" for transparent network interface handling
+	(suggested by Stuart Nicholson)
 
 	added generic socket addresses: SOCKET-CONNECT, SOCKET-LISTEN,
 	SOCKET-SENDTO, SOCKET-RECVFROM, SOCKET-RECV, SOCKET-DATAGRAM allow
diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 7e505a4..d1c1483 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -45,8 +45,11 @@ XIOSRCS = xioinitialize.c xiohelp.c xioparam.c xiodiag.c xioopen.c xioopts.c \
 	xiolayer.c xioshutdown.c xioclose.c xioexit.c \
 	xio-process.c xio-fd.c xio-fdnum.c xio-stdio.c xio-pipe.c \
 	xio-gopen.c xio-creat.c xio-file.c xio-named.c \
-	xio-socket.c xio-listen.c xio-unix.c xio-ip.c xio-ip4.c xio-ip6.c xio-ipapp.c xio-tcp.c xio-socks.c xio-proxy.c xio-udp.c \
+	xio-socket.c xio-interface.c xio-listen.c xio-unix.c \
+	xio-ip.c xio-ip4.c xio-ip6.c xio-ipapp.c xio-tcp.c \
 	xio-sctp.c xio-rawip.c \
+	xio-socks.c xio-proxy.c xio-udp.c \
+	xio-rawip.c \
 	xio-progcall.c xio-exec.c xio-system.c xio-termios.c xio-readline.c \
 	xio-pty.c xio-openssl.c \
 	xio-ascii.c xiolockfile.c xio-tcpwrap.c xio-ext2.c xio-tun.c
@@ -60,10 +63,11 @@ PROGS = socat procan filan
 HFILES = sycls.h sslcls.h error.h dalan.h procan.h filan.h hostan.h sysincludes.h xio.h xioopen.h sysutils.h utils.h nestlex.h compat.h \
 	xioconfig.h mytypes.h xioopts.h xiodiag.h xiohelp.h xiosysincludes.h \
 	xiomodes.h xiolayer.h xio-process.h xio-fd.h xio-fdnum.h xio-stdio.h \
-	xio-named.h xio-file.h xio-creat.h xio-gopen.h xio-pipe.h xio-socket.h \
-	xio-listen.h xio-unix.h xio-rawip.h xio-ip.h xio-ip4.h xio-ip6.h \
-	xio-ipapp.h xio-tcp.h xio-udp.h xio-socks.h xio-proxy.h xio-progcall.h xio-exec.h \
-	xio-sctp.h \
+	xio-named.h xio-file.h xio-creat.h xio-gopen.h xio-pipe.h \
+	xio-socket.h xio-interface.h xio-listen.h xio-unix.h \
+	xio-ip.h xio-ip4.h xio-ip6.h xio-rawip.h \
+	xio-ipapp.h xio-tcp.h xio-udp.h xio-sctp.h \
+	xio-socks.h xio-proxy.h xio-progcall.h xio-exec.h \
 	xio-system.h xio-termios.h xio-readline.h \
 	xio-pty.h xio-openssl.h \
 	xio-ascii.h xiolockfile.h xio-tcpwrap.h xio-ext2.h xio-tun.h
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 64a05c6..3c08469 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-"1.6.0.1+ip4bind+recvfromfork+x64+execstderr+execspaces+cosmetics+poll+udplistencont+ignoreeofunblock+escape+timestamp+ancillary+envvar+protocol+ioctl+setsockopt+genericsocket+sctp"
+"1.6.0.1+ip4bind+recvfromfork+x64+execstderr+execspaces+cosmetics+poll+udplistencont+ignoreeofunblock+escape+timestamp+ancillary+envvar+protocol+ioctl+setsockopt+genericsocket+sctp+interface"
diff --git a/config.h.in b/config.h.in
index 7f7dcbc..2965536 100644
--- a/config.h.in
+++ b/config.h.in
@@ -236,6 +236,12 @@
 /* Define if you have the <linux/if_tun.h> header file.  */
 #undef HAVE_LINUX_IF_TUN_H
 
+/* Define if you have the <netpacket/packet.h> header file.  */
+#undef HAVE_NETPACKET_PACKET_H
+
+/* Define if you have the <netinet/if_ether.h> header file.  */
+#undef HAVE_NETINET_IF_ETHER_H
+
 /* Define if you have the <sys/utsname.h> header file.  */
 #undef HAVE_SYS_UTSNAME_H
 
@@ -469,6 +475,7 @@
 #undef WITH_IP6
 #undef WITH_RAWIP
 #undef WITH_GENERICSOCKET
+#undef WITH_INTERFACE
 #undef WITH_TCP
 #undef WITH_UDP
 #undef WITH_SCTP
diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 26074c6..f52f996 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -220,6 +220,28 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(rawsocket, [  --disable-genericsocket disable generic socket suppo
 	       *) AC_DEFINE(WITH_GENERICSOCKET) AC_MSG_RESULT(yes);;
 	       esac],
 	       [AC_DEFINE(WITH_GENERICSOCKET) AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)])
+AC_MSG_CHECKING(whether to include raw network INTERFACE support)
+AC_ARG_ENABLE(interface, [  --disable-interface  disable network interface support],
+	      [case "$enableval" in
+	       no) AC_MSG_RESULT(no); WITH_INTERFACE= ;;
+	       *) AC_MSG_RESULT(yes); WITH_INTERFACE=1 ;;
+	       esac],
+	       [AC_MSG_RESULT(yes);  WITH_INTERFACE=1 ])
+if test "$WITH_INTERFACE"; then
+  AC_CHECK_HEADER(netpacket/packet.h,
+    AC_DEFINE(HAVE_NETPACKET_PACKET_H),
+    [WITH_INTERFACE=;
+     AC_MSG_WARN([include file netpacket/packet.h not found, disabling INTERFACE])])
+fi
+if test "$WITH_INTERFACE"; then
+  AC_CHECK_HEADER(netinet/if_ether.h,
+    AC_DEFINE(HAVE_NETINET_IF_ETHER_H),
+    [WITH_INTERFACE=;
+     AC_MSG_WARN([include file netinet/if_ether.h not found, disabling INTERFACE])])
+fi
+if test "$WITH_INTERFACE"; then
+   AC_DEFINE(WITH_INTERFACE)
+fi
 
 AC_MSG_CHECKING(whether to include TCP support)
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(tcp, [  --disable-tcp           disable TCP support],
diff --git a/doc/socat.yo b/doc/socat.yo
index 5723b1e..2153dc1 100644
--- a/doc/socat.yo
+++ b/doc/socat.yo
@@ -541,6 +541,15 @@ label(ADDRESS_NAMED_PIPE)dit(bf(tt(PIPE:<filename>)))
    link(mode)(OPTION_MODE),
    link(unlink-early)(OPTION_UNLINK_EARLY)nl()
    See also: link(unnamed pipe)(ADDRESS_UNNAMED_PIPE)
+label(ADDRESS_INTERFACE)dit(bf(tt(INTERFACE:<interface>)))
+   Communicate with a network connected on an interface using raw packets
+   including link level data. link(<interface>)(TYPE_INTERFACE) is the name of
+   the network interface. Currently only available on Linux.
+   Option groups: link(FD)(GROUP_FD),link(SOCKET)(GROUP_SOCKET) nl()
+   Useful options:
+   link(pf)(OPTION_PROTOCOL_FAMILY)
+   link(so-type)(OPTION_SO_TYPE)nl()
+   See also: link(ip-recv)(ADDRESS_IP_RECV)
 label(ADDRESS_UNNAMED_PIPE)dit(bf(tt(PIPE)))
    Creates an unnamed pipe and uses it for reading and writing. It works as an
    echo, because everything written 
@@ -2741,7 +2750,8 @@ label(TYPE_INT)dit(int)
    "0", i.e. decimal number, octal number with leading "0", or hexadecimal
    number with leading "0x". The value must fit into a C int.
 label(TYPE_INTERFACE)dit(interface)
-   A string specifying the device name of a network interface, e.g. "eth0".
+   A string specifying the device name of a network interface
+   as shown by ifconfig or procan, e.g. "eth0".
 label(TYPE_IP_ADDRESS)dit(IP address)
    An IPv4 address in numbers-and-dots notation, an IPv6 address in hex
    notation enclosed in brackets, or a hostname that resolves to an IPv4 or an
@@ -3193,6 +3203,17 @@ client and server authentication (see OpenSSL
 link(client)(EXAMPLE_ADDRESS_OPENSSL_CONNECT) and 
 link(server)(EXAMPLE_ADDRESS_OPENSSL_LISTEN)).
 
+
+label(EXAMPLE_INTERFACE)
+dit(bf(tt(socat PTY,link=/var/run/ppp,raw,echo=0 INTERFACE:hdlc0)))
+
+circumvents the problem that pppd requires a serial device and thus might not
+be able to work on a synchronous line that is represented by a network device.
+socat creates a PTY to make pppd happy, binds to the network interface hdlc0,
+and can transfer data between both devices. Use pppd on device /var/run/ppp
+then.
+
+
 enddit()
 
 
diff --git a/socat.c b/socat.c
index cf56a83..cee4191 100644
--- a/socat.c
+++ b/socat.c
@@ -428,6 +428,11 @@ void socat_version(FILE *fd) {
 #else
    fputs("  #undef WITH_RAWIP\n", fd);
 #endif
+#ifdef WITH_INTERFACE
+   fprintf(fd, "  #define WITH_INTERFACE %d\n", WITH_INTERFACE);
+#else
+   fputs("  #undef WITH_INTERFACE\n", fd);
+#endif
 #ifdef WITH_TCP
    fprintf(fd, "  #define WITH_TCP %d\n", WITH_TCP);
 #else
diff --git a/sysincludes.h b/sysincludes.h
index 6d053b9..295104a 100644
--- a/sysincludes.h
+++ b/sysincludes.h
@@ -125,6 +125,12 @@
 #if HAVE_LINUX_ERRQUEUE_H
 #include <linux/errqueue.h>	/* struct sock_extended_err */
 #endif
+#if HAVE_NETPACKET_PACKET_H
+#include <netpacket/packet.h>
+#endif
+#if HAVE_NETINET_IF_ETHER_H
+#include <netinet/if_ether.h>
+#endif
 #if HAVE_LINUX_IF_TUN_H
 #include <linux/if_tun.h>
 #endif
diff --git a/sysutils.c b/sysutils.c
index 615fb55..1e1aa57 100644
--- a/sysutils.c
+++ b/sysutils.c
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ socklen_t socket_init(int af, union sockaddr_union *sa) {
 #if WITH_IP6
    case AF_INET6:  socket_in6_init(&sa->ip6); return sizeof(sa->ip6);
 #endif
-   default: Error1("socket_init(): unknown address family %d", af);
+   default: Info1("socket_init(): unknown address family %d", af);
       memset(sa, 0, sizeof(union sockaddr_union));
       sa->soa.sa_family = af;
       return 0;
@@ -452,8 +452,12 @@ int parseport(const char *portname, int ipproto) {
 
 #if WITH_IP4 || WITH_IP6
 /* check the systems interfaces for ifname and return its index
-   or -1 if no interface with this name was found */
-int ifindexbyname(const char *ifname) {
+   or -1 if no interface with this name was found
+   The system calls require an arbitrary socket; the calling program may
+   provide one in anysock to avoid creation of a dummy socket. anysock must be
+   <0 if it does not specify a socket fd.
+ */
+int ifindexbyname(const char *ifname, int anysock) {
    /* Linux: man 7 netdevice */
    /* FreeBSD: man 4 networking */
    /* Solaris: man 7 if_tcp */
@@ -461,29 +465,35 @@ int ifindexbyname(const char *ifname) {
 #if defined(HAVE_STRUCT_IFREQ) && defined(SIOCGIFCONF) && defined(SIOCGIFINDEX)
    /* currently we support Linux, FreeBSD; not Solaris */
 
-#define IFBUFSIZ 1024
+#define IFBUFSIZ 32*sizeof(struct ifreq) /*1024*/
    int s;
    struct ifreq ifr;
 
    if (ifname[0] == '\0') {
       return -1;
    }
-   if ((s = Socket(PF_INET, SOCK_DGRAM, IPPROTO_IP)) < 0) {
+   if (anysock >= 0) {
+      s = anysock;
+   } else  if ((s = Socket(PF_INET, SOCK_DGRAM, IPPROTO_IP)) < 0) {
       Error1("socket(PF_INET, SOCK_DGRAM, IPPROTO_IP): %s", strerror(errno));
       return -1;
    }
 
    strncpy(ifr.ifr_name, ifname, IFNAMSIZ);
    if (Ioctl(s, SIOCGIFINDEX, &ifr) < 0) {
-      Close(s);
-      Info3("ioctl(%d, SIOCGIFINDEX, {%s}): %s",
+      Info3("ioctl(%d, SIOCGIFINDEX, {\"%s\"}): %s",
 	     s, ifr.ifr_name, strerror(errno));
+      Close(s);
       return -1;
    }
    Close(s);
 #if HAVE_STRUCT_IFREQ_IFR_INDEX
+   Info3("ioctl(%d, SIOCGIFINDEX, {\"%s\"}) -> { %d }",
+         s, ifname, ifr.ifr_index);
    return ifr.ifr_index;
 #elif HAVE_STRUCT_IFREQ_IFR_IFINDEX
+   Info3("ioctl(%d, SIOCGIFINDEX, {\"%s\"}) -> { %d }",
+         s, ifname, ifr.ifr_ifindex);
    return ifr.ifr_ifindex;
 #endif /* HAVE_STRUCT_IFREQ_IFR_IFINDEX */
 
@@ -493,10 +503,11 @@ int ifindexbyname(const char *ifname) {
 }
 
 
-/* like ifindexbyname(), but allows an index number as input.
+/* like ifindexbyname(), but also allows the index number as input - in this
+   case it does not lookup the index.
    writes the resulting index to *ifindex and returns 0,
    or returns -1 on error */
-int ifindex(const char *ifname, unsigned int *ifindex) {
+int ifindex(const char *ifname, unsigned int *ifindex, int anysock) {
    char *endptr;
    long int val;
 
@@ -509,7 +520,7 @@ int ifindex(const char *ifname, unsigned int *ifindex) {
       return 0;
    }
 
-   if ((val = ifindexbyname(ifname)) < 0) {
+   if ((val = ifindexbyname(ifname, anysock)) < 0) {
       return -1;
    }
    *ifindex = val;
diff --git a/sysutils.h b/sysutils.h
index e8c8f32..62664ae 100644
--- a/sysutils.h
+++ b/sysutils.h
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@ extern int xiopoll(struct pollfd fds[], nfds_t nfds, int timeout);
 
 extern int parseport(const char *portname, int proto);
 
-extern int ifindexbyname(const char *ifname);
-extern int ifindex(const char *ifname, unsigned int *ifindex);
+extern int ifindexbyname(const char *ifname, int anysock);
+extern int ifindex(const char *ifname, unsigned int *ifindex, int anysock);
 
 extern int xiosetenv(const char *varname, const char *value, int overwrite);
 extern int
diff --git a/test.sh b/test.sh
index 6820123..8f9e5e9 100755
--- a/test.sh
+++ b/test.sh
@@ -7851,6 +7851,61 @@ PORT=$((PORT+1))
 N=$((N+1))
 
 
+# use the INTERFACE address on a tun/tap device and transfer data fully
+# transparent 
+NAME=TUNINTERFACE
+case "$TESTS" in
+*%functions%*|*%tun%*|*%interface%*|*%root%*|*%$NAME%*)
+TEST="$NAME: pass data through tun interface using INTERFACE"
+#idea: create a TUN interface and send a raw packet on the interface side.
+# It should arrive unmodified on the tunnel side.
+if ! feat=$(testaddrs ip4 tun interface) || ! runsip4 >/dev/null; then
+    $PRINTF "test $F_n $TEST... ${YELLOW}$feat not available${NORMAL}\n" $N
+    numCANT=$((numCANT+1))
+elif [ $(id -u) -ne 0 -a "$withroot" -eq 0 ]; then
+    $PRINTF "test $F_n $TEST... ${YELLOW}must be root${NORMAL}\n" $N
+    numCANT=$((numCANT+1))
+else
+tf="$td/test$N.stdout"
+te="$td/test$N.stderr"
+tdiff="$td/test$N.diff"
+tl="$td/test$N.lock"
+da="$(date) $RANDOM"
+dalen=$((${#da}+1))
+TUNNET=10.255.255
+TUNNAME=tun9
+CMD1="$SOCAT $opts -L $tl TUN:$TUNNET.1/24,iff-up=1,tun-type=tun,tun-name=$TUNNAME echo"
+CMD="$SOCAT $opts - INTERFACE:$TUNNAME"
+printf "test $F_n $TEST... " $N
+$CMD1 2>"${te}1" &
+pid1="$!"
+#waitinterface "$TUNNAME"
+sleep 1
+echo "$da" |$CMD 2>"${te}1" >"$tf" 2>"${te}"
+kill $pid1 2>/dev/null
+wait
+if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+    $PRINTF "$FAILED: $SOCAT:\n"
+    echo "$CMD &"
+    echo "$CMD1"
+    cat "${te}" "${te}1"
+    numFAIL=$((numFAIL+1))
+elif ! echo "$da" |diff - "$tf" >"$tdiff"; then
+    $PRINTF "$FAILED\n"
+    cat "$tdiff"
+    cat "${te}" "${te}1"
+    numFAIL=$((numFAIL+1))
+else
+    $PRINTF "$OK\n"
+    if [ -n "$debug" ]; then cat "${te}" "${te}1"; fi
+    numOK=$((numOK+1))
+fi
+fi ;; # not feats, not root
+esac
+PORT=$((PORT+1))
+N=$((N+1))
+
+
 NAME=ABSTRACTSTREAM
 case "$TESTS" in
 *%functions%*|*%unix%*|*%abstract%*|*%connect%*|*%listen%*|*%$NAME%*)
diff --git a/xio-interface.c b/xio-interface.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f7ebb1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xio-interface.c
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+/* source: xio-interface.c */
+/* Copyright Gerhard Rieger 2008 */
+/* Published under the GNU General Public License V.2, see file COPYING */
+
+/* this file contains the source for opening addresses of raw socket type */
+
+#include "xiosysincludes.h"
+
+#if WITH_INTERFACE
+
+#include "xioopen.h"
+#include "xio-socket.h"
+
+#include "xio-interface.h"
+
+
+static
+int xioopen_interface(int argc, const char *argv[], struct opt *opts,
+		      int xioflags, xiofile_t *xfd, unsigned groups, int pf,
+		      int dummy2, int dummy3);
+
+const struct addrdesc xioaddr_interface= { "interface",    3, xioopen_interface, GROUP_FD|GROUP_SOCKET, PF_PACKET, 0, 0 HELP(":<interface>") };
+
+
+static
+int _xioopen_interface(const char *ifname,
+		       struct opt *opts, int xioflags, xiofile_t *xxfd,
+		       unsigned groups, int pf) {
+   xiosingle_t *xfd = &xxfd->stream;
+   union sockaddr_union us = {{0}};
+   socklen_t uslen;
+   int socktype = SOCK_RAW;
+   unsigned int ifidx;
+   bool needbind = false;
+   char *bindstring = NULL;
+   struct sockaddr_ll sall = { 0 };
+
+   if (ifindex(ifname, &ifidx, -1) < 0) {
+      Error1("unknown interface \"%s\"", ifname);
+      ifidx = 0;	/* desparate attempt to continue */
+   }
+
+   xfd->howtoend = END_SHUTDOWN;
+   retropt_int(opts, OPT_SO_TYPE, &socktype);
+
+   retropt_socket_pf(opts, &pf);
+
+   /* ...res_opts[] */
+   if (applyopts_single(xfd, opts, PH_INIT) < 0)  return -1;
+   applyopts(-1, opts, PH_INIT);
+
+   xfd->salen = sizeof(xfd->peersa);
+   if (pf == PF_UNSPEC) {
+      pf = xfd->peersa.soa.sa_family;
+   }
+
+   xfd->dtype = XIODATA_RECVFROM_SKIPIP;
+
+   if (retropt_string(opts, OPT_BIND, &bindstring)) {
+      needbind = true;
+   }
+   /*!!! parse by ':' */
+   ((struct sockaddr_ll *)&us)->sll_family = pf;
+   ((struct sockaddr_ll *)&us)->sll_protocol = htons(ETH_P_ALL);
+   ((struct sockaddr_ll *)&us)->sll_ifindex = ifidx;
+   uslen = sizeof(sall);
+   needbind = true;
+   xfd->peersa = (union sockaddr_union)us;
+
+   return
+      _xioopen_dgram_sendto(needbind?&us:NULL, uslen,
+			  opts, xioflags, xfd, groups, pf, socktype, 0);
+}
+
+static
+int xioopen_interface(int argc, const char *argv[], struct opt *opts,
+		      int xioflags, xiofile_t *xxfd, unsigned groups,
+		      int pf, int dummy2, int dummy3) {
+   xiosingle_t *xfd = &xxfd->stream;
+   int result;
+
+   if (argc != 2) {
+      Error2("%s: wrong number of parameters (%d instead of 1)",
+	     argv[0], argc-1);
+      return STAT_NORETRY;
+   }
+
+   if ((result =
+	_xioopen_interface(argv[1], opts, xioflags, xxfd, groups, pf))
+       != STAT_OK) {
+      return result;
+   }
+
+   xfd->dtype = XIOREAD_RECV|XIOWRITE_SENDTO;
+   if (pf == PF_INET) {
+      xfd->dtype |= XIOREAD_RECV_SKIPIP;
+   }
+
+   xfd->para.socket.la.soa.sa_family = xfd->peersa.soa.sa_family;
+
+   _xio_openlate(xfd, opts);
+   return STAT_OK;
+}
+
+#endif /* WITH_INTERFACE */
diff --git a/xio-interface.h b/xio-interface.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c7ed866
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xio-interface.h
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+/* source: xio-interface.h */
+/* Copyright Gerhard Rieger 2008 */
+/* Published under the GNU General Public License V.2, see file COPYING */
+
+#ifndef __xio_interface_h_included
+#define __xio_interface_h_included 1
+
+extern const struct addrdesc xioaddr_interface;
+
+#endif /* !defined(__xio_interface_h_included) */
diff --git a/xio-socket.c b/xio-socket.c
index 9fbdbbe..1cbfa80 100644
--- a/xio-socket.c
+++ b/xio-socket.c
@@ -1500,8 +1500,8 @@ int retropt_socket_pf(struct opt *opts, int *pf) {
    char *pfname;
 
    if (retropt_string(opts, OPT_PROTOCOL_FAMILY, &pfname) >= 0) {
-      if (false) {
-	 ;
+      if (isdigit(pfname[0])) {
+	 *pf = strtoul(pfname, NULL /*!*/, 0);
 #if WITH_IP4
       } else if (!strcasecmp("inet", pfname) ||
 	  !strcasecmp("inet4", pfname) ||
diff --git a/xiomodes.h b/xiomodes.h
index 48f8dac..999c4d4 100644
--- a/xiomodes.h
+++ b/xiomodes.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "xio-listen.h"
 #include "xio-unix.h"
 #include "xio-rawip.h"
+#include "xio-interface.h"
 #include "xio-ip.h"
 #if WITH_IP4
 #include "xio-ip4.h"
diff --git a/xioopen.c b/xioopen.c
index 051bbc7..25ab136 100644
--- a/xioopen.c
+++ b/xioopen.c
@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@ const struct addrname addressnames[] = {
 #if WITH_GOPEN
    { "gopen",	&addr_gopen },
 #endif
+#if WITH_INTERFACE
+   { "if",		&xioaddr_interface },
+#endif
 #if (WITH_IP4 || WITH_IP6) && WITH_TCP
    { "inet",		&addr_tcp_connect },
 #endif
@@ -80,6 +83,9 @@ const struct addrname addressnames[] = {
    { "inet6-l",	&addr_tcp6_listen },
    { "inet6-listen",	&addr_tcp6_listen },
 #endif
+#if WITH_INTERFACE
+   { "interface",	&xioaddr_interface },
+#endif
 #if WITH_RAWIP
 #if (WITH_IP4 || WITH_IP6)
    { "ip",		&addr_rawip_sendto },
diff --git a/xioopts.c b/xioopts.c
index 550a292..cb969b0 100644
--- a/xioopts.c
+++ b/xioopts.c
@@ -3876,7 +3876,7 @@ mc:addr
 		  ip4_mreqn.mreq.imr_interface = sockaddr2.ip4.sin_addr;
 		  /* third parameter is interface */
 		  if (ifindex(opt->value.u_ip_mreq.ifindex,
-			      (unsigned int *)&ip4_mreqn.mreqn.imr_ifindex)
+			      (unsigned int *)&ip4_mreqn.mreqn.imr_ifindex, -1)
 		      < 0) {
 		     Error1("cannot resolve interface \"%s\"", 
 			    opt->value.u_ip_mreq.ifindex);
@@ -3889,7 +3889,8 @@ mc:addr
 #if HAVE_STRUCT_IP_MREQN
 		  /* there is a form with two parameters that uses mreqn */
 		  } else if (ifindex(opt->value.u_ip_mreq.param2,
-				     (unsigned int *)&ip4_mreqn.mreqn.imr_ifindex)
+				     (unsigned int *)&ip4_mreqn.mreqn.imr_ifindex,
+				     -1)
 			     >= 0) {
 		     /* yes, second param converts to interface */
 		     ip4_mreqn.mreq.imr_interface.s_addr = htonl(0);
@@ -3961,7 +3962,8 @@ mc:addr
 			      &sockaddr1, &socklen1, 0, 0);
 	       ip6_mreq.ipv6mr_multiaddr = sockaddr1.ip6.sin6_addr;
 	       if (ifindex(opt->value.u_ip_mreq.param2,
-			   &ip6_mreq.ipv6mr_interface) < 0) {
+			   &ip6_mreq.ipv6mr_interface, -1)
+		   < 0) {
 		  Error1("interface \"%s\" not found",
 			 opt->value.u_ip_mreq.param2);
 		  ip6_mreq.ipv6mr_interface = htonl(0);
diff --git a/xioread.c b/xioread.c
index 34590ea..559d9be 100644
--- a/xioread.c
+++ b/xioread.c
@@ -144,6 +144,15 @@ ssize_t xioread(xiofile_t *file, void *buff, size_t bufsiz) {
 	 errno = _errno;
 	 return -1;
       }
+      /* on packet type we also receive outgoing packets, this is not desired
+       */
+      if (from.soa.sa_family == PF_PACKET) {
+	 if ((((struct sockaddr_ll *)&from.soa)->sll_pkttype & PACKET_OUTGOING)
+	    == 0) {
+	    errno = EAGAIN;  return -1;
+	 }
+      }
+	    
       Notice2("received packet with "F_Zu" bytes from %s",
 	      bytes,
 	      sockaddr_info(&from.soa, fromlen, infobuff, sizeof(infobuff)));