diff --git a/Makefile.common b/Makefile.common
index 411c8d9cda..a22b3c7c2e 100644
--- a/Makefile.common
+++ b/Makefile.common
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ SHARK_COMMON_CAPTURE_SRC =	\
 # corresponding headers
 SHARK_COMMON_CAPTURE_INCLUDES =	\
 	capture_ifinfo.h	\
+	capture_session.h	\
 	capture_sync.h		\
 	capture_ui_utils.h
 
diff --git a/capture.c b/capture.c
index 2a12d6549b..ae940a2d69 100644
--- a/capture.c
+++ b/capture.c
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ typedef struct {
 static GList *capture_callbacks = NULL;
 
 static void
-capture_callback_invoke(int event, capture_options *capture_opts)
+capture_callback_invoke(int event, capture_session *cap_session)
 {
   capture_callback_data_t *cb;
   GList *cb_item = capture_callbacks;
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ capture_callback_invoke(int event, capture_options *capture_opts)
 
   while(cb_item != NULL) {
     cb = (capture_callback_data_t *)cb_item->data;
-    cb->cb_fct(event, capture_opts, cb->user_data);
+    cb->cb_fct(event, cap_session, cb->user_data);
     cb_item = g_list_next(cb_item);
   }
 }
@@ -130,13 +130,13 @@ capture_callback_remove(capture_callback_t func)
  * @return TRUE if the capture starts successfully, FALSE otherwise.
  */
 gboolean
-capture_start(capture_options *capture_opts)
+capture_start(capture_options *capture_opts, capture_session *cap_session)
 {
   gboolean ret;
   guint i;
   GString *source = g_string_new("");
 
-  capture_opts->state = CAPTURE_PREPARING;
+  cap_session->state = CAPTURE_PREPARING;
   g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_MESSAGE, "Capture Start ...");
 #ifdef _WIN32
   if (capture_opts->ifaces->len < 2) {
@@ -165,10 +165,10 @@ capture_start(capture_options *capture_opts)
   } else {
     g_string_append_printf(source, "%u interfaces", capture_opts->ifaces->len);
   }
-  cf_set_tempfile_source((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf, source->str);
+  cf_set_tempfile_source((capture_file *)cap_session->cf, source->str);
   g_string_free(source, TRUE);
   /* try to start the capture child process */
-  ret = sync_pipe_start(capture_opts);
+  ret = sync_pipe_start(capture_opts, cap_session);
   if(!ret) {
       if(capture_opts->save_file != NULL) {
           g_free(capture_opts->save_file);
@@ -176,17 +176,17 @@ capture_start(capture_options *capture_opts)
       }
 
       g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_MESSAGE, "Capture Start failed!");
-      capture_opts->state = CAPTURE_STOPPED;
+      cap_session->state = CAPTURE_STOPPED;
   } else {
       /* the capture child might not respond shortly after bringing it up */
       /* (for example: it will block if no input arrives from an input capture pipe (e.g. mkfifo)) */
 
       /* to prevent problems, bring the main GUI into "capture mode" right after a successful */
       /* spawn/exec of the capture child, without waiting for any response from it */
-      capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_prepared, capture_opts);
+      capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_prepared, cap_session);
 
       if(capture_opts->show_info)
-        capture_info_open(capture_opts);
+        capture_info_open(cap_session);
   }
 
   return ret;
@@ -194,54 +194,55 @@ capture_start(capture_options *capture_opts)
 
 
 void
-capture_stop(capture_options *capture_opts)
+capture_stop(capture_session *cap_session)
 {
   g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_MESSAGE, "Capture Stop ...");
 
-  capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_stopping, capture_opts);
+  capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_stopping, cap_session);
 
   /* stop the capture child gracefully */
-  sync_pipe_stop(capture_opts);
+  sync_pipe_stop(cap_session);
 }
 
 
 void
-capture_restart(capture_options *capture_opts)
+capture_restart(capture_session *cap_session)
 {
+    capture_options *capture_opts = cap_session->capture_opts;
+
     g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_MESSAGE, "Capture Restart");
 
     capture_opts->restart = TRUE;
-    capture_stop(capture_opts);
+    capture_stop(cap_session);
 }
 
 
 void
-capture_kill_child(capture_options *capture_opts)
+capture_kill_child(capture_session *cap_session)
 {
   g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "Capture Kill");
 
   /* kill the capture child */
-  sync_pipe_kill(capture_opts->fork_child);
+  sync_pipe_kill(cap_session->fork_child);
 }
 
-
-
 /* We've succeeded in doing a (non real-time) capture; try to read it into a new capture file */
 static gboolean
-capture_input_read_all(capture_options *capture_opts, gboolean is_tempfile, gboolean drops_known,
-guint32 drops)
+capture_input_read_all(capture_session *cap_session, gboolean is_tempfile,
+                       gboolean drops_known, guint32 drops)
 {
+  capture_options *capture_opts = cap_session->capture_opts;
   int err;
 
   /* Capture succeeded; attempt to open the capture file. */
-  if (cf_open((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf, capture_opts->save_file, is_tempfile, &err) != CF_OK) {
+  if (cf_open((capture_file *)cap_session->cf, capture_opts->save_file, is_tempfile, &err) != CF_OK) {
     /* We're not doing a capture any more, so we don't have a save file. */
     return FALSE;
   }
 
   /* Set the read filter to NULL. */
   /* XXX - this is odd here; try to put it somewhere where it fits better */
-  cf_set_rfcode((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf, NULL);
+  cf_set_rfcode((capture_file *)cap_session->cf, NULL);
 
   /* Get the packet-drop statistics.
 
@@ -262,7 +263,7 @@ guint32 drops)
      thus not have to set them here - "cf_read()" will get them from
      the file and use them. */
   if (drops_known) {
-    cf_set_drops_known((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf, TRUE);
+    cf_set_drops_known((capture_file *)cap_session->cf, TRUE);
 
     /* XXX - on some systems, libpcap doesn't bother filling in
        "ps_ifdrop" - it doesn't even set it to zero - so we don't
@@ -272,11 +273,11 @@ guint32 drops)
        several statistics - perhaps including various interface
        error statistics - and would tell us which of them it
        supplies, allowing us to display only the ones it does. */
-    cf_set_drops((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf, drops);
+    cf_set_drops((capture_file *)cap_session->cf, drops);
   }
 
   /* read in the packet data */
-  switch (cf_read((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf, FALSE)) {
+  switch (cf_read((capture_file *)cap_session->cf, FALSE)) {
 
   case CF_READ_OK:
   case CF_READ_ERROR:
@@ -293,7 +294,7 @@ guint32 drops)
   }
 
   /* if we didn't capture even a single packet, close the file again */
-  if(cf_get_packet_count((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf) == 0 && !capture_opts->restart) {
+  if(cf_get_packet_count((capture_file *)cap_session->cf) == 0 && !capture_opts->restart) {
     simple_dialog(ESD_TYPE_INFO, ESD_BTN_OK,
 "%sNo packets captured!%s\n"
 "\n"
@@ -310,8 +311,8 @@ guint32 drops)
 #endif
 "",
     simple_dialog_primary_start(), simple_dialog_primary_end(),
-    (cf_is_tempfile((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf)) ? "temporary " : "");
-    cf_close((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf);
+    (cf_is_tempfile((capture_file *)cap_session->cf)) ? "temporary " : "");
+    cf_close((capture_file *)cap_session->cf);
   }
   return TRUE;
 }
@@ -319,38 +320,39 @@ guint32 drops)
 
 /* capture child tells us we have a new (or the first) capture file */
 gboolean
-capture_input_new_file(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *new_file)
+capture_input_new_file(capture_session *cap_session, gchar *new_file)
 {
+  capture_options *capture_opts = cap_session->capture_opts;
   gboolean is_tempfile;
   int  err;
 
-  if(capture_opts->state == CAPTURE_PREPARING) {
+  if(cap_session->state == CAPTURE_PREPARING) {
     g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_MESSAGE, "Capture started!");
   }
   g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_MESSAGE, "File: \"%s\"", new_file);
 
-  g_assert(capture_opts->state == CAPTURE_PREPARING || capture_opts->state == CAPTURE_RUNNING);
+  g_assert(cap_session->state == CAPTURE_PREPARING || cap_session->state == CAPTURE_RUNNING);
 
   /* free the old filename */
   if(capture_opts->save_file != NULL) {
     /* we start a new capture file, close the old one (if we had one before). */
     /* (we can only have an open capture file in real_time_mode!) */
-    if( ((capture_file *) capture_opts->cf)->state != FILE_CLOSED) {
+    if( ((capture_file *) cap_session->cf)->state != FILE_CLOSED) {
         if(capture_opts->real_time_mode) {
-            capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_update_finished, capture_opts);
-            cf_finish_tail((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf, &err);
-            cf_close((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf);
+            capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_update_finished, cap_session);
+            cf_finish_tail((capture_file *)cap_session->cf, &err);
+            cf_close((capture_file *)cap_session->cf);
         } else {
-            capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_fixed_finished, capture_opts);
+            capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_fixed_finished, cap_session);
         }
     }
     g_free(capture_opts->save_file);
     is_tempfile = FALSE;
-    cf_set_tempfile((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf, FALSE);
+    cf_set_tempfile((capture_file *)cap_session->cf, FALSE);
   } else {
     /* we didn't have a save_file before; must be a tempfile */
     is_tempfile = TRUE;
-    cf_set_tempfile((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf, TRUE);
+    cf_set_tempfile((capture_file *)cap_session->cf, TRUE);
   }
 
   /* save the new filename */
@@ -359,7 +361,7 @@ capture_input_new_file(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *new_file)
   /* if we are in real-time mode, open the new file now */
   if(capture_opts->real_time_mode) {
     /* Attempt to open the capture file and set up to read from it. */
-    switch(cf_start_tail((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf, capture_opts->save_file, is_tempfile, &err)) {
+    switch(cf_start_tail((capture_file *)cap_session->cf, capture_opts->save_file, is_tempfile, &err)) {
     case CF_OK:
       break;
     case CF_ERROR:
@@ -370,7 +372,7 @@ capture_input_new_file(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *new_file)
       return FALSE;
     }
   } else {
-    capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_prepared, capture_opts);
+    capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_prepared, cap_session);
   }
 
   if(capture_opts->show_info) {
@@ -379,11 +381,11 @@ capture_input_new_file(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *new_file)
   }
 
   if(capture_opts->real_time_mode) {
-    capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_update_started, capture_opts);
+    capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_update_started, cap_session);
   } else {
-    capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_fixed_started, capture_opts);
+    capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_fixed_started, cap_session);
   }
-  capture_opts->state = CAPTURE_RUNNING;
+  cap_session->state = CAPTURE_RUNNING;
 
   return TRUE;
 }
@@ -391,16 +393,16 @@ capture_input_new_file(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *new_file)
 
 /* capture child tells us we have new packets to read */
 void
-capture_input_new_packets(capture_options *capture_opts, int to_read)
+capture_input_new_packets(capture_session *cap_session, int to_read)
 {
+  capture_options *capture_opts = cap_session->capture_opts;
   int  err;
 
-
   g_assert(capture_opts->save_file);
 
   if(capture_opts->real_time_mode) {
     /* Read from the capture file the number of records the child told us it added. */
-    switch (cf_continue_tail((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf, to_read, &err)) {
+    switch (cf_continue_tail((capture_file *)cap_session->cf, to_read, &err)) {
 
     case CF_READ_OK:
     case CF_READ_ERROR:
@@ -409,22 +411,22 @@ capture_input_new_packets(capture_options *capture_opts, int to_read)
          file.
 
          XXX - abort on a read error? */
-         capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_update_continue, capture_opts);
+         capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_update_continue, cap_session);
       break;
 
     case CF_READ_ABORTED:
       /* Kill the child capture process; the user wants to exit, and we
          shouldn't just leave it running. */
-      capture_kill_child(capture_opts);
+      capture_kill_child(cap_session);
       break;
     }
   } else {
     /* increase the capture file packet counter by the number of incoming packets */
-    cf_set_packet_count((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf,
-        cf_get_packet_count((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf) + to_read);
-    cf_fake_continue_tail((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf);
+    cf_set_packet_count((capture_file *)cap_session->cf,
+        cf_get_packet_count((capture_file *)cap_session->cf) + to_read);
+    cf_fake_continue_tail((capture_file *)cap_session->cf);
 
-    capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_fixed_continue, capture_opts);
+    capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_fixed_continue, cap_session);
   }
 
   /* update the main window so we get events (e.g. from the stop toolbar button) */
@@ -441,14 +443,14 @@ capture_input_new_packets(capture_options *capture_opts, int to_read)
 /* Capture child told us how many dropped packets it counted.
  */
 void
-capture_input_drops(capture_options *capture_opts, guint32 dropped)
+capture_input_drops(capture_session *cap_session, guint32 dropped)
 {
   g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "%u packet%s dropped", dropped, plurality(dropped, "", "s"));
 
-  g_assert(capture_opts->state == CAPTURE_RUNNING);
+  g_assert(cap_session->state == CAPTURE_RUNNING);
 
-  cf_set_drops_known((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf, TRUE);
-  cf_set_drops((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf, dropped);
+  cf_set_drops_known((capture_file *)cap_session->cf, TRUE);
+  cf_set_drops((capture_file *)cap_session->cf, dropped);
 }
 
 
@@ -459,7 +461,8 @@ capture_input_drops(capture_options *capture_opts, guint32 dropped)
    The secondary message might be a null string.
  */
 void
-capture_input_error_message(capture_options *capture_opts, char *error_msg, char *secondary_error_msg)
+capture_input_error_message(capture_session *cap_session, char *error_msg,
+                            char *secondary_error_msg)
 {
   gchar *safe_error_msg;
   gchar *safe_secondary_error_msg;
@@ -467,7 +470,7 @@ capture_input_error_message(capture_options *capture_opts, char *error_msg, char
   g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_MESSAGE, "Error message from child: \"%s\", \"%s\"",
         error_msg, secondary_error_msg);
 
-  g_assert(capture_opts->state == CAPTURE_PREPARING || capture_opts->state == CAPTURE_RUNNING);
+  g_assert(cap_session->state == CAPTURE_PREPARING || cap_session->state == CAPTURE_RUNNING);
 
   safe_error_msg = simple_dialog_format_message(error_msg);
   if (*secondary_error_msg != '\0') {
@@ -488,14 +491,14 @@ capture_input_error_message(capture_options *capture_opts, char *error_msg, char
   /* the capture child will close the sync_pipe if required, nothing to do for now */
 }
 
-
-
 /* Capture child told us that an error has occurred while parsing a
    capture filter when starting/running the capture.
  */
 void
-capture_input_cfilter_error_message(capture_options *capture_opts, guint i, char *error_message)
+capture_input_cfilter_error_message(capture_session *cap_session, guint i,
+                                    char *error_message)
 {
+  capture_options *capture_opts = cap_session->capture_opts;
   dfilter_t *rfcode = NULL;
   gchar *safe_cfilter;
   gchar *safe_descr;
@@ -504,7 +507,7 @@ capture_input_cfilter_error_message(capture_options *capture_opts, guint i, char
 
   g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_MESSAGE, "Capture filter error message from child: \"%s\"", error_message);
 
-  g_assert(capture_opts->state == CAPTURE_PREPARING || capture_opts->state == CAPTURE_RUNNING);
+  g_assert(cap_session->state == CAPTURE_PREPARING || cap_session->state == CAPTURE_RUNNING);
   g_assert(i < capture_opts->ifaces->len);
 
   interface_opts = g_array_index(capture_opts->ifaces, interface_options, i);
@@ -542,24 +545,24 @@ capture_input_cfilter_error_message(capture_options *capture_opts, guint i, char
   /* the capture child will close the sync_pipe if required, nothing to do for now */
 }
 
-
 /* capture child closed its side of the pipe, do the required cleanup */
 void
-capture_input_closed(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *msg)
+capture_input_closed(capture_session *cap_session, gchar *msg)
 {
+  capture_options *capture_opts = cap_session->capture_opts;
   int  err;
   int  packet_count_save;
 
   g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_MESSAGE, "Capture stopped!");
-  g_assert(capture_opts->state == CAPTURE_PREPARING || capture_opts->state == CAPTURE_RUNNING);
+  g_assert(cap_session->state == CAPTURE_PREPARING || cap_session->state == CAPTURE_RUNNING);
 
   if (msg != NULL)
     simple_dialog(ESD_TYPE_ERROR, ESD_BTN_OK, "%s", msg);
 
-  if(capture_opts->state == CAPTURE_PREPARING) {
+  if(cap_session->state == CAPTURE_PREPARING) {
     /* We didn't start a capture; note that the attempt to start it
        failed. */
-    capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_failed, capture_opts);
+    capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_failed, cap_session);
   } else {
     /* We started a capture; process what's left of the capture file if
        we were in "update list of packets in real time" mode, or process
@@ -568,14 +571,14 @@ capture_input_closed(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *msg)
       cf_read_status_t status;
 
       /* Read what remains of the capture file. */
-      status = cf_finish_tail((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf, &err);
+      status = cf_finish_tail((capture_file *)cap_session->cf, &err);
 
       /* XXX: If -Q (quit-after-cap) then cf->count clr'd below so save it first */
-      packet_count_save = cf_get_packet_count((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf);
+      packet_count_save = cf_get_packet_count((capture_file *)cap_session->cf);
       /* Tell the GUI we are not doing a capture any more.
          Must be done after the cf_finish_tail(), so file lengths are
          correctly displayed */
-      capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_update_finished, capture_opts);
+      capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_update_finished, cap_session);
 
       /* Finish the capture. */
       switch (status) {
@@ -598,8 +601,8 @@ capture_input_closed(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *msg)
 #endif
             "",
             simple_dialog_primary_start(), simple_dialog_primary_end(),
-            cf_is_tempfile((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf) ? "temporary " : "");
-          cf_close((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf);
+            cf_is_tempfile((capture_file *)cap_session->cf) ? "temporary " : "");
+          cf_close((capture_file *)cap_session->cf);
         }
         break;
       case CF_READ_ERROR:
@@ -616,12 +619,12 @@ capture_input_closed(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *msg)
       }
     } else {
       /* first of all, we are not doing a capture any more */
-      capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_fixed_finished, capture_opts);
+      capture_callback_invoke(capture_cb_capture_fixed_finished, cap_session);
 
       /* this is a normal mode capture and if no error happened, read in the capture file data */
       if(capture_opts->save_file != NULL) {
-        capture_input_read_all(capture_opts, cf_is_tempfile((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf),
-          cf_get_drops_known((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf), cf_get_drops((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf));
+        capture_input_read_all(cap_session, cf_is_tempfile((capture_file *)cap_session->cf),
+          cf_get_drops_known((capture_file *)cap_session->cf), cf_get_drops((capture_file *)cap_session->cf));
       }
     }
   }
@@ -629,11 +632,11 @@ capture_input_closed(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *msg)
   if(capture_opts->show_info)
     capture_info_close();
 
-  capture_opts->state = CAPTURE_STOPPED;
+  cap_session->state = CAPTURE_STOPPED;
 
   /* if we couldn't open a capture file, there's nothing more for us to do */
   if(capture_opts->save_file == NULL) {
-    cf_close((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf);
+    cf_close((capture_file *)cap_session->cf);
     return;
   }
 
@@ -644,7 +647,7 @@ capture_input_closed(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *msg)
     ws_unlink(capture_opts->save_file);
 
     /* if it was a tempfile, throw away the old filename (so it will become a tempfile again) */
-    if(cf_is_tempfile((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf)) {
+    if(cf_is_tempfile((capture_file *)cap_session->cf)) {
       g_free(capture_opts->save_file);
       capture_opts->save_file = NULL;
     }
@@ -655,9 +658,9 @@ capture_input_closed(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *msg)
     }
 
     /* close the currently loaded capture file */
-    cf_close((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf);
+    cf_close((capture_file *)cap_session->cf);
 
-    capture_start(capture_opts);
+    capture_start(capture_opts, cap_session);
   } else {
     /* We're not doing a capture any more, so we don't have a save file. */
     g_free(capture_opts->save_file);
diff --git a/capture.h b/capture.h
index e73b2b4be4..7082b8be88 100644
--- a/capture.h
+++ b/capture.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
  */
 
 #include "capture_opts.h"
+#include "capture_session.h"
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ typedef enum {
     capture_cb_capture_failed
 } capture_cbs;
 
-typedef void (*capture_callback_t) (gint event, capture_options *capture_opts,
+typedef void (*capture_callback_t) (gint event, capture_session *cap_session,
                                     gpointer user_data);
 
 extern void
@@ -64,48 +65,60 @@ capture_callback_remove(capture_callback_t func);
  * @param capture_opts the numerous capture options
  * @return TRUE if the capture starts successfully, FALSE otherwise.
  */
-extern gboolean capture_start(capture_options *capture_opts);
+extern gboolean
+capture_start(capture_options *capture_opts, capture_session *cap_session);
 
 /** Stop a capture session (usually from a menu item). */
-extern void capture_stop(capture_options *capture_opts);
+extern void
+capture_stop(capture_session *cap_session);
 
 /** Restart the current captured packets and start again. */
-extern void capture_restart(capture_options *capture_opts);
+extern void
+capture_restart(capture_session *cap_session);
 
 /** Terminate the capture child cleanly when exiting. */
-extern void capture_kill_child(capture_options *capture_opts);
+extern void
+capture_kill_child(capture_session *cap_session);
 
 /**
  * Capture child told us we have a new (or the first) capture file.
  */
-extern gboolean capture_input_new_file(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *new_file);
+extern gboolean
+capture_input_new_file(capture_session *cap_session, gchar *new_file);
 
 /**
  * Capture child told us we have new packets to read.
  */
-extern void capture_input_new_packets(capture_options *capture_opts, int to_read);
+extern void
+capture_input_new_packets(capture_session *cap_session, int to_read);
 
 /**
  * Capture child told us how many dropped packets it counted.
  */
-extern void capture_input_drops(capture_options *capture_opts, guint32 dropped);
+extern void
+capture_input_drops(capture_session *cap_session, guint32 dropped);
 
 /**
  * Capture child told us that an error has occurred while starting the capture.
  */
-extern void capture_input_error_message(capture_options *capture_opts, char *error_message, char *secondary_error_msg);
+extern void
+capture_input_error_message(capture_session *cap_session, char *error_message,
+                            char *secondary_error_msg);
 
 /**
  * Capture child told us that an error has occurred while parsing a
  * capture filter when starting/running the capture.
  */
-extern void capture_input_cfilter_error_message(capture_options *capture_opts, guint i, char *error_message);
+extern void
+capture_input_cfilter_error_message(capture_session *cap_session, guint i,
+                                    char *error_message);
 
 /**
  * Capture child closed its side of the pipe, report any error and
  * do the required cleanup.
  */
-extern void capture_input_closed(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *msg);
+extern void
+capture_input_closed(capture_session *cap_session, gchar *msg);
 
 struct if_stat_cache_s;
 typedef struct if_stat_cache_s if_stat_cache_t;
diff --git a/capture_ifinfo.c b/capture_ifinfo.c
index af76eabbc8..40967a6117 100644
--- a/capture_ifinfo.c
+++ b/capture_ifinfo.c
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 #include <glib.h>
 
 #include "capture_opts.h"
+#include "capture_session.h"
 #include "capture_sync.h"
 #include "log.h"
 
diff --git a/capture_info.c b/capture_info.c
index a4c5651fd3..fdb1ead30c 100644
--- a/capture_info.c
+++ b/capture_info.c
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ static info_data_t info_data;
 
 
 /* open the info */
-void capture_info_open(capture_options *capture_opts)
+void capture_info_open(capture_session *cap_session)
 {
     info_data.counts.total      = 0;
     info_data.counts.sctp       = 0;
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ void capture_info_open(capture_options *capture_opts)
     info_data.wtap = NULL;
     info_data.ui.counts = &info_data.counts;
 
-    capture_info_ui_create(&info_data.ui, capture_opts);
+    capture_info_ui_create(&info_data.ui, cap_session);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/capture_info.h b/capture_info.h
index 98c8242fb3..4b250efcd7 100644
--- a/capture_info.h
+++ b/capture_info.h
@@ -33,13 +33,14 @@
 #define __CAPTURE_INFO_H__
 
 #include "capture_opts.h"
+#include "capture_session.h"
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif /* __cplusplus */
 
 /* open the info - init values (wtap, counts), create dialog */
-extern void capture_info_open(capture_options *capture_opts);
+extern void capture_info_open(capture_session *cap_session);
 
 /* new file arrived - (eventually close old wtap), open wtap */
 extern gboolean capture_info_new_file(const char *new_filename);
@@ -65,9 +66,8 @@ typedef struct {
 
 
 /** Create the capture info dialog */
-extern void capture_info_ui_create(
-capture_info    *cinfo,
-capture_options	*capture_opts);
+extern void
+capture_info_ui_create(capture_info *cinfo, capture_session *cap_session);
 
 /** Update the capture info counters in the dialog */
 extern void capture_info_ui_update(
diff --git a/capture_opts.c b/capture_opts.c
index 785a22a5c1..cc5bf10ef9 100644
--- a/capture_opts.c
+++ b/capture_opts.c
@@ -54,9 +54,8 @@ static gboolean capture_opts_output_to_pipe(const char *save_file, gboolean *is_
 
 
 void
-capture_opts_init(capture_options *capture_opts, void *cf)
+capture_opts_init(capture_options *capture_opts)
 {
-  capture_opts->cf                              = cf;
   capture_opts->ifaces                          = g_array_new(FALSE, FALSE, sizeof(interface_options));
   capture_opts->all_ifaces                      = g_array_new(FALSE, FALSE, sizeof(interface_t));
   capture_opts->num_selected                    = 0;
@@ -114,18 +113,7 @@ capture_opts_init(capture_options *capture_opts, void *cf)
   capture_opts->has_autostop_duration           = FALSE;
   capture_opts->autostop_duration               = 60;               /* 1 min */
 
-
-  capture_opts->fork_child                      = -1;               /* invalid process handle */
-#ifdef _WIN32
-  capture_opts->signal_pipe_write_fd            = -1;
-#endif
-  capture_opts->state                           = CAPTURE_STOPPED;
   capture_opts->output_to_pipe                  = FALSE;
-#ifndef _WIN32
-  capture_opts->owner                           = getuid();
-  capture_opts->group                           = getgid();
-#endif
-  capture_opts->session_started                 = FALSE;
 }
 
 
@@ -135,7 +123,6 @@ capture_opts_log(const char *log_domain, GLogLevelFlags log_level, capture_optio
     guint i;
 
     g_log(log_domain, log_level, "CAPTURE OPTIONS     :");
-    g_log(log_domain, log_level, "CFile               : %p", capture_opts->cf);
 
     for (i = 0; i < capture_opts->ifaces->len; i++) {
         interface_options interface_opts;
@@ -229,11 +216,6 @@ capture_opts_log(const char *log_domain, GLogLevelFlags log_level, capture_optio
     g_log(log_domain, log_level, "AutostopPackets (%u) : %u", capture_opts->has_autostop_packets, capture_opts->autostop_packets);
     g_log(log_domain, log_level, "AutostopFilesize(%u) : %u (KB)", capture_opts->has_autostop_filesize, capture_opts->autostop_filesize);
     g_log(log_domain, log_level, "AutostopDuration(%u) : %u", capture_opts->has_autostop_duration, capture_opts->autostop_duration);
-
-    g_log(log_domain, log_level, "ForkChild           : %d", capture_opts->fork_child);
-#ifdef _WIN32
-    g_log(log_domain, log_level, "SignalPipeWrite     : %d", capture_opts->signal_pipe_write_fd);
-#endif
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/capture_opts.h b/capture_opts.h
index c380b9d145..7d966bc559 100644
--- a/capture_opts.h
+++ b/capture_opts.h
@@ -42,13 +42,6 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif /* __cplusplus */
 
-/* Current state of capture engine. XXX - differentiate states */
-typedef enum {
-    CAPTURE_STOPPED,        /**< stopped */
-    CAPTURE_PREPARING,      /**< preparing, but still no response from capture child */
-    CAPTURE_RUNNING         /**< capture child signalled ok, capture is running now */
-} capture_state;
-
 #ifdef HAVE_PCAP_REMOTE
 /* Type of capture source */
 typedef enum {
@@ -168,7 +161,6 @@ typedef struct interface_options_tag {
 /** Capture options coming from user interface */
 typedef struct capture_options_tag {
     /* general */
-    void     *cf;                   /**< handle to cfile (note: untyped handle) */
     GArray   *ifaces;               /**< array of interfaces.
                                          Currently only used by dumpcap. */
     GArray   *all_ifaces;
@@ -209,23 +201,12 @@ typedef struct capture_options_tag {
     gint32 autostop_duration;       /**< Maximum capture duration */
 
     /* internally used (don't touch from outside) */
-    int fork_child;                 /**< If not -1, in parent, process ID of child */
-    int fork_child_status;          /**< Child exit status */
-#ifdef _WIN32
-    int signal_pipe_write_fd;       /**< the pipe to signal the child */
-#endif
-    capture_state state;            /**< current state of the capture engine */
     gboolean output_to_pipe;        /**< save_file is a pipe (named or stdout) */
-#ifndef _WIN32
-    uid_t owner;                    /**< owner of the cfile */
-    gid_t group;                    /**< group of the cfile */
-#endif
-    gboolean session_started;
 } capture_options;
 
 /* initialize the capture_options with some reasonable values */
 extern void
-capture_opts_init(capture_options *capture_opts, void *cf);
+capture_opts_init(capture_options *capture_opts);
 
 /* set a command line option value */
 extern int
diff --git a/capture_sync.c b/capture_sync.c
index fded034adf..a6319c4be0 100644
--- a/capture_sync.c
+++ b/capture_sync.c
@@ -118,7 +118,21 @@ static void pipe_convert_header(const guchar *header, int header_len, char *indi
 static ssize_t pipe_read_block(int pipe_fd, char *indicator, int len, char *msg,
                            char **err_msg);
 
-
+void
+capture_session_init(capture_session *cap_session, void *cf)
+{
+    cap_session->cf                              = cf;
+    cap_session->fork_child                      = -1;               /* invalid process handle */
+#ifdef _WIN32
+    cap_session->signal_pipe_write_fd            = -1;
+#endif
+    cap_session->state                           = CAPTURE_STOPPED;
+#ifndef _WIN32
+    cap_session->owner                           = getuid();
+    cap_session->group                           = getgid();
+#endif
+    cap_session->session_started                 = FALSE;
+}
 
 /* Append an arg (realloc) to an argc/argv array */
 /* (add a string pointer to a NULL-terminated array of string pointers) */
@@ -320,7 +334,8 @@ init_pipe_args(int *argc) {
 #define ARGV_NUMBER_LEN 24
 /* a new capture run: start a new dumpcap task and hand over parameters through command line */
 gboolean
-sync_pipe_start(capture_options *capture_opts) {
+sync_pipe_start(capture_options *capture_opts, capture_session *cap_session)
+{
     char ssnap[ARGV_NUMBER_LEN];
     char scount[ARGV_NUMBER_LEN];
     char sfilesize[ARGV_NUMBER_LEN];
@@ -368,7 +383,7 @@ sync_pipe_start(capture_options *capture_opts) {
     g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, "sync_pipe_start");
     capture_opts_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, capture_opts);
 
-    capture_opts->fork_child = -1;
+    cap_session->fork_child = -1;
 
     argv = init_pipe_args(&argc);
     if (!argv) {
@@ -594,7 +609,7 @@ sync_pipe_start(capture_options *capture_opts) {
         g_free( (gpointer) argv);
         return FALSE;
     }
-    capture_opts->fork_child = (int) pi.hProcess;
+    cap_session->fork_child = (int) pi.hProcess;
     g_string_free(args, TRUE);
 
     /* associate the operating system filehandle to a C run-time file handle */
@@ -615,7 +630,7 @@ sync_pipe_start(capture_options *capture_opts) {
         return FALSE;
     }
 
-    if ((capture_opts->fork_child = fork()) == 0) {
+    if ((cap_session->fork_child = fork()) == 0) {
         /*
          * Child process - run dumpcap with the right arguments to make
          * it just capture with the specified capture parameters
@@ -658,7 +673,7 @@ sync_pipe_start(capture_options *capture_opts) {
     ws_close(sync_pipe[PIPE_WRITE]);
 #endif
 
-    if (capture_opts->fork_child == -1) {
+    if (cap_session->fork_child == -1) {
         /* We couldn't even create the child process. */
         report_failure("Couldn't create child process: %s", g_strerror(errno));
         ws_close(sync_pipe_read_fd);
@@ -668,7 +683,8 @@ sync_pipe_start(capture_options *capture_opts) {
         return FALSE;
     }
 
-    capture_opts->fork_child_status = 0;
+    cap_session->fork_child_status = 0;
+    cap_session->capture_opts = capture_opts;
 
     /* we might wait for a moment till child is ready, so update screen now */
     main_window_update();
@@ -679,8 +695,8 @@ sync_pipe_start(capture_options *capture_opts) {
        the child process wants to tell us something. */
 
     /* we have a running capture, now wait for the real capture filename */
-    pipe_input_set_handler(sync_pipe_read_fd, (gpointer) capture_opts,
-                           &capture_opts->fork_child, sync_pipe_input_cb);
+    pipe_input_set_handler(sync_pipe_read_fd, (gpointer) cap_session,
+                           &cap_session->fork_child, sync_pipe_input_cb);
 
     return TRUE;
 }
@@ -1612,7 +1628,7 @@ pipe_read_block(int pipe_fd, char *indicator, int len, char *msg,
 static gboolean
 sync_pipe_input_cb(gint source, gpointer user_data)
 {
-    capture_options *capture_opts = (capture_options *)user_data;
+    capture_session *cap_session = (capture_session *)user_data;
     int  ret;
     char buffer[SP_MAX_MSG_LEN+1];
     ssize_t nread;
@@ -1639,7 +1655,7 @@ sync_pipe_input_cb(gint source, gpointer user_data)
 
            If we got an EOF, nread is 0 and primary_msg isn't set.  This
            is an indication that the capture is finished. */
-        ret = sync_pipe_wait_for_child(capture_opts->fork_child, &wait_msg);
+        ret = sync_pipe_wait_for_child(cap_session->fork_child, &wait_msg);
         if(nread == 0) {
             /* We got an EOF from the sync pipe.  That means that the capture
                child exited, and not in the middle of a message; we treat
@@ -1660,13 +1676,13 @@ sync_pipe_input_cb(gint source, gpointer user_data)
         }
 
         /* No more child process. */
-        capture_opts->fork_child = -1;
-        capture_opts->fork_child_status = ret;
+        cap_session->fork_child = -1;
+        cap_session->fork_child_status = ret;
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
         ws_close(capture_opts->signal_pipe_write_fd);
 #endif
-        capture_input_closed(capture_opts, primary_msg);
+        capture_input_closed(cap_session, primary_msg);
         g_free(primary_msg);
         return FALSE;
     }
@@ -1674,7 +1690,7 @@ sync_pipe_input_cb(gint source, gpointer user_data)
     /* we got a valid message block from the child, process it */
     switch(indicator) {
     case SP_FILE:
-        if(!capture_input_new_file(capture_opts, buffer)) {
+        if(!capture_input_new_file(cap_session, buffer)) {
             g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, "sync_pipe_input_cb: file failed, closing capture");
 
             /* We weren't able to open the new capture file; user has been
@@ -1694,15 +1710,15 @@ sync_pipe_input_cb(gint source, gpointer user_data)
 
                This can also happen if the user specified "-", meaning
                "standard output", as the capture file. */
-            sync_pipe_stop(capture_opts);
-            capture_input_closed(capture_opts, NULL);
+            sync_pipe_stop(cap_session);
+            capture_input_closed(cap_session, NULL);
             return FALSE;
         }
         break;
     case SP_PACKET_COUNT:
         npackets = atoi(buffer);
         g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, "sync_pipe_input_cb: new packets %u", npackets);
-        capture_input_new_packets(capture_opts, npackets);
+        capture_input_new_packets(cap_session, npackets);
         break;
     case SP_ERROR_MSG:
         /* convert primary message */
@@ -1712,7 +1728,7 @@ sync_pipe_input_cb(gint source, gpointer user_data)
         pipe_convert_header((guchar*)primary_msg + primary_len, 4, &indicator, &secondary_len);
         secondary_msg = primary_msg + primary_len + 4;
         /* message output */
-        capture_input_error_message(capture_opts, primary_msg, secondary_msg);
+        capture_input_error_message(cap_session, primary_msg, secondary_msg);
         /* the capture child will close the sync_pipe, nothing to do for now */
         /* (an error message doesn't mean we have to stop capturing) */
         break;
@@ -1723,12 +1739,12 @@ sync_pipe_input_cb(gint source, gpointer user_data)
         ch = strtok(buffer, ":");
         indx = (int)strtol(ch, NULL, 10);
         ch = strtok(NULL, ":");
-        capture_input_cfilter_error_message(capture_opts, indx, ch);
+        capture_input_cfilter_error_message(cap_session, indx, ch);
          /* the capture child will close the sync_pipe, nothing to do for now */
          break;
         }
     case SP_DROPS:
-        capture_input_drops(capture_opts, (guint32)strtoul(buffer, NULL, 10));
+        capture_input_drops(cap_session, (guint32)strtoul(buffer, NULL, 10));
         break;
     default:
         g_assert_not_reached();
@@ -1923,21 +1939,20 @@ sync_pipe_signame(int sig)
 #ifdef _WIN32
 /* tell the child through the signal pipe that we want to quit the capture */
 static void
-signal_pipe_capquit_to_child(capture_options *capture_opts)
+signal_pipe_capquit_to_child(capture_session *cap_session)
 {
     const char quit_msg[] = "QUIT";
     int ret;
 
-
     g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, "signal_pipe_capquit_to_child");
 
     /* it doesn't matter *what* we send here, the first byte will stop the capture */
     /* simply sending a "QUIT" string */
-    /*pipe_write_block(capture_opts->signal_pipe_write_fd, SP_QUIT, quit_msg);*/
-    ret = write(capture_opts->signal_pipe_write_fd, quit_msg, sizeof quit_msg);
+    /*pipe_write_block(cap_session->signal_pipe_write_fd, SP_QUIT, quit_msg);*/
+    ret = write(cap_session->signal_pipe_write_fd, quit_msg, sizeof quit_msg);
     if(ret == -1) {
         g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE_CHILD, G_LOG_LEVEL_WARNING,
-              "signal_pipe_capquit_to_child: %d header: error %s", capture_opts->signal_pipe_write_fd, g_strerror(errno));
+              "signal_pipe_capquit_to_child: %d header: error %s", cap_session->signal_pipe_write_fd, g_strerror(errno));
     }
 }
 #endif
@@ -1945,7 +1960,7 @@ signal_pipe_capquit_to_child(capture_options *capture_opts)
 
 /* user wants to stop the capture run */
 void
-sync_pipe_stop(capture_options *capture_opts)
+sync_pipe_stop(capture_session *cap_session)
 {
 #ifdef _WIN32
     int count;
@@ -1953,10 +1968,10 @@ sync_pipe_stop(capture_options *capture_opts)
     gboolean terminate = TRUE;
 #endif
 
-    if (capture_opts->fork_child != -1) {
+    if (cap_session->fork_child != -1) {
 #ifndef _WIN32
         /* send the SIGINT signal to close the capture child gracefully. */
-        int sts = kill(capture_opts->fork_child, SIGINT);
+        int sts = kill(cap_session->fork_child, SIGINT);
         if (sts != 0) {
             g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE_CHILD, G_LOG_LEVEL_WARNING,
                   "Sending SIGINT to child failed: %s\n", g_strerror(errno));
@@ -1967,11 +1982,11 @@ sync_pipe_stop(capture_options *capture_opts)
         /* First, use the special signal pipe to try to close the capture child
          * gracefully.
          */
-        signal_pipe_capquit_to_child(capture_opts);
+        signal_pipe_capquit_to_child(cap_session);
 
         /* Next, wait for the process to exit on its own */
         for (count = 0; count < STOP_SLEEP_TIME / STOP_CHECK_TIME; count++) {
-            if (GetExitCodeProcess((HANDLE) capture_opts->fork_child, &childstatus) &&
+            if (GetExitCodeProcess((HANDLE) cap_session->fork_child, &childstatus) &&
                 childstatus != STILL_ACTIVE) {
                 terminate = FALSE;
                 break;
@@ -1983,7 +1998,7 @@ sync_pipe_stop(capture_options *capture_opts)
         if (terminate) {
             g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE_CHILD, G_LOG_LEVEL_WARNING,
                   "sync_pipe_stop: forcing child to exit");
-            sync_pipe_kill(capture_opts->fork_child);
+            sync_pipe_kill(cap_session->fork_child);
         }
 #endif
     }
diff --git a/capture_sync.h b/capture_sync.h
index 92888c9449..f8e6f63e6d 100644
--- a/capture_sync.h
+++ b/capture_sync.h
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 #ifndef __CAPTURE_SYNC_H__
 #define __CAPTURE_SYNC_H__
 
-
 /**
  * Start a new capture session.
  *  Create a capture child which is doing the real capture work.
@@ -44,14 +43,15 @@
  *  Most of the parameters are passed through the global capture_opts.
  *
  *  @param capture_opts the options
+ *  @param cap_session a handle for the capture session
  *  @return             TRUE if a capture could be started, FALSE if not
  */
 extern gboolean
-sync_pipe_start(capture_options *capture_opts);
+sync_pipe_start(capture_options *capture_opts, capture_session *cap_session);
 
 /** User wants to stop capturing, gracefully close the capture child */
 extern void
-sync_pipe_stop(capture_options *capture_opts);
+sync_pipe_stop(capture_session *cap_session);
 
 /** User wants to stop the program, just kill the child as soon as possible */
 extern void
diff --git a/dumpcap.c b/dumpcap.c
index 509398c843..56a01aa4bb 100644
--- a/dumpcap.c
+++ b/dumpcap.c
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@
 #include "sync_pipe.h"
 
 #include "capture_opts.h"
+#include "capture_session.h"
 #include "capture_ifinfo.h"
 #include "capture_sync.h"
 
@@ -4451,7 +4452,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     /* Set the initial values in the capture options. This might be overwritten
        by the command line parameters. */
-    capture_opts_init(&global_capture_opts, NULL);
+    capture_opts_init(&global_capture_opts);
 
     /* We always save to a file - if no file was specified, we save to a
        temporary file. */
diff --git a/tshark.c b/tshark.c
index a0c1991799..6c99cc0335 100644
--- a/tshark.c
+++ b/tshark.c
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@
 #include "capture-wpcap.h"
 #include <wsutil/unicode-utils.h>
 #endif /* _WIN32 */
+#include "capture_session.h"
 #include "capture_sync.h"
 #endif /* HAVE_LIBPCAP */
 #include "log.h"
@@ -146,6 +147,7 @@ static const char *separator = "";
 static gboolean print_packet_counts = TRUE;
 
 static capture_options global_capture_opts;
+static capture_session global_capture_session;
 
 #ifdef SIGINFO
 static gboolean infodelay;      /* if TRUE, don't print capture info in SIGINFO handler */
@@ -1056,7 +1058,8 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
   initialize_funnel_ops();
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBPCAP
-  capture_opts_init(&global_capture_opts, &cfile);
+  capture_opts_init(&global_capture_opts);
+  capture_session_init(&global_capture_session, (void *)&cfile);
 #endif
 
   timestamp_set_type(TS_RELATIVE);
@@ -2005,7 +2008,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
      * Instead, pass on the exit status from the capture child.
      */
     capture();
-    exit_status = global_capture_opts.fork_child_status;
+    exit_status = global_capture_session.fork_child_status;
 
     if (print_packet_info) {
       if (!write_finale()) {
@@ -2232,7 +2235,7 @@ capture(void)
 #endif /* SIGINFO */
 #endif /* _WIN32 */
 
-  global_capture_opts.state = CAPTURE_PREPARING;
+  global_capture_session.state = CAPTURE_PREPARING;
 
   /* Let the user know which interfaces were chosen. */
   for (i = 0; i < global_capture_opts.ifaces->len; i++) {
@@ -2271,7 +2274,7 @@ capture(void)
   fflush(stderr);
   g_string_free(str, TRUE);
 
-  ret = sync_pipe_start(&global_capture_opts);
+  ret = sync_pipe_start(&global_capture_opts, &global_capture_session);
 
   if (!ret)
     return FALSE;
@@ -2390,27 +2393,28 @@ capture_input_cfilter_error_message(capture_options *capture_opts, guint i, char
 
 /* capture child tells us we have a new (or the first) capture file */
 gboolean
-capture_input_new_file(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *new_file)
+capture_input_new_file(capture_session *cap_session, gchar *new_file)
 {
+  capture_options *capture_opts = cap_session->capture_opts;
   gboolean is_tempfile;
   int      err;
 
-  if (capture_opts->state == CAPTURE_PREPARING) {
+  if (cap_session->state == CAPTURE_PREPARING) {
     g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_MESSAGE, "Capture started!");
   }
   g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_CAPTURE, G_LOG_LEVEL_MESSAGE, "File: \"%s\"", new_file);
 
-  g_assert(capture_opts->state == CAPTURE_PREPARING || capture_opts->state == CAPTURE_RUNNING);
+  g_assert(cap_session->state == CAPTURE_PREPARING || cap_session->state == CAPTURE_RUNNING);
 
   /* free the old filename */
   if (capture_opts->save_file != NULL) {
 
     /* we start a new capture file, close the old one (if we had one before) */
-    if ( ((capture_file *) capture_opts->cf)->state != FILE_CLOSED) {
-      if ( ((capture_file *) capture_opts->cf)->wth != NULL) {
-        wtap_close(((capture_file *) capture_opts->cf)->wth);
+    if ( ((capture_file *) cap_session->cf)->state != FILE_CLOSED) {
+      if ( ((capture_file *) cap_session->cf)->wth != NULL) {
+        wtap_close(((capture_file *) cap_session->cf)->wth);
       }
-      ((capture_file *) capture_opts->cf)->state = FILE_CLOSED;
+      ((capture_file *) cap_session->cf)->state = FILE_CLOSED;
     }
 
     g_free(capture_opts->save_file);
@@ -2426,7 +2430,7 @@ capture_input_new_file(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *new_file)
   /* if we are in real-time mode, open the new file now */
   if (do_dissection) {
     /* Attempt to open the capture file and set up to read from it. */
-    switch(cf_open((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf, capture_opts->save_file, is_tempfile, &err)) {
+    switch(cf_open((capture_file *)cap_session->cf, capture_opts->save_file, is_tempfile, &err)) {
     case CF_OK:
       break;
     case CF_ERROR:
@@ -2438,7 +2442,7 @@ capture_input_new_file(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *new_file)
     }
   }
 
-  capture_opts->state = CAPTURE_RUNNING;
+  cap_session->state = CAPTURE_RUNNING;
 
   return TRUE;
 }
@@ -2446,13 +2450,13 @@ capture_input_new_file(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *new_file)
 
 /* capture child tells us we have new packets to read */
 void
-capture_input_new_packets(capture_options *capture_opts, int to_read)
+capture_input_new_packets(capture_session *cap_session, int to_read)
 {
   gboolean      ret;
   int           err;
   gchar        *err_info;
   gint64        data_offset;
-  capture_file *cf = (capture_file *)capture_opts->cf;
+  capture_file *cf = (capture_file *)cap_session->cf;
   gboolean      filtering_tap_listeners;
   guint         tap_flags;
 
@@ -2477,7 +2481,7 @@ capture_input_new_packets(capture_options *capture_opts, int to_read)
       ret = wtap_read(cf->wth, &err, &err_info, &data_offset);
       if (ret == FALSE) {
         /* read from file failed, tell the capture child to stop */
-        sync_pipe_stop(capture_opts);
+        sync_pipe_stop(cap_session);
         wtap_close(cf->wth);
         cf->wth = NULL;
       } else {
@@ -2575,9 +2579,9 @@ capture_input_drops(capture_options *capture_opts _U_, guint32 dropped)
  * do the required cleanup.
  */
 void
-capture_input_closed(capture_options *capture_opts, gchar *msg)
+capture_input_closed(capture_session *cap_session, gchar *msg)
 {
-  capture_file *cf = (capture_file *) capture_opts->cf;
+  capture_file *cf = (capture_file *) cap_session->cf;
 
   if (msg != NULL)
     fprintf(stderr, "tshark: %s\n", msg);
@@ -2640,7 +2644,7 @@ static void
 capture_cleanup(int signum _U_)
 {
   /* tell the capture child to stop */
-  sync_pipe_stop(&global_capture_opts);
+  sync_pipe_stop(&global_capture_session);
 
   /* don't stop our own loop already here, otherwise status messages and
    * cleanup wouldn't be done properly. The child will indicate the stop of
diff --git a/ui/capture_globals.h b/ui/capture_globals.h
index 2bf0eeaa66..d388c6b48d 100644
--- a/ui/capture_globals.h
+++ b/ui/capture_globals.h
@@ -25,12 +25,16 @@
 #ifndef __CAPTURE_GLOBALS_H__
 #define __CAPTURE_GLOBALS_H__
 
+#include "../capture_session.h"
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif /* __cplusplus */
 
 extern capture_options global_capture_opts;
 
+extern capture_session global_capture_session;
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif /* __cplusplus */
diff --git a/ui/gtk/capture_dlg.c b/ui/gtk/capture_dlg.c
index 547fea87e7..b79ded2717 100644
--- a/ui/gtk/capture_dlg.c
+++ b/ui/gtk/capture_dlg.c
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ capture_stop_cb(GtkWidget *w _U_, gpointer d _U_)
     airpcap_set_toolbar_stop_capture(airpcap_if_active);
 #endif
 
-  capture_stop(&global_capture_opts);
+  capture_stop(&global_capture_session);
 }
 
 /* restart (stop - delete old file - start) running capture */
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ capture_restart_cb(GtkWidget *w _U_, gpointer d _U_)
     airpcap_set_toolbar_start_capture(airpcap_if_active);
 #endif
 
-  capture_restart(&global_capture_opts);
+  capture_restart(&global_capture_session);
 }
 
 enum cfc_state_t {
@@ -4715,7 +4715,7 @@ capture_prep_cb(GtkWidget *w _U_, gpointer d _U_)
   gtk_widget_set_sensitive(GTK_WIDGET(all_cb), if_present);
   /* Promiscuous mode row */
   promisc_cb = gtk_check_button_new_with_mnemonic("Use _promiscuous mode on all interfaces");
-  if (!global_capture_opts.session_started) {
+  if (!global_capture_session.session_started) {
     gtk_toggle_button_set_active(GTK_TOGGLE_BUTTON(promisc_cb), prefs.capture_prom_mode);
   } else {
     gtk_toggle_button_set_active(GTK_TOGGLE_BUTTON(promisc_cb), get_all_prom_mode());
@@ -5233,7 +5233,7 @@ capture_prep_cb(GtkWidget *w _U_, gpointer d _U_)
   window_present(cap_open_w);
 
   cap_open_complete = TRUE;   /* "Capture:Start" is now OK */
-  global_capture_opts.session_started = TRUE;
+  global_capture_session.session_started = TRUE;
 }
 
 /* user pressed the "Start" button (in dialog or toolbar) */
@@ -5283,17 +5283,17 @@ capture_start_cb(GtkWidget *w _U_, gpointer d _U_)
   main_auto_scroll_live_changed(auto_scroll_live);
 
   /* XXX - can this ever happen? */
-  if (global_capture_opts.state != CAPTURE_STOPPED)
+  if (global_capture_session.state != CAPTURE_STOPPED)
     return;
 
   /* close the currently loaded capture file */
-  cf_close((capture_file *)global_capture_opts.cf);
+  cf_close((capture_file *)global_capture_session.cf);
 
   /* Copy the selected interfaces to the set of interfaces to use for
      this capture. */
   collect_ifaces(&global_capture_opts);
 
-  if (capture_start(&global_capture_opts)) {
+  if (capture_start(&global_capture_opts, &global_capture_session)) {
     /* The capture succeeded, which means the capture filter syntax is
        valid; add this capture filter to the recent capture filter list. */
     for (i = 0; i < global_capture_opts.ifaces->len; i++) {
@@ -5570,7 +5570,7 @@ create_and_fill_model(GtkTreeView *view)
         temp = g_strdup_printf("<b>%s</b>\n<span size='small'>%s</span>", device.display_name, device.addresses);
       }
       linkname = NULL;
-      if(global_capture_opts.session_started == FALSE && capture_dev_user_linktype_find(device.name) != -1) {
+      if(global_capture_session.session_started == FALSE && capture_dev_user_linktype_find(device.name) != -1) {
         device.active_dlt = capture_dev_user_linktype_find(device.name);
       }
       for (list = device.links; list != NULL; list = g_list_next(list)) {
@@ -5583,10 +5583,10 @@ create_and_fill_model(GtkTreeView *view)
       if (!linkname)
           linkname = g_strdup("unknown");
       pmode = capture_dev_user_pmode_find(device.name);
-      if (global_capture_opts.session_started == FALSE && pmode != -1) {
+      if (global_capture_session.session_started == FALSE && pmode != -1) {
         device.pmode = pmode;
       }
-      if(global_capture_opts.session_started == FALSE) {
+      if(global_capture_session.session_started == FALSE) {
         hassnap = capture_dev_user_hassnap_find(device.name);
         snaplen = capture_dev_user_snaplen_find(device.name);
         if(snaplen != -1 && hassnap != -1) {
@@ -5606,10 +5606,10 @@ create_and_fill_model(GtkTreeView *view)
       }
 
 #if defined(_WIN32) || defined(HAVE_PCAP_CREATE)
-      if (global_capture_opts.session_started == FALSE && capture_dev_user_buffersize_find(device.name) != -1) {
+      if (global_capture_session.session_started == FALSE && capture_dev_user_buffersize_find(device.name) != -1) {
         buffer = capture_dev_user_buffersize_find(device.name);
         device.buffer = buffer;
-      } else if (global_capture_opts.session_started == FALSE) {
+      } else if (global_capture_session.session_started == FALSE) {
         device.buffer = DEFAULT_CAPTURE_BUFFER_SIZE;
       } 
 #endif
diff --git a/ui/gtk/capture_if_dlg.c b/ui/gtk/capture_if_dlg.c
index 07cec6e7aa..1faec060fa 100644
--- a/ui/gtk/capture_if_dlg.c
+++ b/ui/gtk/capture_if_dlg.c
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@
 
 #include <epan/prefs.h>
 
+#include "../capture_opts.h"
+#include "../capture_session.h"
 #include "../capture_ifinfo.h"
 #include "../capture.h"
 #include "../capture-pcap-util.h"
diff --git a/ui/gtk/capture_info_dlg.c b/ui/gtk/capture_info_dlg.c
index 870f7a2045..2ec2118fbe 100644
--- a/ui/gtk/capture_info_dlg.c
+++ b/ui/gtk/capture_info_dlg.c
@@ -72,25 +72,25 @@ typedef struct {
 
 /* Workhorse for stopping capture */
 static void
-capture_info_stop(capture_options *capture_opts)
+capture_info_stop(capture_session *cap_session)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_AIRPCAP
   airpcap_set_toolbar_stop_capture(airpcap_if_active);
 #endif
-  capture_stop(capture_opts);
+  capture_stop(cap_session);
 }
 
 /* "delete-event" signal callback. Note different signature than "clicked" signal callback */
 static gboolean
 capture_info_delete_cb(GtkWidget *w _U_, GdkEvent *event _U_, gpointer data) {
-  capture_info_stop((capture_options *)data);
+  capture_info_stop((capture_session *)data);
   return TRUE;
 }
 
 /* "clicked" signal callback */
 static void
 capture_info_stop_clicked_cb(GtkButton *w _U_, gpointer data) {
-  capture_info_stop((capture_options *)data);
+  capture_info_stop((capture_session *)data);
 }
 
 static gboolean
@@ -110,10 +110,10 @@ capture_info_ui_update_cb(gpointer data)
 
 /* create the capture info dialog */
 /* will keep pointers to the fields in the counts parameter */
-void capture_info_ui_create(
-capture_info    *cinfo,
-capture_options *capture_opts)
+void
+capture_info_ui_create(capture_info *cinfo, capture_session *cap_session)
 {
+  capture_options  *capture_opts = cap_session->capture_opts;
   unsigned int      i;
   GtkWidget         *main_vb, *stop_bt, *counts_grid;
   GtkWidget         *counts_fr, *running_grid, *running_label, *lb, *bbox, *ci_help;
@@ -297,8 +297,8 @@ capture_options *capture_opts)
 
   stop_bt = (GtkWidget *)g_object_get_data(G_OBJECT(bbox), WIRESHARK_STOCK_CAPTURE_STOP);
   window_set_cancel_button(info->cap_w, stop_bt, NULL);
-  g_signal_connect(stop_bt, "clicked", G_CALLBACK(capture_info_stop_clicked_cb), capture_opts);
-  g_signal_connect(info->cap_w, "delete_event", G_CALLBACK(capture_info_delete_cb), capture_opts);
+  g_signal_connect(stop_bt, "clicked", G_CALLBACK(capture_info_stop_clicked_cb), cap_session);
+  g_signal_connect(info->cap_w, "delete_event", G_CALLBACK(capture_info_delete_cb), cap_session);
 
   ci_help = (GtkWidget *)g_object_get_data(G_OBJECT(bbox), GTK_STOCK_HELP);
   gtk_widget_set_tooltip_text(ci_help, "Get help about this dialog");
diff --git a/ui/gtk/drag_and_drop.c b/ui/gtk/drag_and_drop.c
index a49ed17659..cb12955316 100644
--- a/ui/gtk/drag_and_drop.c
+++ b/ui/gtk/drag_and_drop.c
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ dnd_data_received(GtkWidget *widget _U_, GdkDragContext *dc _U_, gint x _U_, gin
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBPCAP
         /* if a capture is running, do nothing but warn the user */
-        if((global_capture_opts.state != CAPTURE_STOPPED)) {
+        if((global_capture_session.state != CAPTURE_STOPPED)) {
             simple_dialog(ESD_TYPE_CONFIRMATION,
                         ESD_BTN_OK,
                         "%sDrag and Drop currently not possible!%s\n\n"
diff --git a/ui/gtk/main.c b/ui/gtk/main.c
index 580642478d..197fcce996 100644
--- a/ui/gtk/main.c
+++ b/ui/gtk/main.c
@@ -209,6 +209,9 @@
  */
 #define RC_FILE "gtkrc"
 
+capture_options global_capture_opts;
+capture_session global_capture_session;
+
 capture_file cfile;
 
 static gboolean capture_stopping;
@@ -980,7 +983,7 @@ main_do_quit(void)
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBPCAP
     /* Nuke any child capture in progress. */
-    capture_kill_child(&global_capture_opts);
+    capture_kill_child(&global_capture_session);
 #endif
 
     /* Are we in the middle of reading a capture? */
@@ -1514,11 +1517,11 @@ static GList *icon_list_create(
 }
 
 static void
-main_capture_cb_capture_prepared(capture_options *capture_opts)
+main_capture_cb_capture_prepared(capture_session *cap_session)
 {
     static GList *icon_list = NULL;
 
-    set_titlebar_for_capture_in_progress((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf);
+    set_titlebar_for_capture_in_progress((capture_file *)cap_session->cf);
 
     if(icon_list == NULL) {
         icon_list = icon_list_create(wsiconcap_16_pb_data, wsiconcap_32_pb_data, wsiconcap_48_pb_data, wsiconcap_64_pb_data);
@@ -1535,11 +1538,11 @@ main_capture_cb_capture_prepared(capture_options *capture_opts)
 }
 
 static void
-main_capture_cb_capture_update_started(capture_options *capture_opts)
+main_capture_cb_capture_update_started(capture_session *cap_session)
 {
     /* We've done this in "prepared" above, but it will be cleared while
        switching to the next multiple file. */
-    set_titlebar_for_capture_in_progress((capture_file *)capture_opts->cf);
+    set_titlebar_for_capture_in_progress((capture_file *)cap_session->cf);
 
     main_set_for_capture_in_progress(TRUE);
     set_capture_if_dialog_for_capture_in_progress(TRUE);
@@ -1553,9 +1556,9 @@ main_capture_cb_capture_update_started(capture_options *capture_opts)
 }
 
 static void
-main_capture_cb_capture_update_finished(capture_options *capture_opts)
+main_capture_cb_capture_update_finished(capture_session *cap_session)
 {
-    capture_file *cf = (capture_file *)capture_opts->cf;
+    capture_file *cf = (capture_file *)cap_session->cf;
     static GList *icon_list = NULL;
 
     /* The capture isn't stopping any more - it's stopped. */
@@ -1593,17 +1596,17 @@ main_capture_cb_capture_update_finished(capture_options *capture_opts)
 }
 
 static void
-main_capture_cb_capture_fixed_started(capture_options *capture_opts _U_)
+main_capture_cb_capture_fixed_started(capture_session *cap_session _U_)
 {
     /* Don't set up main window for a capture file. */
     main_set_for_capture_file(FALSE);
 }
 
 static void
-main_capture_cb_capture_fixed_finished(capture_options *capture_opts _U_)
+main_capture_cb_capture_fixed_finished(capture_session *cap_session _U_)
 {
 #if 0
-    capture_file *cf = capture_opts->cf;
+    capture_file *cf = (capture_file *)cap_session->cf;
 #endif
     static GList *icon_list = NULL;
 
@@ -1637,7 +1640,7 @@ main_capture_cb_capture_fixed_finished(capture_options *capture_opts _U_)
 }
 
 static void
-main_capture_cb_capture_stopping(capture_options *capture_opts _U_)
+main_capture_cb_capture_stopping(capture_session *cap_session _U_)
 {
     capture_stopping = TRUE;
     set_menus_for_capture_stopping();
@@ -1649,7 +1652,7 @@ main_capture_cb_capture_stopping(capture_options *capture_opts _U_)
 }
 
 static void
-main_capture_cb_capture_failed(capture_options *capture_opts _U_)
+main_capture_cb_capture_failed(capture_session *cap_session _U_)
 {
     static GList *icon_list = NULL;
 
@@ -1813,7 +1816,7 @@ main_cf_callback(gint event, gpointer data, gpointer user_data _U_)
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBPCAP
 static void
-main_capture_callback(gint event, capture_options *capture_opts, gpointer user_data _U_)
+main_capture_callback(gint event, capture_session *cap_session, gpointer user_data _U_)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_GTKOSXAPPLICATION
     GtkosxApplication *theApp;
@@ -1821,11 +1824,11 @@ main_capture_callback(gint event, capture_options *capture_opts, gpointer user_d
     switch(event) {
     case(capture_cb_capture_prepared):
         g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_MAIN, G_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, "Callback: capture prepared");
-        main_capture_cb_capture_prepared(capture_opts);
+        main_capture_cb_capture_prepared(cap_session);
         break;
     case(capture_cb_capture_update_started):
         g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_MAIN, G_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, "Callback: capture update started");
-        main_capture_cb_capture_update_started(capture_opts);
+        main_capture_cb_capture_update_started(cap_session);
 #ifdef HAVE_GTKOSXAPPLICATION
         theApp = (GtkosxApplication *)g_object_new(GTKOSX_TYPE_APPLICATION, NULL);
         gtkosx_application_set_dock_icon_pixbuf(theApp, gdk_pixbuf_new_from_inline(-1, wsiconcap_48_pb_data, FALSE, NULL));
@@ -1836,18 +1839,18 @@ main_capture_callback(gint event, capture_options *capture_opts, gpointer user_d
         break;
     case(capture_cb_capture_update_finished):
         g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_MAIN, G_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, "Callback: capture update finished");
-        main_capture_cb_capture_update_finished(capture_opts);
+        main_capture_cb_capture_update_finished(cap_session);
         break;
     case(capture_cb_capture_fixed_started):
         g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_MAIN, G_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, "Callback: capture fixed started");
-        main_capture_cb_capture_fixed_started(capture_opts);
+        main_capture_cb_capture_fixed_started(cap_session);
         break;
     case(capture_cb_capture_fixed_continue):
         g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_MAIN, G_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, "Callback: capture fixed continue");
         break;
     case(capture_cb_capture_fixed_finished):
         g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_MAIN, G_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, "Callback: capture fixed finished");
-        main_capture_cb_capture_fixed_finished(capture_opts);
+        main_capture_cb_capture_fixed_finished(cap_session);
         break;
     case(capture_cb_capture_stopping):
         g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_MAIN, G_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, "Callback: capture stopping");
@@ -1857,11 +1860,11 @@ main_capture_callback(gint event, capture_options *capture_opts, gpointer user_d
         theApp = (GtkosxApplication *)g_object_new(GTKOSX_TYPE_APPLICATION, NULL);
         gtkosx_application_set_dock_icon_pixbuf(theApp, gdk_pixbuf_new_from_inline(-1, wsicon_64_pb_data, FALSE, NULL));
 #endif
-        main_capture_cb_capture_stopping(capture_opts);
+        main_capture_cb_capture_stopping(cap_session);
         break;
     case(capture_cb_capture_failed):
         g_log(LOG_DOMAIN_MAIN, G_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, "Callback: capture failed");
-        main_capture_cb_capture_failed(capture_opts);
+        main_capture_cb_capture_failed(cap_session);
         break;
     default:
         g_warning("main_capture_callback: event %u unknown", event);
@@ -2476,7 +2479,9 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
   /* Set the initial values in the capture options. This might be overwritten
      by preference settings and then again by the command line parameters. */
-  capture_opts_init(&global_capture_opts, &cfile);
+  capture_opts_init(&global_capture_opts);
+
+  capture_session_init(&global_capture_session, (void *)&cfile);
 #endif
 
   /* Initialize whatever we need to allocate colors for GTK+ */
@@ -3131,7 +3136,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
          to use for this capture. */
       if (global_capture_opts.ifaces->len == 0)
         collect_ifaces(&global_capture_opts);
-      if (capture_start(&global_capture_opts)) {
+      if (capture_start(&global_capture_opts, &global_capture_session)) {
         /* The capture started.  Open stat windows; we do so after creating
            the main window, to avoid GTK warnings, and after successfully
            opening the capture file, so we know we have something to compute
diff --git a/ui/gtk/main_80211_toolbar.c b/ui/gtk/main_80211_toolbar.c
index 5cfcb3a599..6f26ee07ea 100644
--- a/ui/gtk/main_80211_toolbar.c
+++ b/ui/gtk/main_80211_toolbar.c
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 #include "ui/gtk/old-gtk-compat.h"
 
 #include <ws80211_utils.h>
+#include "capture_session.h"
 #include "capture_sync.h"
 
 static GtkWidget *tb80211_tb, *tb80211_iface_list_box, *tb80211_freq_list_box, *tb80211_chan_type_box, *tb80211_info_label;
diff --git a/ui/gtk/main_statusbar.c b/ui/gtk/main_statusbar.c
index 8c8866c5df..c3bff4781f 100644
--- a/ui/gtk/main_statusbar.c
+++ b/ui/gtk/main_statusbar.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "../file.h"
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBPCAP
 #include "../capture_opts.h"
+#include "../capture_session.h"
 #include "../capture_ui_utils.h"
 #include "../capture.h"
 #endif
@@ -771,7 +772,7 @@ statusbar_cf_file_read_finished_cb(capture_file *cf)
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBPCAP
 static void
-statusbar_capture_prepared_cb(capture_options *capture_opts _U_)
+statusbar_capture_prepared_cb(capture_session *cap_session _U_)
 {
     static const gchar msg[] = " Waiting for capture input data ...";
     statusbar_push_file_msg(msg);
@@ -808,8 +809,9 @@ statusbar_get_interface_names(capture_options *capture_opts)
 }
 
 static void
-statusbar_capture_update_started_cb(capture_options *capture_opts)
+statusbar_capture_update_started_cb(capture_session *cap_session)
 {
+    capture_options *capture_opts = cap_session->capture_opts;
     GString *interface_names;
 
     statusbar_pop_file_msg();
@@ -825,10 +827,11 @@ statusbar_capture_update_started_cb(capture_options *capture_opts)
 }
 
 static void
-statusbar_capture_update_continue_cb(capture_options *capture_opts)
+statusbar_capture_update_continue_cb(capture_session *cap_session)
 {
     GString *interface_names;
-    capture_file *cf = (capture_file *)capture_opts->cf;
+    capture_options *capture_opts = cap_session->capture_opts;
+    capture_file *cf = (capture_file *)cap_session->cf;
 
     status_expert_update();
 
@@ -855,9 +858,9 @@ statusbar_capture_update_continue_cb(capture_options *capture_opts)
 }
 
 static void
-statusbar_capture_update_finished_cb(capture_options *capture_opts)
+statusbar_capture_update_finished_cb(capture_session *cap_session)
 {
-    capture_file *cf = (capture_file *)capture_opts->cf;
+    capture_file *cf = (capture_file *)cap_session->cf;
 
     /* Pop the "<live capture in progress>" message off the status bar. */
     statusbar_pop_file_msg();
@@ -866,8 +869,9 @@ statusbar_capture_update_finished_cb(capture_options *capture_opts)
 }
 
 static void
-statusbar_capture_fixed_started_cb(capture_options *capture_opts)
+statusbar_capture_fixed_started_cb(capture_session *cap_session)
 {
+    capture_options *capture_opts = cap_session->capture_opts;
     GString *interface_names;
 
     statusbar_pop_file_msg();
@@ -882,9 +886,9 @@ statusbar_capture_fixed_started_cb(capture_options *capture_opts)
 }
 
 static void
-statusbar_capture_fixed_continue_cb(capture_options *capture_opts)
+statusbar_capture_fixed_continue_cb(capture_session *cap_session)
 {
-    capture_file *cf = (capture_file *)capture_opts->cf;
+    capture_file *cf = (capture_file *)cap_session->cf;
     gchar *capture_msg;
 
 
@@ -896,10 +900,10 @@ statusbar_capture_fixed_continue_cb(capture_options *capture_opts)
 
 
 static void
-statusbar_capture_fixed_finished_cb(capture_options *capture_opts _U_)
+statusbar_capture_fixed_finished_cb(capture_session *cap_session _U_)
 {
 #if 0
-    capture_file *cf = capture_opts->cf;
+    capture_file *cf = (capture_file *)cap_session->cf;
 #endif
 
     /* Pop the "<live capture in progress>" message off the status bar. */
@@ -911,10 +915,10 @@ statusbar_capture_fixed_finished_cb(capture_options *capture_opts _U_)
 }
 
 static void
-statusbar_capture_failed_cb(capture_options *capture_opts _U_)
+statusbar_capture_failed_cb(capture_session *cap_session _U_)
 {
 #if 0
-    capture_file *cf = capture_opts->cf;
+    capture_file *cf = (capture_file *)cap_session->cf;
 #endif
 
     /* Pop the "<live capture in progress>" message off the status bar. */
@@ -1062,37 +1066,37 @@ statusbar_cf_callback(gint event, gpointer data, gpointer user_data _U_)
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBPCAP
 void
-statusbar_capture_callback(gint event, capture_options *capture_opts,
+statusbar_capture_callback(gint event, capture_session *cap_session,
                            gpointer user_data _U_)
 {
     switch(event) {
     case(capture_cb_capture_prepared):
-        statusbar_capture_prepared_cb(capture_opts);
+        statusbar_capture_prepared_cb(cap_session);
         break;
     case(capture_cb_capture_update_started):
-        statusbar_capture_update_started_cb(capture_opts);
+        statusbar_capture_update_started_cb(cap_session);
         break;
     case(capture_cb_capture_update_continue):
-        statusbar_capture_update_continue_cb(capture_opts);
+        statusbar_capture_update_continue_cb(cap_session);
         break;
     case(capture_cb_capture_update_finished):
-        statusbar_capture_update_finished_cb(capture_opts);
+        statusbar_capture_update_finished_cb(cap_session);
         break;
     case(capture_cb_capture_fixed_started):
-        statusbar_capture_fixed_started_cb(capture_opts);
+        statusbar_capture_fixed_started_cb(cap_session);
         break;
     case(capture_cb_capture_fixed_continue):
-        statusbar_capture_fixed_continue_cb(capture_opts);
+        statusbar_capture_fixed_continue_cb(cap_session);
         break;
     case(capture_cb_capture_fixed_finished):
-        statusbar_capture_fixed_finished_cb(capture_opts);
+        statusbar_capture_fixed_finished_cb(cap_session);
         break;
     case(capture_cb_capture_stopping):
         /* Beware: this state won't be called, if the capture child
          * closes the capturing on its own! */
         break;
     case(capture_cb_capture_failed):
-        statusbar_capture_failed_cb(capture_opts);
+        statusbar_capture_failed_cb(cap_session);
         break;
     default:
         g_warning("statusbar_capture_callback: event %u unknown", event);
diff --git a/ui/gtk/main_statusbar_private.h b/ui/gtk/main_statusbar_private.h
index 5dc1d93ad0..e4fbe7b99f 100644
--- a/ui/gtk/main_statusbar_private.h
+++ b/ui/gtk/main_statusbar_private.h
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ void statusbar_widgets_pack(GtkWidget *statusbar);
 void statusbar_widgets_show_or_hide(GtkWidget *statusbar);
 void statusbar_cf_callback(gint event, gpointer data, gpointer user_data);
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBPCAP
-void statusbar_capture_callback(gint event, capture_options *capture_opts,
+void statusbar_capture_callback(gint event, capture_session *cap_session,
                                 gpointer user_data);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/ui/iface_lists.c b/ui/iface_lists.c
index 4483033374..aec2e91ecf 100644
--- a/ui/iface_lists.c
+++ b/ui/iface_lists.c
@@ -39,8 +39,6 @@
 #include "ui/capture_globals.h"
 #include "ui/iface_lists.h"
 
-capture_options global_capture_opts;
-
 /*
  * Used when sorting an interface list into alphabetical order by
  * their friendly names.
diff --git a/ui/qt/main.cpp b/ui/qt/main.cpp
index 19679a9bb6..c7e356d21e 100644
--- a/ui/qt/main.cpp
+++ b/ui/qt/main.cpp
@@ -811,7 +811,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     /* Set the initial values in the capture options. This might be overwritten
        by preference settings and then again by the command line parameters. */
-    capture_opts_init(&global_capture_opts, &cfile);
+    capture_opts_init(&global_capture_opts);
+
+    capture_session_init(&global_capture_session, (void *)&cfile);
 #endif
 
     /* Register all dissectors; we must do this before checking for the