diff --git a/src/vpp-api/vom/enum_base.hpp b/src/vpp-api/vom/enum_base.hpp
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+++ b/src/vpp-api/vom/enum_base.hpp
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+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2017 Cisco and/or its affiliates.
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at:
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+#ifndef __VOM_ENUM_H__
+#define __VOM_ENUM_H__
+
+#include <string>
+
+namespace VOM {
+/**
+ * A template base class for all enum types.
+ * This enum type exists to associate an enum value with a string for
+ * display/debug purposes.
+ * Concrete enum types use the CRTP. Derived classes thus inherit this
+ * base's function, but are not polymorphic.
+ */
+template <typename T>
+class enum_base
+{
+public:
+  /**
+ * convert to string format for debug purposes
+ */
+  const std::string& to_string() const { return (m_desc); }
+
+  /**
+ * Comparison operator
+ */
+  bool operator==(const enum_base& e) const { return (e.m_value == m_value); }
+
+  /**
+ * Assignment
+ */
+  enum_base& operator=(const enum_base& e)
+  {
+    m_value = e.m_value;
+    m_desc = e.m_desc;
+
+    return (*this);
+  }
+
+  /**
+ * Comparison operator
+ */
+  bool operator!=(const enum_base& e) const { return (e.m_value != m_value); }
+
+  /**
+ * integer conversion operator
+ */
+  constexpr operator int() const { return (m_value); }
+
+  /**
+ * Return the value of the enum - same as integer conversion
+ */
+  constexpr int value() const { return (m_value); }
+
+protected:
+  /**
+ * Constructor of an enum - takes value and string description
+ */
+  constexpr enum_base(int value, const std::string desc)
+    : m_value(value)
+    , m_desc(desc)
+  {
+  }
+
+  /**
+ * Constructor
+ */
+  virtual ~enum_base() {}
+
+private:
+  /**
+ * Integer value of the enum
+ */
+  int m_value;
+
+  /**
+ * String description
+ */
+  std::string m_desc;
+};
+};
+
+/*
+ * fd.io coding-style-patch-verification: ON
+ *
+ * Local Variables:
+ * eval: (c-set-style "mozilla")
+ * End:
+ */
+
+#endif