diff --git a/applications/test/cpuInfo/Make/files b/applications/test/cpuInfo/Make/files
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f9302d8ef2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/applications/test/cpuInfo/Make/files
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+Test-cpuInfo.C
+
+EXE = $(FOAM_USER_APPBIN)/Test-cpuInfo
diff --git a/applications/test/cpuInfo/Make/options b/applications/test/cpuInfo/Make/options
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/applications/test/cpuInfo/Test-cpuInfo.C b/applications/test/cpuInfo/Test-cpuInfo.C
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..785b804678
--- /dev/null
+++ b/applications/test/cpuInfo/Test-cpuInfo.C
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+  =========                 |
+  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
+   \\    /   O peration     |
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2016 OpenCFD Ltd.
+     \\/     M anipulation  |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+License
+    This file is part of OpenFOAM.
+
+    OpenFOAM is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+    under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+    (at your option) any later version.
+
+    OpenFOAM is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+    ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+    for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+    along with OpenFOAM.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+Application
+
+Description
+
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+#include "cpuInfo.H"
+#include "IOstreams.H"
+
+using namespace Foam;
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+//  Main program:
+
+int main(int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+    cpuInfo().write(Info);
+    Info<< endl;
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+
+// ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/OSspecific/POSIX/Make/files b/src/OSspecific/POSIX/Make/files
index 90dc5bc92e..4780174be9 100644
--- a/src/OSspecific/POSIX/Make/files
+++ b/src/OSspecific/POSIX/Make/files
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ fileStat.C
 POSIX.C
 cpuTime/cpuTime.C
 clockTime/clockTime.C
+cpuInfo/cpuInfo.C
 memInfo/memInfo.C
 
 /*
diff --git a/src/OSspecific/POSIX/cpuInfo/cpuInfo.C b/src/OSspecific/POSIX/cpuInfo/cpuInfo.C
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ef71120a74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/OSspecific/POSIX/cpuInfo/cpuInfo.C
@@ -0,0 +1,241 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+  =========                 |
+  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
+   \\    /   O peration     |
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2016 OpenCFD Ltd.
+     \\/     M anipulation  |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+License
+    This file is part of OpenFOAM.
+
+    OpenFOAM is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+    under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+    (at your option) any later version.
+
+    OpenFOAM is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+    ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+    for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+    along with OpenFOAM.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+#include "cpuInfo.H"
+#include "IFstream.H"
+#include "IOstreams.H"
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Member Functions * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+// file-scope function
+template<class T>
+inline static void writeEntry
+(
+    Foam::Ostream& os, const Foam::word& key, const T& value
+)
+{
+    os.writeKeyword(key) << value << Foam::token::END_STATEMENT << '\n';
+}
+
+
+// file-scope function
+static bool split(std::string& line, std::string& key, std::string& val)
+{
+    std::string::size_type sep = line.find(':');
+
+    if (sep == std::string::npos)
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    std::string::size_type endKey = line.find_last_not_of("\t:", sep);
+    std::string::size_type begVal = line.find_first_not_of(" :", sep);
+
+    if (endKey == std::string::npos || begVal == std::string::npos)
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+    ++endKey;
+
+    // replace spaces in key with '_' for ease of use/consistency
+    for
+    (
+        std::string::iterator iter = line.begin();
+        iter != line.end();
+        ++iter
+    )
+    {
+        if (*iter == ' ')
+        {
+            *iter = '_';
+        }
+        else if (*iter == ':')
+        {
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    key = line.substr(0, endKey);
+    val = line.substr(begVal);
+
+    // std::cerr<<"key=" << key << " val= " << val << '\n';
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+
+// file-scope function - get int
+static inline bool getInt(const std::string& str, int& val)
+{
+    int i;
+    if (sscanf(str.c_str(), "%d", &i) == 1)
+    {
+        val = i;
+        return true;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+}
+
+// file-scope function - get float
+static inline bool getFlt(const std::string& str, float& val)
+{
+    float f;
+    if (sscanf(str.c_str(), "%f", &f) == 1)
+    {
+        val = f;
+        return true;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+}
+
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * Private Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+// parse this type of content:
+// ===========================
+// processor       : 0
+// vendor_id       : GenuineIntel
+// cpu family      : 6
+// model           : 63
+// model name      : Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2620 v3 @ 2.40GHz
+// stepping        : 2
+// microcode       : 0x35
+// cpu MHz         : 1200.000
+// cache size      : 15360 KB
+// physical id     : 0
+// siblings        : 12
+// core id         : 0
+// cpu cores       : 6
+// apicid          : 0
+// initial apicid  : 0
+// fpu             : yes
+// fpu_exception   : yes
+// cpuid level     : 15
+// wp              : yes
+// flags           : fpu vme ...
+// bugs            :
+// bogomips        : 4789.15
+// clflush size    : 64
+// cache_alignment : 64
+// address sizes   : 46 bits physical, 48 bits virtual
+// power management:
+
+void Foam::cpuInfo::parse()
+{
+    int ncpu = 0;
+
+    IFstream is("/proc/cpuinfo");
+    while (is.good())
+    {
+        string line, key, value;
+        is.getLine(line);
+
+        if (!split(line, key, value))
+        {
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        if (key == "processor")
+        {
+            if (ncpu++)
+            {
+                break; // stop after the first cpu
+            }
+        }
+        else if (key == "vendor_id")   { vendor_id  = value;        }
+        else if (key == "model_name")  { model_name = value;        }
+        else if (key == "cpu_family")  { getInt(value, cpu_family); }
+        else if (key == "model")       { getInt(value, model);      }
+        else if (key == "cpu_MHz")     { getFlt(value, cpu_MHz);    }
+        else if (key == "cpu_cores")   { getInt(value, cpu_cores);  }
+        else if (key == "siblings")    { getInt(value, siblings);   }
+    }
+}
+
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+Foam::cpuInfo::cpuInfo()
+:
+    vendor_id(),
+    model_name(),
+    cpu_family(-1),
+    model(-1),
+    cpu_MHz(0),
+    siblings(0),
+    cpu_cores(0)
+{
+    parse();
+}
+
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Destructor  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+Foam::cpuInfo::~cpuInfo()
+{}
+
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+void Foam::cpuInfo::write(Ostream& os) const
+{
+    if (!vendor_id.empty())
+    {
+        writeEntry(os, "vendor_id",     vendor_id);
+    }
+    if (!model_name.empty())
+    {
+        writeEntry(os, "model_name",    model_name);
+    }
+    if (cpu_family != -1)
+    {
+        writeEntry(os, "cpu_family",    cpu_family);
+    }
+    if (model != -1)
+    {
+        writeEntry(os, "model",         model);
+    }
+    if (cpu_MHz > 0)
+    {
+        writeEntry(os, "cpu_MHz",       cpu_MHz);
+    }
+    if (cpu_cores > 0)
+    {
+        writeEntry(os, "cpu_cores",     cpu_cores);
+    }
+    if (siblings > 0)
+    {
+        writeEntry(os, "siblings",      siblings);
+    }
+}
+
+
+// ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/OSspecific/POSIX/cpuInfo/cpuInfo.H b/src/OSspecific/POSIX/cpuInfo/cpuInfo.H
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6821684f61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/OSspecific/POSIX/cpuInfo/cpuInfo.H
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+  =========                 |
+  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
+   \\    /   O peration     |
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2016 OpenCFD Ltd.
+     \\/     M anipulation  |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+License
+    This file is part of OpenFOAM.
+
+    OpenFOAM is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+    under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+    (at your option) any later version.
+
+    OpenFOAM is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+    ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+    for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+    along with OpenFOAM.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+Class
+    Foam::cpuInfo
+
+Description
+    General CPU characteristics.
+
+    If the machine has multiple cpus/cores, only the characteristics
+    of the first core are used.
+
+Note
+    Uses the information from /proc/cpuinfo
+
+SourceFiles
+    cpuInfo.C
+
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+#ifndef cpuInfo_H
+#define cpuInfo_H
+
+#include <string>
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+namespace Foam
+{
+// forward declarations
+class Ostream;
+
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+                           Class cpuInfo Declaration
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+class cpuInfo
+{
+    // Private data
+
+        // Various bits from /proc/cpuinfo
+
+        std::string vendor_id;
+        std::string model_name;
+        int cpu_family;
+        int model;
+        float cpu_MHz;
+        int siblings;
+        int cpu_cores;
+
+    // Private Member Functions
+
+        //- Parse /proc/cpuinfo
+        void parse();
+
+        //- Disallow default bitwise assignment
+        void operator=(const cpuInfo&) = delete;
+
+        //- Disallow default copy constructor
+        cpuInfo(const cpuInfo&) = delete;
+
+public:
+
+    // Constructors
+
+        //- Construct null
+        cpuInfo();
+
+
+    //- Destructor
+    ~cpuInfo();
+
+
+    // Member Functions
+
+        //- Write content as dictionary entries
+        void write(Ostream&) const;
+
+};
+
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+} // End namespace Foam
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+#endif
+
+// ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/OSspecific/POSIX/memInfo/memInfo.C b/src/OSspecific/POSIX/memInfo/memInfo.C
index 6273fe5aa1..43037b5c79 100644
--- a/src/OSspecific/POSIX/memInfo/memInfo.C
+++ b/src/OSspecific/POSIX/memInfo/memInfo.C
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
     \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011 OpenFOAM Foundation
-     \\/     M anipulation  |
+     \\/     M anipulation  | Copyright (C) 2016 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -24,14 +24,29 @@ License
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
 #include "memInfo.H"
+#include "IFstream.H"
+#include "IOstreams.H"
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Member Functions * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+// file-scope function
+template<class T>
+inline static void writeEntry
+(
+    Foam::Ostream& os, const Foam::word& key, const T& value
+)
+{
+    os.writeKeyword(key) << value << Foam::token::END_STATEMENT << '\n';
+}
+
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 Foam::memInfo::memInfo()
 :
-    peak_(-1),
-    size_(-1),
-    rss_(-1)
+    peak_(0),
+    size_(0),
+    rss_(0)
 {
     update();
 }
@@ -48,7 +63,7 @@ Foam::memInfo::~memInfo()
 const Foam::memInfo& Foam::memInfo::update()
 {
     // reset to invalid values first
-    peak_ = size_ = rss_ = -1;
+    peak_ = size_ = rss_ = 0;
     IFstream is("/proc/" + name(pid()) + "/status");
 
     while (is.good())
@@ -81,7 +96,15 @@ const Foam::memInfo& Foam::memInfo::update()
 
 bool Foam::memInfo::valid() const
 {
-    return peak_ != -1;
+    return peak_ > 0;
+}
+
+
+void Foam::memInfo::write(Ostream& os) const
+{
+    writeEntry(os, "size",  size_);
+    writeEntry(os, "peak",  peak_);
+    writeEntry(os, "rss",   rss_);
 }
 
 
@@ -108,14 +131,15 @@ Foam::Istream& Foam::operator>>(Istream& is, memInfo& m)
 Foam::Ostream& Foam::operator<<(Ostream& os, const memInfo& m)
 {
     os  << token::BEGIN_LIST
-        << m.peak_ << token::SPACE << m.size_ << token::SPACE << m.rss_
+        << m.peak_ << token::SPACE
+        << m.size_ << token::SPACE
+        << m.rss_
         << token::END_LIST;
 
     // Check state of Ostream
     os.check
     (
-        "Foam::Ostream& Foam::operator<<(Foam::Ostream&, "
-        "const Foam::memInfo&)"
+        "Foam::Ostream& Foam::operator<<(Foam::Ostream&, const Foam::memInfo&)"
     );
 
     return os;
diff --git a/src/OSspecific/POSIX/memInfo/memInfo.H b/src/OSspecific/POSIX/memInfo/memInfo.H
index 540ea9b6d1..cc970896fc 100644
--- a/src/OSspecific/POSIX/memInfo/memInfo.H
+++ b/src/OSspecific/POSIX/memInfo/memInfo.H
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
     \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011 OpenFOAM Foundation
-     \\/     M anipulation  |
+     \\/     M anipulation  | Copyright (C) 2016 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Description
     Memory usage information for the process running this object.
 
 Note
-    Uses the information from /proc/\<pid\>/status
+    Uses the information from /proc/PID/status
 
 SourceFiles
     memInfo.C
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ SourceFiles
 namespace Foam
 {
 
+// forward declarations
+class Istream;
+class Ostream;
+
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
                            Class memInfo Declaration
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -55,15 +59,20 @@ class memInfo
 {
     // Private data
 
-        //- Peak memory used by the process (VmPeak in /proc/\<pid\>/status)
+        //- Peak memory used by the process (VmPeak in /proc/PID/status)
         int peak_;
 
-        //- Memory used by the process (VmSize in /proc/\<pid\>/status)
+        //- Memory used by the process (VmSize in /proc/PID/status)
         int size_;
 
-        //- Resident set size of the process (VmRSS in /proc/\<pid\>/status)
+        //- Resident set size of the process (VmRSS in /proc/PID/status)
         int rss_;
 
+        //- Disallow default bitwise assignment
+        void operator=(const memInfo&) = delete;
+
+        //- Disallow default copy constructor
+        memInfo(const memInfo&) = delete;
 
 public:
 
@@ -79,27 +88,24 @@ public:
 
     // Member Functions
 
-        //- Parse /proc/\<pid\>/status
+        //- Parse /proc/PID/status and update accordingly
         const memInfo& update();
 
         // Access
 
-            //- Access the stored peak memory (VmPeak in /proc/\<pid\>/status)
-            //  The value is stored from the previous update()
+            //- Peak memory (VmPeak in /proc/PID/status) at last update()
             int peak() const
             {
                 return peak_;
             }
 
-            //- Access the stored memory size (VmSize in /proc/\<pid\>/status)
-            //  The value is stored from the previous update()
+            //- Memory size (VmSize in /proc/PID/status) at last update()
             int size() const
             {
                 return size_;
             }
 
-            //- Access the stored rss value (VmRSS in /proc/\<pid\>/status)
-            //  The value is stored from the previous update()
+            //- Resident set size (VmRSS in /proc/PID/status) at last update()
             int rss() const
             {
                 return rss_;
@@ -109,6 +115,10 @@ public:
             bool valid() const;
 
 
+        //- Write content as dictionary entries
+        void write(Ostream&) const;
+
+
     // IOstream Operators
 
         //- Read peak/size/rss from stream