diff --git a/src/clientget.cpp b/src/clientget.cpp
index 0a56934..f032881 100644
--- a/src/clientget.cpp
+++ b/src/clientget.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 #include <pvxs/log.h>
 #include <pvxs/nt.h>
+#include "utilpvt.h"
 #include "clientimpl.h"
 
 namespace pvxs {
@@ -124,6 +125,8 @@ struct GPROp : public OperationBase
         Done,
     } state = Connecting;
 
+    INST_COUNTER(GPROp);
+
     GPROp(operation_t op, const std::shared_ptr<Channel>& chan)
         :OperationBase (op, chan)
     {}
diff --git a/src/clientimpl.h b/src/clientimpl.h
index e991e20..d0a3237 100644
--- a/src/clientimpl.h
+++ b/src/clientimpl.h
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ struct Connection : public ConnBase, public std::enable_shared_from_this<Connect
 
     uint32_t nextIOID = 0u;
 
+    INST_COUNTER(Connection);
+
     Connection(const std::shared_ptr<Context::Pvt>& context, const SockAddr &peerAddr);
     virtual ~Connection();
 
@@ -148,6 +150,8 @@ struct Channel {
     // points to storage of Connection::opByIOID
     std::map<uint32_t, RequestInfo*> opByIOID;
 
+    INST_COUNTER(Channel);
+
     Channel(const std::shared_ptr<Context::Pvt>& context, const std::string& name, uint32_t cid);
     ~Channel();
 
@@ -205,6 +209,8 @@ struct Context::Pvt
 
     const evevent beaconCleaner;
 
+    INST_COUNTER(ClientPvt);
+
     Pvt(const Config& conf);
     ~Pvt();
 
diff --git a/src/clientintrospect.cpp b/src/clientintrospect.cpp
index 1999a45..8927833 100644
--- a/src/clientintrospect.cpp
+++ b/src/clientintrospect.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ struct InfoOp : public OperationBase
         Done,
     } state = Connecting;
 
+    INST_COUNTER(InfoOp);
+
     explicit InfoOp(const std::shared_ptr<Channel>& chan)
         :OperationBase(Info, chan)
     {}
diff --git a/src/clientmon.cpp b/src/clientmon.cpp
index 3a542ad..0c6b36a 100644
--- a/src/clientmon.cpp
+++ b/src/clientmon.cpp
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ struct SubscriptionImpl : public OperationBase, public Subscription
     std::deque<Entry> queue;
     uint32_t window =0u, unack =0u;
 
+    INST_COUNTER(SubscriptionImpl);
+
     SubscriptionImpl(operation_t op, const std::shared_ptr<Channel>& chan)
         :OperationBase (op, chan)
         ,channelName(chan->name)
diff --git a/src/dataimpl.h b/src/dataimpl.h
index 46164d1..b18fde6 100644
--- a/src/dataimpl.h
+++ b/src/dataimpl.h
@@ -140,6 +140,8 @@ struct StructTop {
 
     // empty, or the field of a structure which encloses this.
     std::weak_ptr<FieldStorage> enclosing;
+
+    INST_COUNTER(StructTop);
 };
 
 using Type = std::shared_ptr<const FieldDesc>;
diff --git a/src/pvxs/util.h b/src/pvxs/util.h
index 4c58019..b53a1d1 100644
--- a/src/pvxs/util.h
+++ b/src/pvxs/util.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #ifndef PVXS_UTIL_H
 #define PVXS_UTIL_H
 
+#include <map>
 #include <functional>
 #include <ostream>
 #include <type_traits>
@@ -104,6 +105,10 @@ public:
 
 #endif // !defined(__rtems__) && !defined(vxWorks)
 
+//! return a snapshot of internal instance counters
+PVXS_API
+std::map<std::string, size_t> instanceSnapshot();
+
 } // namespace pvxs
 
 #endif // PVXS_UTIL_H
diff --git a/src/serverconn.h b/src/serverconn.h
index 52fa972..cc3a446 100644
--- a/src/serverconn.h
+++ b/src/serverconn.h
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ struct ServerChannelControl : public server::ChannelControl
 
     const std::weak_ptr<server::Server::Pvt> server;
     const std::weak_ptr<ServerChan> chan;
+
+    INST_COUNTER(ServerChannelControl);
 };
 
 struct ServerChan
@@ -91,6 +93,8 @@ struct ServerChan
 
     std::map<uint32_t, std::shared_ptr<ServerOp> > opByIOID; // our subset of ServerConn::opByIOID
 
+    INST_COUNTER(ServerChan);
+
     ServerChan(const std::shared_ptr<ServerConn>& conn, uint32_t sid, uint32_t cid, const std::string& name);
     ServerChan(const ServerChan&) = delete;
     ServerChan& operator=(const ServerChan&) = delete;
@@ -110,6 +114,8 @@ struct ServerConn : public ConnBase, public std::enable_shared_from_this<ServerC
 
     std::list<std::function<void()>> backlog;
 
+    INST_COUNTER(ServerConn);
+
     ServerConn(ServIface* iface, evutil_socket_t sock, struct sockaddr *peer, int socklen);
     ServerConn(const ServerConn&) = delete;
     ServerConn& operator=(const ServerConn&) = delete;
@@ -174,6 +180,8 @@ struct ServerSource : public server::Source
 
     const Value info;
 
+    INST_COUNTER(ServerSource);
+
     ServerSource(server::Server::Pvt* serv);
 
     virtual void onSearch(Search &op) override final;
@@ -229,6 +237,8 @@ struct Server::Pvt
         Stopping,
     } state;
 
+    INST_COUNTER(ServerPvt);
+
     Pvt(const Config& conf);
     ~Pvt();
 
diff --git a/src/serverget.cpp b/src/serverget.cpp
index 06e149d..61dd429 100644
--- a/src/serverget.cpp
+++ b/src/serverget.cpp
@@ -136,6 +136,8 @@ struct ServerGPR : public ServerOp
     std::function<void(std::unique_ptr<server::ExecOp>&&, Value&&)> onPut;
 
     std::function<void(std::unique_ptr<server::ExecOp>&&)> onGet;
+
+    INST_COUNTER(ServerGPR);
 };
 
 
@@ -246,6 +248,8 @@ struct ServerGPRConnect : public server::ConnectOp
 
     const std::weak_ptr<server::Server::Pvt> server;
     const std::weak_ptr<ServerGPR> op;
+
+    INST_COUNTER(ServerGPRConnect);
 };
 
 struct ServerGPRExec : public server::ExecOp
@@ -323,6 +327,8 @@ struct ServerGPRExec : public server::ExecOp
 
     const std::weak_ptr<server::Server::Pvt> server;
     const std::weak_ptr<ServerGPR> op;
+
+    INST_COUNTER(ServerGPRExec);
 };
 
 } // namespace
diff --git a/src/serverintrospect.cpp b/src/serverintrospect.cpp
index 6b79e49..c4af738 100644
--- a/src/serverintrospect.cpp
+++ b/src/serverintrospect.cpp
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ struct ServerIntrospect : public ServerOp
         conn->opByIOID.erase(ioid);
         ch->opByIOID.erase(ioid);
     }
+
+    INST_COUNTER(ServerIntrospect);
 };
 
 struct ServerIntrospectControl : public server::ConnectOp
@@ -125,6 +127,8 @@ struct ServerIntrospectControl : public server::ConnectOp
 
     const std::weak_ptr<server::Server::Pvt> server;
     const std::weak_ptr<ServerIntrospect> op;
+
+    INST_COUNTER(ServerIntrospectControl);
 };
 } // namespace
 
diff --git a/src/servermon.cpp b/src/servermon.cpp
index 8d3466c..2f52e7b 100644
--- a/src/servermon.cpp
+++ b/src/servermon.cpp
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ struct MonitorOp : public ServerOp,
 
     std::deque<Value> queue;
 
+    INST_COUNTER(MonitorOp);
+
     // caller must hold lock.
     // only used after State==Idle
     static
@@ -319,6 +321,8 @@ struct ServerMonitorControl : public server::MonitorControlOp
 
     const std::weak_ptr<server::Server::Pvt> server;
     const std::weak_ptr<MonitorOp> op;
+
+    INST_COUNTER(ServerMonitorControl);
 };
 
 struct ServerMonitorSetup : public server::MonitorSetupOp
@@ -411,6 +415,8 @@ struct ServerMonitorSetup : public server::MonitorSetupOp
 
     const std::weak_ptr<server::Server::Pvt> server;
     const std::weak_ptr<MonitorOp> op;
+
+    INST_COUNTER(ServerMonitorSetup);
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/sharedpv.cpp b/src/sharedpv.cpp
index 574d9b7..3503f1c 100644
--- a/src/sharedpv.cpp
+++ b/src/sharedpv.cpp
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ struct SharedPV::Impl : public std::enable_shared_from_this<Impl>
     std::set<std::shared_ptr<MonitorControlOp>> subscribers;
 
     Value current;
+
+    INST_COUNTER(SharedPVImpl);
 };
 
 SharedPV SharedPV::buildMailbox()
diff --git a/src/udp_collector.h b/src/udp_collector.h
index be1608a..2fcb744 100644
--- a/src/udp_collector.h
+++ b/src/udp_collector.h
@@ -86,6 +86,9 @@ class PVXS_API UDPListener
     std::shared_ptr<UDPCollector> collector;
     const SockAddr dest;
     bool active;
+
+    INST_COUNTER(UDPListener);
+
     friend struct UDPCollector;
     friend struct UDPManager;
 
diff --git a/src/util.cpp b/src/util.cpp
index e5ca022..9010164 100644
--- a/src/util.cpp
+++ b/src/util.cpp
@@ -58,6 +58,76 @@ void cleanup_for_valgrind()
     impl::UDPManager::cleanup();
 }
 
+
+#define CASE(KLASS) std::atomic<size_t> cnt_ ## KLASS{}
+
+CASE(StructTop);
+
+CASE(UDPListener);
+
+CASE(GPROp);
+CASE(Connection);
+CASE(Channel);
+CASE(ClientPvt);
+CASE(InfoOp);
+CASE(SubScriptionImpl);
+
+CASE(ServerChannelControl);
+CASE(ServerChan);
+CASE(ServerConn);
+CASE(ServerSource);
+CASE(ServerPvt);
+CASE(ServerIntrospect);
+CASE(ServerIntrospectControl);
+CASE(ServerGPR);
+CASE(ServerGPRConnect);
+CASE(ServerGPRExec);
+CASE(MonitorOp);
+CASE(ServerMonitorControl);
+CASE(ServerMonitorSetup);
+CASE(SharedPVImpl);
+CASE(SubscriptionImpl);
+
+#undef CASE
+
+std::map<std::string, size_t> instanceSnapshot()
+{
+    std::map<std::string, size_t> ret;
+
+#define CASE(KLASS) ret[#KLASS] = cnt_ ## KLASS .load(std::memory_order_relaxed)
+
+CASE(StructTop);
+
+CASE(UDPListener);
+
+CASE(GPROp);
+CASE(Connection);
+CASE(Channel);
+CASE(ClientPvt);
+CASE(InfoOp);
+CASE(SubScriptionImpl);
+
+CASE(ServerChannelControl);
+CASE(ServerChan);
+CASE(ServerConn);
+CASE(ServerSource);
+CASE(ServerPvt);
+CASE(ServerIntrospect);
+CASE(ServerIntrospectControl);
+CASE(ServerGPR);
+CASE(ServerGPRConnect);
+CASE(ServerGPRExec);
+CASE(MonitorOp);
+CASE(ServerMonitorControl);
+CASE(ServerMonitorSetup);
+CASE(SharedPVImpl);
+CASE(SubscriptionImpl);
+
+#undef CASE
+
+    return ret;
+}
+
 std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& strm, ArrayType code)
 {
     switch(code) {
diff --git a/src/utilpvt.h b/src/utilpvt.h
index 6f15327..795066b 100644
--- a/src/utilpvt.h
+++ b/src/utilpvt.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #  include <pthread.h>
 #endif
 
+#include <atomic>
 #include <memory>
 #include <string>
 #include <sstream>
@@ -233,6 +234,46 @@ public:
 PVXS_API
 std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& strm, const SockAddr& addr);
 
+template<std::atomic<size_t>* Cnt>
+struct InstCounter
+{
+    InstCounter() {(*Cnt).fetch_add(1, std::memory_order_relaxed);}
+    ~InstCounter() {(*Cnt).fetch_sub(1, std::memory_order_relaxed);}
+};
+
+#define INST_COUNTER(KLASS) InstCounter<&cnt_ ## KLASS> instances
+
+#define CASE(KLASS) extern std::atomic<size_t> cnt_ ## KLASS
+
+CASE(StructTop);
+
+CASE(UDPListener);
+
+CASE(GPROp);
+CASE(Connection);
+CASE(Channel);
+CASE(ClientPvt);
+CASE(InfoOp);
+CASE(SubScriptionImpl);
+
+CASE(ServerChannelControl);
+CASE(ServerChan);
+CASE(ServerConn);
+CASE(ServerSource);
+CASE(ServerPvt);
+CASE(ServerIntrospect);
+CASE(ServerIntrospectControl);
+CASE(ServerGPR);
+CASE(ServerGPRConnect);
+CASE(ServerGPRExec);
+CASE(MonitorOp);
+CASE(ServerMonitorControl);
+CASE(ServerMonitorSetup);
+CASE(SharedPVImpl);
+CASE(SubscriptionImpl);
+
+#undef CASE
+
 } // namespace pvxs
 
 #endif // UTILPVT_H