eSwitch Mode Configuration Between Legacy/Switchdev

Consider the following important notes:

• Intel® Ethernet 800 Series Network Adapters support configuration of switchdev mode independently per physical port. This means that some ports can be in eSwitch Legacy mode, while others can be configured in eSwitch switchdev mode.
• The eSwitch mode (switchdev or legacy) is changeable without a reboot. Mode change commands must go into effect without reboot or driver reload.
• While in switchdev mode, the following configurations are not supported:
  • ADQ on the PF or VF
  • Link Aggregation on the PF
  • L2 forwarding on the PF
  • Trusted VFs (and “ip link commands” to configure a VF as trusted VF)
• RDMA and SR-IOV are both supported in switchdev mode, but RDMA must be enabled with a specific sequence:
  1. Change eSwitch mode to switchdev.
  2. Create SR-IOV VFs.
  3. Enable RDMA (load iRDMA driver).

  Similarly, when removing the interface from the bridge or MAC/VLAN when RDMA is active, you must follow this exact sequence of steps:

  1. Remove RDMA if it is active (rmmod iRDMA driver).
  2. Destroy SR-IOV VFs if they exist.
  3. Remove the interface from the bridge or MAC/VLAN.
  4. Reactivate RDMA and recreate SR-IOV VFs as needed.