David wrote:
>I don't think you understand the intent behind the DPDK framework.

Thank you. Indeed I stand corrected. Associating an IP address with the DPDK NIC works from a bad frame on the problem.

I'd appreciate one additional bit of information if possible. Once the DPDK NIC is bound to vfio-pci the DPDK Linux manual at
https://doc.dpdk.org/guides/linux_gsg/linux_drivers.html#vfio mentions setup steps including:

Create the desired number of VF devices

echo 2 > /sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:86:00.0/sriov_numvfs

My question: what is the upper bound on the number of VF devices? What's the thinking process? For example,
maybe one of these approaches makes sense?

- VF device count is bound from above by the number or RX/TX queues
- VF device count is bound from above by the amount of on-NIC memory
- VF device count is bound from above by manufacturer. Each NIC has some max; read specs

- VF device count is like the number of ports on a UNIX: 1000s are available and what you need depends on software: how many concurrent connections are needed?

DPDK must have an API that programatically discovers the PFs and VFs per PF.

Finally: is a VF device duplex (sends and receives)? Or just RX or just TX only?

Thank you.