Re: [PATCH net-next 0/8] net/mlx5: Prepare eswitch infrastructure for satellite PF support

[Moshe Shemesh]

On 5/14/2026 5:25 AM, Jakub Kicinski wrote:
> External email: Use caution opening links or attachments
>
>
> On Sun, 10 May 2026 08:34:40 +0300 Tariq Toukan wrote:
> > This series prepares the mlx5 eswitch command interface and vport
> > infrastructure for satellite PF support.
>
> Could you perhaps start by explaining what "satellite PF" is?
> And how it differs from "socket direct"

Satellite PF is another type of Physical Function, its role and 
privileges are similar to the host PF, but unlike host PF the Satellite 
PF is on the DPU and not on another host. So it's kind of "Satellite" 
for the ECPF which is also on the DPU.

The next patchset will introduce the Satellite PF, while this patchset 
only does some preparations. Small changes to prepare the eswitch to 
manage another PF.

While Socket Direct is a hardware PCIe topology, that adds another PCIe 
link to the NIC, the Satellite PF is just logical entity, by firmware 
configuration, no hardware change.

Thanks, Moshe.