diff --git a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic.c b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic.c
index 14d4a1030..32b001fd3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic.c
+++ b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic.c
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #define PMD_PARAM_FIRMWARE                                 "firmware"
 #define PMD_PARAM_CONN_PORT                                "conn_port"
 #define PMD_PARAM_CPU_ID                                   "cpu_id"
+#define PMD_PARAM_SC                                       "sc"
 #define PMD_PARAM_TM_N_QUEUES                              "tm_n_queues"
 #define PMD_PARAM_TM_QSIZE0                                "tm_qsize0"
 #define PMD_PARAM_TM_QSIZE1                                "tm_qsize1"
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ static const char * const pmd_valid_args[] = {
 	PMD_PARAM_FIRMWARE,
 	PMD_PARAM_CONN_PORT,
 	PMD_PARAM_CPU_ID,
+	PMD_PARAM_SC,
 	PMD_PARAM_TM_N_QUEUES,
 	PMD_PARAM_TM_QSIZE0,
 	PMD_PARAM_TM_QSIZE1,
@@ -426,6 +428,7 @@ pmd_parse_args(struct pmd_params *p, const char *params)
 	memset(p, 0, sizeof(*p));
 	p->firmware = SOFTNIC_FIRMWARE;
 	p->cpu_id = SOFTNIC_CPU_ID;
+	p->sc = SOFTNIC_SC;
 	p->tm.n_queues = SOFTNIC_TM_N_QUEUES;
 	p->tm.qsize[0] = SOFTNIC_TM_QUEUE_SIZE;
 	p->tm.qsize[1] = SOFTNIC_TM_QUEUE_SIZE;
@@ -456,6 +459,14 @@ pmd_parse_args(struct pmd_params *p, const char *params)
 			goto out_free;
 	}
 
+	/* Service cores (optional) */
+	if (rte_kvargs_count(kvlist, PMD_PARAM_SC) == 1) {
+		ret = rte_kvargs_process(kvlist, PMD_PARAM_SC,
+			&get_uint32, &p->sc);
+		if (ret < 0)
+			goto out_free;
+	}
+
 	/* TM number of queues (optional) */
 	if (rte_kvargs_count(kvlist, PMD_PARAM_TM_N_QUEUES) == 1) {
 		ret = rte_kvargs_process(kvlist, PMD_PARAM_TM_N_QUEUES,
diff --git a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic.h b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic.h
index 048dfe6bf..e8ba2bcaa 100644
--- a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic.h
+++ b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic.h
@@ -26,6 +26,26 @@ extern "C" {
 #define SOFTNIC_CPU_ID                                     0
 #endif
 
+/**
+ * Service cores:
+ *
+ * 0 = The current device is run explicitly by the application. The firmware
+ *     creates one or several pipelines for the current device and maps them to
+ *     CPU cores that should not be service cores. The application is required
+ *     to call rte_pmd_softnic_run() for the current device on each of these CPU
+ *     cores in order to make the current device work.
+ *
+ * 1 = The current device is run on the service cores transparently to the
+ *     application. The firmware creates one or several pipelines for the
+ *     current device and maps them to CPU cores that should be service cores.
+ *     Each of these service cores is calling rte_pmd_softnic_run() for the
+ *     current device in order to make the current device work. The application
+ *     is not allowed to call rte_pmd_softnic_run() for the current device.
+ */
+#ifndef SOFTNIC_SC
+#define SOFTNIC_SC                                         1
+#endif
+
 /** Traffic Manager: Number of scheduler queues. */
 #ifndef SOFTNIC_TM_N_QUEUES
 #define SOFTNIC_TM_N_QUEUES                                (64 * 1024)
diff --git a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_internals.h b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_internals.h
index 31698b9f0..3bc1de852 100644
--- a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_internals.h
+++ b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_internals.h
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ struct pmd_params {
 	const char *firmware;
 	uint16_t conn_port;
 	uint32_t cpu_id;
+	int sc; /**< Service cores. */
 
 	/** Traffic Management (TM) */
 	struct {
@@ -547,7 +548,7 @@ struct softnic_thread {
 	struct rte_ring *msgq_req;
 	struct rte_ring *msgq_rsp;
 
-	uint32_t enabled;
+	uint32_t service_id;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -843,6 +844,9 @@ softnic_pipeline_free(struct pmd_internals *p);
 void
 softnic_pipeline_disable_all(struct pmd_internals *p);
 
+uint32_t
+softnic_pipeline_thread_count(struct pmd_internals *p, uint32_t thread_id);
+
 struct pipeline *
 softnic_pipeline_find(struct pmd_internals *p, const char *name);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_pipeline.c b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_pipeline.c
index 5e180f8f7..308fd1534 100644
--- a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_pipeline.c
+++ b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_pipeline.c
@@ -108,6 +108,19 @@ softnic_pipeline_disable_all(struct pmd_internals *p)
 				pipeline->name);
 }
 
+uint32_t
+softnic_pipeline_thread_count(struct pmd_internals *p, uint32_t thread_id)
+{
+	struct pipeline *pipeline;
+	uint32_t count = 0;
+
+	TAILQ_FOREACH(pipeline, &p->pipeline_list, node)
+		if ((pipeline->enabled) && (pipeline->thread_id == thread_id))
+			count++;
+
+	return count;
+}
+
 struct pipeline *
 softnic_pipeline_find(struct pmd_internals *p,
 	const char *name)
diff --git a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_thread.c b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_thread.c
index 4572adfa6..57989a5aa 100644
--- a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_thread.c
+++ b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_thread.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <rte_common.h>
 #include <rte_cycles.h>
 #include <rte_lcore.h>
+#include <rte_service_component.h>
 #include <rte_ring.h>
 
 #include <rte_table_acl.h>
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ softnic_thread_init(struct pmd_internals *softnic)
 {
 	uint32_t i;
 
-	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_SLAVE(i) {
+	for (i = 0; i < RTE_MAX_LCORE; i++) {
 		char ring_name[NAME_MAX];
 		struct rte_ring *msgq_req, *msgq_rsp;
 		struct softnic_thread *t = &softnic->thread[i];
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ softnic_thread_init(struct pmd_internals *softnic)
 		/* Master thread records */
 		t->msgq_req = msgq_req;
 		t->msgq_rsp = msgq_rsp;
-		t->enabled = 1;
+		t->service_id = UINT32_MAX;
 
 		/* Data plane thread records */
 		t_data->n_pipelines = 0;
@@ -95,6 +96,25 @@ softnic_thread_init(struct pmd_internals *softnic)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static inline int
+thread_is_valid(struct pmd_internals *softnic, uint32_t thread_id)
+{
+	struct rte_config *cfg = rte_eal_get_configuration();
+	enum rte_lcore_role_t role;
+
+	if ((thread_id >= RTE_MAX_LCORE) ||
+		(thread_id == cfg->master_lcore))
+		return 0; /* FALSE */
+
+	role = cfg->lcore_role[thread_id];
+
+	if ((softnic->params.sc && (role == ROLE_SERVICE)) ||
+		(!softnic->params.sc && (role == ROLE_RTE)))
+		return 1; /* TRUE */
+
+	return 0; /* FALSE */
+}
+
 static inline int
 thread_is_running(uint32_t thread_id)
 {
@@ -104,6 +124,78 @@ thread_is_running(uint32_t thread_id)
 	return (thread_state == RUNNING)? 1 : 0;
 }
 
+static int32_t
+rte_pmd_softnic_run_internal(void *arg);
+
+static inline int
+thread_sc_service_up(struct pmd_internals *softnic, uint32_t thread_id)
+{
+	struct rte_service_spec service_params;
+	struct softnic_thread *t = &softnic->thread[thread_id];
+	struct rte_eth_dev *dev;
+	int status;
+	uint16_t port_id;
+
+	/* service params */
+	rte_eth_dev_get_port_by_name(softnic->params.name, &port_id);
+	dev = &rte_eth_devices[port_id];
+	snprintf(service_params.name, sizeof(service_params.name), "%s_%u",
+		softnic->params.name,
+		thread_id);
+	service_params.callback = rte_pmd_softnic_run_internal;
+	service_params.callback_userdata = dev;
+	service_params.capabilities = 0;
+	service_params.socket_id = (int)softnic->params.cpu_id;
+
+	/* service register */
+	status = rte_service_component_register(&service_params, &t->service_id);
+	if (status)
+		return status;
+
+	status = rte_service_component_runstate_set(t->service_id, 1);
+	if (status) {
+		rte_service_component_unregister(t->service_id);
+		t->service_id = UINT32_MAX;
+		return status;
+	}
+
+	status = rte_service_runstate_set(t->service_id, 1);
+	if (status) {
+		rte_service_component_runstate_set(t->service_id, 0);
+		rte_service_component_unregister(t->service_id);
+		t->service_id = UINT32_MAX;
+		return status;
+	}
+
+	/* service map to thread */
+	status = rte_service_map_lcore_set(t->service_id, thread_id, 1);
+	if (status) {
+		rte_service_runstate_set(t->service_id, 0);
+		rte_service_component_runstate_set(t->service_id, 0);
+		rte_service_component_unregister(t->service_id);
+		t->service_id = UINT32_MAX;
+		return status;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static inline void
+thread_sc_service_down(struct pmd_internals *softnic, uint32_t thread_id)
+{
+	struct softnic_thread *t = &softnic->thread[thread_id];
+
+	/* service unmap from thread */
+	rte_service_map_lcore_set(t->service_id, thread_id, 0);
+
+	/* service unregister */
+	rte_service_runstate_set(t->service_id, 0);
+	rte_service_component_runstate_set(t->service_id, 0);
+	rte_service_component_unregister(t->service_id);
+
+	t->service_id = UINT32_MAX;
+}
+
 /**
  * Pipeline is running when:
  *    (A) Pipeline is mapped to a data plane thread AND
@@ -200,32 +292,34 @@ softnic_thread_pipeline_enable(struct pmd_internals *softnic,
 	const char *pipeline_name)
 {
 	struct pipeline *p = softnic_pipeline_find(softnic, pipeline_name);
-	struct softnic_thread *t;
 	struct thread_msg_req *req;
 	struct thread_msg_rsp *rsp;
-	uint32_t i;
+	uint32_t n_pipelines, i;
 	int status;
 
 	/* Check input params */
-	if ((thread_id >= RTE_MAX_LCORE) ||
+	if (!thread_is_valid(softnic, thread_id) ||
 		(p == NULL) ||
 		(p->n_ports_in == 0) ||
 		(p->n_ports_out == 0) ||
-		(p->n_tables == 0))
+		(p->n_tables == 0) ||
+		p->enabled)
 		return -1;
 
-	t = &softnic->thread[thread_id];
-	if ((t->enabled == 0) ||
-		p->enabled)
+	n_pipelines = softnic_pipeline_thread_count(softnic, thread_id);
+	if (n_pipelines >= THREAD_PIPELINES_MAX)
 		return -1;
 
+	if (softnic->params.sc && (n_pipelines == 0)) {
+		status = thread_sc_service_up(softnic, thread_id);
+		if (status)
+			return status;
+	}
+
 	if (!thread_is_running(thread_id)) {
 		struct softnic_thread_data *td = &softnic->thread_data[thread_id];
 		struct pipeline_data *tdp = &td->pipeline_data[td->n_pipelines];
 
-		if (td->n_pipelines >= THREAD_PIPELINES_MAX)
-			return -1;
-
 		/* Data plane thread */
 		td->p[td->n_pipelines] = p->p;
 
@@ -292,26 +386,20 @@ softnic_thread_pipeline_disable(struct pmd_internals *softnic,
 	const char *pipeline_name)
 {
 	struct pipeline *p = softnic_pipeline_find(softnic, pipeline_name);
-	struct softnic_thread *t;
 	struct thread_msg_req *req;
 	struct thread_msg_rsp *rsp;
+	uint32_t n_pipelines;
 	int status;
 
 	/* Check input params */
-	if ((thread_id >= RTE_MAX_LCORE) ||
-		(p == NULL))
-		return -1;
-
-	t = &softnic->thread[thread_id];
-	if (t->enabled == 0)
+	if (!thread_is_valid(softnic, thread_id) ||
+		(p == NULL) ||
+		(p->enabled && (p->thread_id != thread_id)))
 		return -1;
 
 	if (p->enabled == 0)
 		return 0;
 
-	if (p->thread_id != thread_id)
-		return -1;
-
 	if (!thread_is_running(thread_id)) {
 		struct softnic_thread_data *td = &softnic->thread_data[thread_id];
 		uint32_t i;
@@ -341,6 +429,9 @@ softnic_thread_pipeline_disable(struct pmd_internals *softnic,
 			break;
 		}
 
+		if (softnic->params.sc && (td->n_pipelines == 0))
+			thread_sc_service_down(softnic, thread_id);
+
 		return 0;
 	}
 
@@ -370,6 +461,10 @@ softnic_thread_pipeline_disable(struct pmd_internals *softnic,
 
 	p->enabled = 0;
 
+	n_pipelines = softnic_pipeline_thread_count(softnic, thread_id);
+	if (softnic->params.sc && (n_pipelines == 0))
+		thread_sc_service_down(softnic, thread_id);
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -409,11 +504,6 @@ thread_msg_handle_pipeline_enable(struct softnic_thread_data *t,
 	uint32_t i;
 
 	/* Request */
-	if (t->n_pipelines >= THREAD_PIPELINES_MAX) {
-		rsp->status = -1;
-		return rsp;
-	}
-
 	t->p[t->n_pipelines] = req->pipeline_enable.p;
 
 	p->p = req->pipeline_enable.p;
@@ -2938,18 +3028,14 @@ pipeline_msg_handle(struct pipeline_data *p)
 /**
  * Data plane threads: main
  */
-int
-rte_pmd_softnic_run(uint16_t port_id)
+static int32_t
+rte_pmd_softnic_run_internal(void *arg)
 {
-	struct rte_eth_dev *dev = &rte_eth_devices[port_id];
+	struct rte_eth_dev *dev = arg;
 	struct pmd_internals *softnic;
 	struct softnic_thread_data *t;
 	uint32_t thread_id, j;
 
-#ifdef RTE_LIBRTE_ETHDEV_DEBUG
-	RTE_ETH_VALID_PORTID_OR_ERR_RET(port_id, 0);
-#endif
-
 	softnic = dev->data->dev_private;
 	thread_id = rte_lcore_id();
 	t = &softnic->thread_data[thread_id];
@@ -3003,3 +3089,15 @@ rte_pmd_softnic_run(uint16_t port_id)
 
 	return 0;
 }
+
+int
+rte_pmd_softnic_run(uint16_t port_id)
+{
+	struct rte_eth_dev *dev = &rte_eth_devices[port_id];
+
+#ifdef RTE_LIBRTE_ETHDEV_DEBUG
+	RTE_ETH_VALID_PORTID_OR_ERR_RET(port_id, 0);
+#endif
+
+	return (int)rte_pmd_softnic_run_internal(dev);
+}
