diff --git a/drivers/net/octeontx/base/octeontx_pkivf.c b/drivers/net/octeontx/base/octeontx_pkivf.c
index 724acf0e8..0e824cbc3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/octeontx/base/octeontx_pkivf.c
+++ b/drivers/net/octeontx/base/octeontx_pkivf.c
@@ -34,6 +34,90 @@
 #include <rte_eal.h>
 #include <rte_pci.h>
 
+#include "octeontx_pkivf.h"
+
+int
+octeontx_pki_port_open(int port)
+{
+	struct octeontx_mbox_hdr hdr;
+	int res;
+
+	hdr.coproc = OCTEONTX_PKI_COPROC;
+	hdr.msg = MBOX_PKI_PORT_OPEN;
+	hdr.vfid = port;
+
+	res = octeontx_ssovf_mbox_send(&hdr, NULL, 0, NULL, 0);
+	if (res < 0)
+		return -EACCES;
+	return res;
+}
+
+int
+octeontx_pki_port_close(int port)
+{
+	struct octeontx_mbox_hdr hdr;
+	int res;
+
+	mbox_pki_port_t ptype;
+	int len = sizeof(mbox_pki_port_t);
+	memset(&ptype, 0, len);
+	ptype.port_type = OCTTX_PORT_TYPE_NET;
+
+	hdr.coproc = OCTEONTX_PKI_COPROC;
+	hdr.msg = MBOX_PKI_PORT_CLOSE;
+	hdr.vfid = port;
+
+	res = octeontx_ssovf_mbox_send(&hdr, &ptype, len, NULL, 0);
+	if (res < 0)
+		return -EACCES;
+
+	return res;
+}
+
+int
+octeontx_pki_port_start(int port)
+{
+	struct octeontx_mbox_hdr hdr;
+	int res;
+
+	mbox_pki_port_t ptype;
+	int len = sizeof(mbox_pki_port_t);
+	memset(&ptype, 0, len);
+	ptype.port_type = OCTTX_PORT_TYPE_NET;
+
+	hdr.coproc = OCTEONTX_PKI_COPROC;
+	hdr.msg = MBOX_PKI_PORT_START;
+	hdr.vfid = port;
+
+	res = octeontx_ssovf_mbox_send(&hdr, &ptype, len, NULL, 0);
+	if (res < 0)
+		return -EACCES;
+
+	return res;
+}
+
+int
+octeontx_pki_port_stop(int port)
+{
+	struct octeontx_mbox_hdr hdr;
+	int res;
+
+	mbox_pki_port_t ptype;
+	int len = sizeof(mbox_pki_port_t);
+	memset(&ptype, 0, len);
+	ptype.port_type = OCTTX_PORT_TYPE_NET;
+
+	hdr.coproc = OCTEONTX_PKI_COPROC;
+	hdr.msg = MBOX_PKI_PORT_STOP;
+	hdr.vfid = port;
+
+	res = octeontx_ssovf_mbox_send(&hdr, &ptype, len, NULL, 0);
+	if (res < 0)
+		return -EACCES;
+
+	return res;
+}
+
 #define PCI_VENDOR_ID_CAVIUM               0x177D
 #define PCI_DEVICE_ID_OCTEONTX_PKI_VF      0xA0DD
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/octeontx/base/octeontx_pkivf.h b/drivers/net/octeontx/base/octeontx_pkivf.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fe850d0f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/drivers/net/octeontx/base/octeontx_pkivf.h
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+/*
+ *   BSD LICENSE
+ *
+ *   Copyright (C) Cavium Inc. 2017. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ *   Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ *   modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ *   are met:
+ *
+ *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+ *       the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ *       distribution.
+ *     * Neither the name of Cavium networks nor the names of its
+ *       contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+ *       from this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ *   THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ *   "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ *   LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ *   A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ *   OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ *   SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ *   LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ *   DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ *   THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ *   (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ *   OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+#ifndef	__OCTEONTX_PKI_H__
+#define	__OCTEONTX_PKI_H__
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+#include <rte_pmd_octeontx_ssovf.h>
+
+#define OCTEONTX_PKI_COPROC                     5
+
+/* PKI messages */
+
+#define MBOX_PKI_PORT_OPEN			1
+#define MBOX_PKI_PORT_START			2
+#define MBOX_PKI_PORT_STOP			3
+#define MBOX_PKI_PORT_CLOSE			4
+
+/* Interface types: */
+enum {
+	OCTTX_PORT_TYPE_NET, /* Network interface ports */
+	OCTTX_PORT_TYPE_INT, /* CPU internal interface ports */
+	OCTTX_PORT_TYPE_PCI, /* DPI/PCIe interface ports */
+	OCTTX_PORT_TYPE_MAX
+};
+
+/* pki port config */
+typedef struct mbox_pki_port_type {
+	uint8_t port_type;
+} mbox_pki_port_t;
+
+int octeontx_pki_port_open(int port);
+int octeontx_pki_port_close(int port);
+int octeontx_pki_port_start(int port);
+int octeontx_pki_port_stop(int port);
+
+#endif /* __OCTEONTX_PKI_H__ */
