diff --git a/MAINTAINERS b/MAINTAINERS
index 6a14622a0..94c5cd58e 100644
--- a/MAINTAINERS
+++ b/MAINTAINERS
@@ -378,6 +378,7 @@ T: git://dpdk.org/next/dpdk-next-net
 F: lib/librte_ethdev/
 F: devtools/test-null.sh
 F: doc/guides/prog_guide/switch_representation.rst
+F: app/test/test_ethdev*
 
 Flow API
 M: Ori Kam <orika@mellanox.com>
diff --git a/app/test/Makefile b/app/test/Makefile
index 5b119aa61..14552073d 100644
--- a/app/test/Makefile
+++ b/app/test/Makefile
@@ -249,6 +249,9 @@ SRCS-$(CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_SECURITY) += test_security.c
 
 SRCS-$(CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_IPSEC) += test_ipsec.c test_ipsec_perf.c
 SRCS-$(CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_IPSEC) += test_ipsec_sad.c
+
+SRCS-$(CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_ETHER) += test_ethdev_link.c
+
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_RTE_LIBRTE_IPSEC),y)
 LDLIBS += -lrte_ipsec
 endif
diff --git a/app/test/meson.build b/app/test/meson.build
index 1715ddbcb..c5b742c15 100644
--- a/app/test/meson.build
+++ b/app/test/meson.build
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ test_sources = files('commands.c',
 	'test_efd.c',
 	'test_efd_perf.c',
 	'test_errno.c',
+	'test_ethdev_link.c',
 	'test_event_crypto_adapter.c',
 	'test_event_eth_rx_adapter.c',
 	'test_event_ring.c',
@@ -196,6 +197,7 @@ fast_tests = [
         ['eal_flags_misc_autotest', false],
         ['eal_fs_autotest', true],
         ['errno_autotest', true],
+        ['ethdev_link_status' true],
         ['event_ring_autotest', true],
         ['fib_autotest', true],
         ['fib6_autotest', true],
diff --git a/app/test/test_ethdev_link.c b/app/test/test_ethdev_link.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b019a61f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/test/test_ethdev_link.c
@@ -0,0 +1,278 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+ * Copyright (c) 2020 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd All Rights Reserved
+ */
+
+#include <rte_log.h>
+#include <rte_ethdev.h>
+
+#include <rte_test.h>
+#include "test.h"
+
+
+static int32_t
+test_link_status_up_default(void)
+{
+	int ret = 0;
+	struct rte_eth_link link_status = {
+		.link_speed = ETH_SPEED_NUM_2_5G,
+		.link_status = ETH_LINK_UP,
+		.link_autoneg = ETH_LINK_AUTONEG,
+		.link_duplex = ETH_LINK_FULL_DUPLEX
+	};
+	char text[128];
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 128, NULL, &link_status);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret > 0, "Failed to format default string\n");
+	printf("Default link up #1: %s\n", text);
+	TEST_ASSERT_BUFFERS_ARE_EQUAL("Link up at 2.5 Gbit/s FDX Autoneg",
+		text, strlen(text), "Invalid default link status string");
+
+	link_status.link_duplex = ETH_LINK_HALF_DUPLEX;
+	link_status.link_autoneg = ETH_LINK_FIXED;
+	link_status.link_speed = ETH_SPEED_NUM_10M,
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 128, NULL, &link_status);
+	printf("Default link up #2: %s\n", text);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret > 0, "Failed to format default string\n");
+	TEST_ASSERT_BUFFERS_ARE_EQUAL("Link up at 10 Mbit/s HDX Fixed",
+		text, strlen(text), "Invalid default link status "
+		"string with HDX");
+
+	link_status.link_speed = ETH_SPEED_NUM_UNKNOWN,
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 128, NULL, &link_status);
+	printf("Default link up #3: %s\n", text);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret > 0, "Failed to format default string\n");
+	TEST_ASSERT_BUFFERS_ARE_EQUAL("Link up at Unknown speed HDX Fixed",
+		text, strlen(text), "Invalid default link status "
+		"string with HDX");
+	return TEST_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+static int32_t
+test_link_status_down_default(void)
+{
+	int ret = 0;
+	struct rte_eth_link link_status = {
+		.link_speed = ETH_SPEED_NUM_2_5G,
+		.link_status = ETH_LINK_DOWN,
+		.link_autoneg = ETH_LINK_AUTONEG,
+		.link_duplex = ETH_LINK_FULL_DUPLEX
+	};
+	char text[128];
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 128, NULL, &link_status);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret > 0, "Failed to format default string\n");
+	TEST_ASSERT_BUFFERS_ARE_EQUAL("Link down",
+		text, strlen(text), "Invalid default link status string");
+
+	return TEST_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+static int32_t
+test_link_status_string_overflow(void)
+{
+	int ret = 0;
+	struct rte_eth_link link_status = {
+		.link_speed = ETH_SPEED_NUM_2_5G,
+		.link_status = ETH_LINK_UP,
+		.link_autoneg = ETH_LINK_AUTONEG,
+		.link_duplex = ETH_LINK_FULL_DUPLEX
+	};
+	char text[128];
+	int i = 0;
+	for (i = 0; i < 128; i++)
+		text[i] = 'Y';
+	text[127] = '\0';
+
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(NULL, 2, "status %S, %G Gbits/s",
+		&link_status);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret < 0, "Format string should fail, but it's ok\n");
+
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 2, "status %S, %G Gbits/s",
+		&link_status);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret < 0, "Format string should fail, but it's ok\n");
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(text[2] == 'Y', "String1 overflow\n");
+
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 8, NULL,
+		&link_status);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret < 0, "Default format string should fail,"
+			" but it's ok\n");
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(text[8] == 'Y', "String1 overflow\n");
+
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 10, NULL,
+		&link_status);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret < 0, "Default format string should fail,"
+			" but it's ok\n");
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(text[10] == 'Y', "String1 overflow\n");
+
+	text[1] = 'Y';
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 1, "%S",
+		&link_status);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret < 0, "Status string should fail, but it's ok\n");
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(text[1] == 'Y', "String1 overflow\n");
+
+	return TEST_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+static int32_t
+test_link_status_format(void)
+{
+	int ret = 0;
+	struct rte_eth_link link_status = {
+		.link_speed = ETH_SPEED_NUM_40G,
+		.link_status = ETH_LINK_UP,
+		.link_autoneg = ETH_LINK_AUTONEG,
+		.link_duplex = ETH_LINK_FULL_DUPLEX
+	};
+	char text[128];
+	int i = 0;
+	for (i = 0; i < 128; i++)
+		text[i] = 'Y';
+	text[127] = '\0';
+	printf("status format #1: %s\n", text);
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 128, "status = %S, duplex = %D\n",
+		&link_status);
+	printf("status format #2: %s\n", text);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret > 0, "Failed to format string\n");
+	TEST_ASSERT_BUFFERS_ARE_EQUAL("status = Up, duplex = FDX\n",
+		text, strlen(text), "Invalid status string1.");
+
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 128, "%A", &link_status);
+	printf("status format #3: %s\n", text);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret > 0, "Failed to format string\n");
+	TEST_ASSERT_BUFFERS_ARE_EQUAL("Autoneg",
+		text, strlen(text), "Invalid status string2.");
+
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 128,
+		"%G",
+		&link_status);
+	printf("status format #4: %s\n", text);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret > 0, "Failed to format string\n");
+	TEST_ASSERT_BUFFERS_ARE_EQUAL("40.0",
+		text, strlen(text), "Invalid status string3.");
+
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 128,
+		"%M",
+		&link_status);
+	printf("status format #5: %s\n", text);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret > 0, "Failed to format string\n");
+	TEST_ASSERT_BUFFERS_ARE_EQUAL("40000",
+		text, strlen(text), "Invalid status string4.");
+	return TEST_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+static int32_t
+test_link_status_return_value(void)
+{
+	int ret = 0;
+	struct rte_eth_link link_status = {
+		.link_speed = ETH_SPEED_NUM_40G,
+		.link_status = ETH_LINK_UP,
+		.link_autoneg = ETH_LINK_AUTONEG,
+		.link_duplex = ETH_LINK_FULL_DUPLEX
+	};
+	char text[128];
+	int i = 0;
+	for (i = 0; i < 128; i++)
+		text[i] = 'Y';
+	text[127] = '\0';
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 128, "status = %S, ",
+		&link_status);
+	printf("return value #1:ret=%u, text=%s\n", ret, text);
+	ret += rte_eth_link_format(text + ret, 128 - ret,
+		"%A",
+		&link_status);
+	printf("return value #2:ret=%u, text=%s\n", ret, text);
+	ret += rte_eth_link_format(text + ret, 128 - ret,
+		", duplex = %D\n",
+		&link_status);
+	printf("return value #3:ret=%u, text=%s\n", ret, text);
+	ret += rte_eth_link_format(text + ret, 128 - ret,
+		"%M Mbits/s\n",
+		&link_status);
+	printf("return value #4:ret=%u, text=%s\n", ret, text);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret > 0, "Failed to format string\n");
+	TEST_ASSERT_BUFFERS_ARE_EQUAL("status = Up, Autoneg, duplex = FDX\n"
+		"40000 Mbits/s\n",
+		text, strlen(text), "Invalid status string");
+
+	return TEST_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+static int32_t
+test_link_status_invalid_fmt(void)
+{
+	int ret = 0;
+	struct rte_eth_link link_status = {
+		.link_speed = ETH_SPEED_NUM_40G,
+		.link_status = ETH_LINK_UP,
+		.link_autoneg = ETH_LINK_AUTONEG,
+		.link_duplex = ETH_LINK_FULL_DUPLEX
+	};
+	char text[128];
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 128, "status = %",
+		&link_status);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret < 0, "Status string1 should fail, but it's ok\n");
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 128,
+		", duplex = %d\n",
+		&link_status);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret < 0, "Status string2 should fail, but it's ok\n");
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 128,
+		"% Mbits/s\n",
+		&link_status);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret < 0, "Status string3 should fail, but it's ok\n");
+
+	return TEST_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+static int32_t
+test_link_status_format_edges(void)
+{
+	int ret = 0;
+	struct rte_eth_link link_status = {
+		.link_speed = ETH_SPEED_NUM_UNKNOWN,
+		.link_status = ETH_LINK_DOWN,
+		.link_autoneg = ETH_LINK_AUTONEG,
+		.link_duplex = ETH_LINK_HALF_DUPLEX
+	};
+	char text[128];
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 4, "%S", &link_status);
+	printf("format edges #1: %s\n", text);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret < 0, "It should fail. No space for "
+				 "zero terminator\n");
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 6, "123%D", &link_status);
+	printf("format edges #2: %s\n", text);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret < 0, "It should fail. No space for "
+				 "zero terminator\n");
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 7, "%A", &link_status);
+	printf("format edges #3: %s\n", text);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret < 0, "It should fail. No space for "
+				 "zero terminator\n");
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 8, "%A", &link_status);
+	printf("format edges #4: %s\n", text);
+	RTE_TEST_ASSERT(ret > 0, "It should ok, but it fails\n");
+	return TEST_SUCCESS;
+}
+static struct unit_test_suite link_status_testsuite = {
+	.suite_name = "link status formating",
+	.setup = NULL,
+	.teardown = NULL,
+	.unit_test_cases = {
+		TEST_CASE(test_link_status_up_default),
+		TEST_CASE(test_link_status_down_default),
+		TEST_CASE(test_link_status_string_overflow),
+		TEST_CASE(test_link_status_format),
+		TEST_CASE(test_link_status_format_edges),
+		TEST_CASE(test_link_status_invalid_fmt),
+		TEST_CASE(test_link_status_return_value),
+		TEST_CASES_END() /**< NULL terminate unit test array */
+	}
+};
+
+static int
+test_link_status(void)
+{
+	rte_log_set_global_level(RTE_LOG_DEBUG);
+	rte_log_set_level(RTE_LOGTYPE_EAL, RTE_LOG_DEBUG);
+
+	return unit_test_suite_runner(&link_status_testsuite);
+}
+
+REGISTER_TEST_COMMAND(ethdev_link_status, test_link_status);
diff --git a/lib/librte_ethdev/rte_ethdev.c b/lib/librte_ethdev/rte_ethdev.c
index 8e10a6fc3..79158f119 100644
--- a/lib/librte_ethdev/rte_ethdev.c
+++ b/lib/librte_ethdev/rte_ethdev.c
@@ -2385,6 +2385,174 @@ rte_eth_link_get_nowait(uint16_t port_id, struct rte_eth_link *eth_link)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int
+rte_eth_link_format_parser(char *str, size_t len, const char *const fmt,
+			   struct rte_eth_link *link)
+{
+	size_t offset = 0;
+	const char *fmt_cur = fmt;
+	char *str_cur = str;
+	double gbits = (double)link->link_speed / 1000.;
+	static const char AUTONEG_STR[]       = "Autoneg";
+	static const char FIXED_STR[]         = "Fixed";
+	static const char FDX_STR[]           = "FDX";
+	static const char HDX_STR[]           = "HDX";
+	static const char UNKNOWN_STR[]       = "Unknown";
+	static const char UP_STR[]            = "Up";
+	static const char DOWN_STR[]          = "Down";
+
+	char gbits_str[20];
+	char mbits_str[20];
+	/* preformat complex formating to easily concatinate it further */
+	snprintf(mbits_str, 20, "%u", link->link_speed);
+	snprintf(gbits_str, 20, "%.1f", gbits);
+	/* init str before formating */
+	str[0] = 0;
+	while (*fmt_cur) {
+		/* check str bounds */
+		if (offset > (len - 1)) {
+			str[len - 1] = '\0';
+			return -1;
+		}
+		if (*fmt_cur == '%') {
+			/* set null terminator to current position,
+			 * it's required for strlcat
+			 */
+			*str_cur = '\0';
+			switch (*++fmt_cur) {
+			/* Speed in Mbits/s */
+			case 'M':
+				if (link->link_speed ==
+				    ETH_SPEED_NUM_UNKNOWN)
+					offset = strlcat(str, UNKNOWN_STR,
+							 len);
+				else
+					offset = strlcat(str, mbits_str, len);
+				break;
+			/* Speed in Gbits/s */
+			case 'G':
+				if (link->link_speed ==
+				    ETH_SPEED_NUM_UNKNOWN)
+					offset = strlcat(str, UNKNOWN_STR,
+							 len);
+				else
+					offset = strlcat(str, gbits_str, len);
+				break;
+			/* Link status */
+			case 'S':
+				offset = strlcat(str, link->link_status ?
+					UP_STR : DOWN_STR, len);
+				break;
+			/* Link autoneg */
+			case 'A':
+				offset = strlcat(str, link->link_autoneg ?
+					AUTONEG_STR : FIXED_STR, len);
+				break;
+			/* Link duplex */
+			case 'D':
+				offset = strlcat(str, link->link_duplex ?
+					FDX_STR : HDX_STR, len);
+				break;
+			/* Error cases */
+			default:
+				return -1;
+
+			}
+			if (offset > (len - 1))
+				return -1;
+
+			str_cur = str + offset;
+		} else {
+			*str_cur++ = *fmt_cur;
+			offset++;
+		}
+		fmt_cur++;
+	}
+	*str_cur = '\0';
+	return offset;
+}
+
+int
+rte_eth_link_printf(const char *const fmt,
+		    struct rte_eth_link *link)
+{
+	char text[200];
+	int ret;
+	ret = rte_eth_link_format(text, 200, fmt, link);
+	if (ret > 0)
+		printf("%s", text);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+int
+rte_eth_link_format(char *str, size_t len, const char *const fmt,
+		    struct rte_eth_link *link)
+{
+	size_t offset = 0;
+	double gbits = (double)link->link_speed / 1000.;
+	char gbits_str[20];
+	char mbits_str[20];
+	/* TBD: make it international? */
+	static const char LINK_DOWN_STR[]     = "Link down";
+	static const char LINK_UP_STR[]       = "Link up at ";
+	static const char UNKNOWN_SPEED_STR[] = "Unknown speed ";
+	static const char MBITS_STR[]	      = "Mbit/s";
+	static const char GBITS_STR[]	      = "Gbit/s";
+	static const char AUTONEG_STR[]       = "Autoneg";
+	static const char FIXED_STR[]         = "Fixed";
+	static const char FDX_STR[]           = "FDX ";
+	static const char HDX_STR[]           = "HDX ";
+	if (str == NULL || len == 0)
+		return -1;
+	/* default format string, if no fmt is specified */
+	if (fmt == NULL) {
+		if (link->link_status == ETH_LINK_DOWN) {
+			if (sizeof(LINK_DOWN_STR) > len)
+				return -1;
+			return strlcpy(str, LINK_DOWN_STR, len);
+		}
+
+		/* preformat complex strings to easily concatinate it further */
+		snprintf(mbits_str, 20, "%u %s ", link->link_speed, MBITS_STR);
+		snprintf(gbits_str, 20, "%.1f %s ", gbits, GBITS_STR);
+
+		offset = strlcpy(str, LINK_UP_STR, len);
+		/* reserve one byte to null terminator */
+		if (offset > (len - 1))
+			return -1;
+		/* link speed */
+		if (link->link_speed == ETH_SPEED_NUM_UNKNOWN) {
+			offset = strlcat(str, UNKNOWN_SPEED_STR, len);
+			if (offset > (len - 1))
+				return -1;
+		} else {
+			if (link->link_speed < ETH_SPEED_NUM_1G) {
+				offset = strlcat(str, mbits_str, len);
+				if (offset > (len - 1))
+					return -1;
+			} else {
+				offset = strlcat(str, gbits_str, len);
+				if (offset > (len - 1))
+					return -1;
+			}
+		}
+		/* link duplex */
+		offset = strlcat(str, link->link_duplex ?
+			       FDX_STR : HDX_STR, len);
+		if (offset > (len - 1))
+			return -1;
+		/* link autonegotiation */
+		offset = strlcat(str, link->link_autoneg ?
+			       AUTONEG_STR : FIXED_STR, len);
+		if (offset > (len - 1))
+			return -1;
+	/* Formated status */
+	} else
+		offset = rte_eth_link_format_parser(str, len, fmt, link);
+
+	return offset;
+}
+
 int
 rte_eth_stats_get(uint16_t port_id, struct rte_eth_stats *stats)
 {
diff --git a/lib/librte_ethdev/rte_ethdev.h b/lib/librte_ethdev/rte_ethdev.h
index 2090af501..f444101a6 100644
--- a/lib/librte_ethdev/rte_ethdev.h
+++ b/lib/librte_ethdev/rte_ethdev.h
@@ -2295,6 +2295,60 @@ int rte_eth_link_get(uint16_t port_id, struct rte_eth_link *link);
  */
 int rte_eth_link_get_nowait(uint16_t port_id, struct rte_eth_link *link);
 
+
+/**
+ * print formated link status to stdout. This function threats all
+ * special values like ETH_SPEED_NUM_UNKNOWN, ETH_LINK_DOWN etc. and convert
+ * them to textual representation.
+ *
+ * @param fmt
+ *   Format string which allow to format link status. If NULL is provided
+ *   , default formating will be applied.
+ *   Following specifiers are available:
+ *    - '%M' link speed in Mbits/s
+ *    - '%G' link speed in Gbits/s
+ *    - '%S' link status. e.g. Up or Down
+ *    - '%A' link autonegotiation state
+ *    - '%D' link duplex state
+ * @param link
+ *   Link status provided by rte_eth_link_get function
+ * @return
+ *   - Number of bytes written to stdout. In case of error, -1 is returned.
+ *
+ */
+__rte_experimental
+int rte_eth_link_printf(const char *const fmt,
+			struct rte_eth_link *link);
+
+/**
+ * Format link status to textual representation. This function threats all
+ * special values like ETH_SPEED_NUM_UNKNOWN, ETH_LINK_DOWN etc. and convert
+ * them to textual representation.
+ *
+ * @param str
+ *   A pointer to a string to be filled with textual representation of
+ *   device status.
+ * @param len
+ *   Length of available memory at 'str' string.
+ * @param fmt
+ *   Format string which allow to format link status. If NULL is provided
+ *   , default formating will be applied.
+ *   Following specifiers are available:
+ *    - '%M' link speed in Mbits/s
+ *    - '%G' link speed in Gbits/s
+ *    - '%S' link status. e.g. Up or Down
+ *    - '%A' link autonegotiation state
+ *    - '%D' link duplex state
+ * @param link
+ *   Link status provided by rte_eth_link_get function
+ * @return
+ *   - Number of bytes written to str array. In case of error, -1 is returned.
+ *
+ */
+__rte_experimental
+int rte_eth_link_format(char *str, size_t len, const char *const fmt,
+			struct rte_eth_link *eth_link);
+
 /**
  * Retrieve the general I/O statistics of an Ethernet device.
  *
diff --git a/lib/librte_ethdev/rte_ethdev_version.map b/lib/librte_ethdev/rte_ethdev_version.map
index 715505604..a4c5e7653 100644
--- a/lib/librte_ethdev/rte_ethdev_version.map
+++ b/lib/librte_ethdev/rte_ethdev_version.map
@@ -241,4 +241,8 @@ EXPERIMENTAL {
 	__rte_ethdev_trace_rx_burst;
 	__rte_ethdev_trace_tx_burst;
 	rte_flow_get_aged_flows;
+
+	# added in 20.08
+	rte_eth_link_format;
+	rte_eth_link_printf;
 };
