diff --git a/drivers/common/iavf/iavf_prototype.h b/drivers/common/iavf/iavf_prototype.h
index f34e77db0f..3998d26dc0 100644
--- a/drivers/common/iavf/iavf_prototype.h
+++ b/drivers/common/iavf/iavf_prototype.h
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ void iavf_destroy_spinlock(struct iavf_spinlock *sp);
 __rte_internal
 void iavf_vf_parse_hw_config(struct iavf_hw *hw,
 			     struct virtchnl_vf_resource *msg);
+__rte_internal
 enum iavf_status iavf_vf_reset(struct iavf_hw *hw);
 __rte_internal
 enum iavf_status iavf_aq_send_msg_to_pf(struct iavf_hw *hw,
diff --git a/drivers/common/iavf/version.map b/drivers/common/iavf/version.map
index 8808779ab7..4dc2d42196 100644
--- a/drivers/common/iavf/version.map
+++ b/drivers/common/iavf/version.map
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ INTERNAL {
 	iavf_set_mac_type;
 	iavf_shutdown_adminq;
 	iavf_vf_parse_hw_config;
+	iavf_vf_reset;
 	client_vfio_user_setup;
 	client_vfio_user_get_bar_addr;
 	iavf_write_addr;
diff --git a/drivers/net/iavf/iavf.h b/drivers/net/iavf/iavf.h
index 6d5912d8c1..c34f971721 100644
--- a/drivers/net/iavf/iavf.h
+++ b/drivers/net/iavf/iavf.h
@@ -195,7 +195,10 @@ struct iavf_adapter {
 	struct iavf_hw hw;
 	struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev;
 	struct iavf_info vf;
-
+#ifdef RTE_LIBRTE_IAVF_CLIENT
+	/* used for avf_client driver */
+	struct vfio_device *user_dev;
+#endif
 	bool rx_bulk_alloc_allowed;
 	/* For vector PMD */
 	bool rx_vec_allowed;
@@ -231,6 +234,16 @@ iavf_init_adminq_parameter(struct iavf_hw *hw)
 	hw->aq.asq_buf_size = IAVF_AQ_BUF_SZ;
 }
 
+static inline void
+iavf_disable_irq0(struct iavf_hw *hw)
+{
+	/* Disable all interrupt types */
+	IAVF_WRITE_REG(hw, IAVF_VFINT_ICR0_ENA1, 0);
+	IAVF_WRITE_REG(hw, IAVF_VFINT_DYN_CTL01,
+		       IAVF_VFINT_DYN_CTL01_ITR_INDX_MASK);
+	IAVF_WRITE_FLUSH(hw);
+}
+
 static inline uint16_t
 iavf_calc_itr_interval(int16_t interval)
 {
@@ -284,6 +297,9 @@ _atomic_set_cmd(struct iavf_info *vf, enum virtchnl_ops ops)
 	return !ret;
 }
 
+extern const struct eth_dev_ops iavf_eth_dev_ops;
+
+int iavf_init_vf(struct rte_eth_dev *dev);
 int iavf_check_api_version(struct iavf_adapter *adapter);
 int iavf_get_vf_resource(struct iavf_adapter *adapter);
 void iavf_handle_virtchnl_msg(struct rte_eth_dev *dev);
diff --git a/drivers/net/iavf/iavf_client_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/iavf/iavf_client_ethdev.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..03f759c761
--- /dev/null
+++ b/drivers/net/iavf/iavf_client_ethdev.c
@@ -0,0 +1,298 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+ * Copyright(c) 2017 Intel Corporation
+ */
+
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+#include <rte_common.h>
+#include <rte_ether.h>
+#include <rte_ethdev_driver.h>
+#include <rte_ethdev_vdev.h>
+#include <rte_alarm.h>
+#include <rte_bus_vdev.h>
+#include <rte_malloc.h>
+#include <vfio_user/vfio_user_pci.h>
+
+#include "iavf.h"
+#include "iavf_rxtx.h"
+
+static int iavf_client_dev_close(struct rte_eth_dev *dev);
+static int iavf_client_dev_reset(struct rte_eth_dev *dev);
+
+/* set iavf_client_dev_ops to iavf's by default */
+static struct eth_dev_ops iavf_client_eth_dev_ops;
+
+static const char *valid_args[] = {
+#define AVF_CLIENT_ARG_PATH           "path"
+	AVF_CLIENT_ARG_PATH,
+	NULL
+};
+
+/* set up vfio_device for iavf_client*/
+static int
+iavf_client_vfio_user_setup(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, const char *path)
+{
+	struct iavf_adapter *adapter =
+		IAVF_DEV_PRIVATE_TO_ADAPTER(dev->data->dev_private);
+	struct iavf_hw *hw = IAVF_DEV_PRIVATE_TO_HW(adapter);
+	struct vfio_device *vfio_dev;
+	int max_fds, i;
+
+	vfio_dev = client_vfio_user_setup(path, dev->device->numa_node);
+	if (vfio_dev == NULL) {
+		printf("Error to create vfio_device for iavf_client\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+	hw->bus.type = iavf_bus_type_vfio_user;
+
+	/* Use hw_addr to record dev ptr */
+	hw->hw_addr = (uint8_t *)vfio_dev;
+
+	hw->back = IAVF_DEV_PRIVATE_TO_ADAPTER(dev->data->dev_private);
+
+	if (!dev->intr_handle) {
+		dev->intr_handle = malloc(sizeof(*dev->intr_handle));
+		if (!dev->intr_handle) {
+			PMD_INIT_LOG(ERR, "fail to allocate intr_handle");
+			return -1;
+		}
+		memset(dev->intr_handle, 0, sizeof(*dev->intr_handle));
+	}
+
+	max_fds = RTE_MIN(RTE_MAX_RXTX_INTR_VEC_ID, adapter->vf.num_queue_pairs);
+
+	/* FD for control has been enabled */
+	dev->intr_handle->fd = -1;
+	dev->intr_handle->type = RTE_INTR_HANDLE_VDEV;
+	dev->intr_handle->max_intr = max_fds + 1;
+	dev->intr_handle->nb_efd = max_fds;
+	for (i = 0; i < max_fds; ++i)
+		dev->intr_handle->efds[i] = vfio_dev->irqfds[i];
+	dev->intr_handle->efd_counter_size = 0;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+
+static inline void
+avf_client_init_eth_ops(void)
+{
+	iavf_client_eth_dev_ops = iavf_eth_dev_ops;
+	/* keep other unchanged */
+	iavf_client_eth_dev_ops.dev_close  = iavf_client_dev_close,
+	iavf_client_eth_dev_ops.dev_reset  = iavf_client_dev_reset,
+	iavf_client_eth_dev_ops.dev_supported_ptypes_get   = NULL;
+	iavf_client_eth_dev_ops.reta_update                = NULL;
+	iavf_client_eth_dev_ops.reta_query                 = NULL;
+	iavf_client_eth_dev_ops.rss_hash_update            = NULL;
+	iavf_client_eth_dev_ops.rss_hash_conf_get          = NULL;
+	iavf_client_eth_dev_ops.rx_queue_intr_enable       = NULL;
+	iavf_client_eth_dev_ops.rx_queue_intr_disable      = NULL;
+}
+
+#define IAVF_CLIENT_ALARM_INTERVAL 50000 /* us */
+static void
+iavf_client_dev_alarm_handler(void *param)
+{
+	struct rte_eth_dev *dev = (struct rte_eth_dev *)param;
+
+	iavf_handle_virtchnl_msg(dev);
+
+	rte_eal_alarm_set(IAVF_CLIENT_ALARM_INTERVAL,
+			  iavf_client_dev_alarm_handler, dev);
+}
+
+/* init ethdev for the avf client device*/
+static int
+iavf_client_eth_init(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev)
+{
+	struct iavf_adapter *adapter =
+		IAVF_DEV_PRIVATE_TO_ADAPTER(eth_dev->data->dev_private);
+	struct iavf_hw *hw = IAVF_DEV_PRIVATE_TO_HW(adapter);
+
+	/* update eth_dev_op by assigning ops func pointer */
+	avf_client_init_eth_ops();
+	eth_dev->dev_ops = (const struct eth_dev_ops *)(&iavf_client_eth_dev_ops);
+
+	eth_dev->rx_pkt_burst = &iavf_recv_pkts;
+	eth_dev->tx_pkt_burst = &iavf_xmit_pkts;
+	eth_dev->tx_pkt_prepare = &iavf_prep_pkts;
+
+	hw->back = IAVF_DEV_PRIVATE_TO_ADAPTER(eth_dev->data->dev_private);
+	adapter->eth_dev = eth_dev;
+	adapter->stopped = 1;
+
+	if (iavf_init_vf(eth_dev) != 0) {
+		PMD_INIT_LOG(ERR, "Init vf failed");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* copy mac addr */
+	eth_dev->data->mac_addrs = rte_zmalloc(
+			"iavf_client_mac",
+			RTE_ETHER_ADDR_LEN * IAVF_NUM_MACADDR_MAX, 0);
+	if (!eth_dev->data->mac_addrs) {
+		PMD_INIT_LOG(ERR, "Failed to allocate %d bytes needed to"
+			     " store MAC addresses",
+			     RTE_ETHER_ADDR_LEN * IAVF_NUM_MACADDR_MAX);
+		return -ENOMEM;
+	}
+	/* If the MAC address is not configured by host,
+	 * generate a random one.
+	 */
+	if (!rte_is_valid_assigned_ether_addr(
+			(struct rte_ether_addr *)hw->mac.addr))
+		rte_eth_random_addr(hw->mac.addr);
+	rte_ether_addr_copy((struct rte_ether_addr *)hw->mac.addr,
+			&eth_dev->data->mac_addrs[0]);
+
+	rte_eal_alarm_set(IAVF_CLIENT_ALARM_INTERVAL,
+			  iavf_client_dev_alarm_handler, eth_dev);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+iavf_client_dev_reset(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
+{
+	struct iavf_hw *hw = IAVF_DEV_PRIVATE_TO_HW(dev->data->dev_private);
+	int ret;
+
+	rte_eal_alarm_cancel(iavf_client_dev_alarm_handler, dev);
+
+	iavf_shutdown_adminq(hw);
+	ret = iavf_init_vf(dev);
+
+	/* send reset msg to PF */
+	iavf_vf_reset(hw);
+	rte_eal_alarm_set(IAVF_CLIENT_ALARM_INTERVAL,
+			  iavf_client_dev_alarm_handler, dev);
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+static int
+iavf_client_dev_close(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
+{
+	struct iavf_adapter *adapter =
+		IAVF_DEV_PRIVATE_TO_ADAPTER(dev->data->dev_private);
+	struct iavf_hw *hw = IAVF_DEV_PRIVATE_TO_HW(dev->data->dev_private);
+	struct rte_intr_handle *intr_handle = dev->intr_handle;
+
+	if (!adapter->stopped) {
+		iavf_stop_queues(dev);
+
+		if (intr_handle) {
+			/* Disable the interrupt for Rx */
+			rte_intr_efd_disable(intr_handle);
+			/* Rx interrupt vector mapping free */
+			if (intr_handle->intr_vec) {
+				rte_free(intr_handle->intr_vec);
+				intr_handle->intr_vec = NULL;
+			}
+		}
+		/* Remove all mac addrs */
+		iavf_add_del_all_mac_addr(adapter, false);
+		adapter->stopped = 1;
+	}
+	iavf_shutdown_adminq(hw);
+	iavf_disable_irq0(hw);
+	rte_eal_alarm_cancel(iavf_client_dev_alarm_handler, dev);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+iavf_client_get_string_arg(const char *key __rte_unused,
+	       const char *value, void *extra_args)
+{
+	if (!value || !extra_args)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
+	*(char **)extra_args = strdup(value);
+
+	if (!*(char **)extra_args)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+avf_client_pmd_probe(struct rte_vdev_device *vdev)
+{
+	struct rte_kvargs *kvlist = NULL;
+	struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev;
+	struct iavf_adapter *adapter;
+	char *path = NULL;
+	int ret;
+
+	kvlist = rte_kvargs_parse(rte_vdev_device_args(vdev), valid_args);
+	if (!kvlist) {
+		PMD_INIT_LOG(ERR, "error when parsing param");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	if (rte_kvargs_count(kvlist, AVF_CLIENT_ARG_PATH) == 1) {
+		if (rte_kvargs_process(kvlist, AVF_CLIENT_ARG_PATH,
+				       &iavf_client_get_string_arg, &path) < 0) {
+			PMD_INIT_LOG(ERR, "error to parse %s",
+				     AVF_CLIENT_ARG_PATH);
+			return -EINVAL;
+		}
+	} else {
+		PMD_INIT_LOG(ERR, "arg %s is mandatory for virtio_user",
+			     AVF_CLIENT_ARG_PATH);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	eth_dev = rte_eth_vdev_allocate(vdev, sizeof(*adapter));
+
+	ret = iavf_client_vfio_user_setup(eth_dev, path);
+	if (ret) {
+		goto err;
+	}
+
+	ret = iavf_client_eth_init(eth_dev);
+	if (ret) {
+		goto err;
+	}
+
+	rte_eth_dev_probing_finish(eth_dev);
+	rte_kvargs_free(kvlist);
+
+	return 0;
+err:
+	rte_eth_dev_release_port(eth_dev);
+	rte_kvargs_free(kvlist);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+
+static int
+avf_client_pmd_remove(struct rte_vdev_device *vdev)
+{
+	struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev = NULL;
+
+	if (vdev == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	/* find the ethdev entry */
+	eth_dev = rte_eth_dev_allocated(rte_vdev_device_name(vdev));
+	if (eth_dev == NULL)
+		return 0;
+
+	iavf_client_dev_close(eth_dev);
+	rte_eth_dev_release_port(eth_dev);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static struct rte_vdev_driver iavf_client_driver = {
+	.probe = avf_client_pmd_probe,
+	.remove = avf_client_pmd_remove,
+};
+
+RTE_PMD_REGISTER_VDEV(net_iavf_client, iavf_client_driver);
+RTE_PMD_REGISTER_ALIAS(net_iavf_client, iavf_client);
+RTE_PMD_REGISTER_PARAM_STRING(net_iavf_client,
+	"path=<path>");
diff --git a/drivers/net/iavf/iavf_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/iavf/iavf_ethdev.c
index 7e3c26a94e..6b5e47adf2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/iavf/iavf_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/iavf/iavf_ethdev.c
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ static const struct rte_iavf_xstats_name_off rte_iavf_stats_strings[] = {
 #define IAVF_NB_XSTATS (sizeof(rte_iavf_stats_strings) / \
 		sizeof(rte_iavf_stats_strings[0]))
 
-static const struct eth_dev_ops iavf_eth_dev_ops = {
+const struct eth_dev_ops iavf_eth_dev_ops = {
 	.dev_configure              = iavf_dev_configure,
 	.dev_start                  = iavf_dev_start,
 	.dev_stop                   = iavf_dev_stop,
@@ -1780,7 +1780,7 @@ iavf_init_proto_xtr(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 	}
 }
 
-static int
+int
 iavf_init_vf(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 {
 	int err, bufsz;
@@ -1789,12 +1789,6 @@ iavf_init_vf(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 	struct iavf_hw *hw = IAVF_DEV_PRIVATE_TO_HW(dev->data->dev_private);
 	struct iavf_info *vf = IAVF_DEV_PRIVATE_TO_VF(dev->data->dev_private);
 
-	err = iavf_parse_devargs(dev);
-	if (err) {
-		PMD_INIT_LOG(ERR, "Failed to parse devargs");
-		goto err;
-	}
-
 	err = iavf_set_mac_type(hw);
 	if (err) {
 		PMD_INIT_LOG(ERR, "set_mac_type failed: %d", err);
@@ -1891,16 +1885,6 @@ iavf_enable_irq0(struct iavf_hw *hw)
 	IAVF_WRITE_FLUSH(hw);
 }
 
-static inline void
-iavf_disable_irq0(struct iavf_hw *hw)
-{
-	/* Disable all interrupt types */
-	IAVF_WRITE_REG(hw, IAVF_VFINT_ICR0_ENA1, 0);
-	IAVF_WRITE_REG(hw, IAVF_VFINT_DYN_CTL01,
-		       IAVF_VFINT_DYN_CTL01_ITR_INDX_MASK);
-	IAVF_WRITE_FLUSH(hw);
-}
-
 static void
 iavf_dev_interrupt_handler(void *param)
 {
@@ -1986,6 +1970,12 @@ iavf_dev_init(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev)
 	adapter->eth_dev = eth_dev;
 	adapter->stopped = 1;
 
+	ret  = iavf_parse_devargs(eth_dev);
+	if (ret) {
+		PMD_INIT_LOG(ERR, "Failed to parse devargs");
+		return ret;
+	}
+
 	if (iavf_init_vf(eth_dev) != 0) {
 		PMD_INIT_LOG(ERR, "Init vf failed");
 		return -1;
diff --git a/drivers/net/iavf/iavf_rxtx.c b/drivers/net/iavf/iavf_rxtx.c
index 21d508b3f4..d8192f3675 100644
--- a/drivers/net/iavf/iavf_rxtx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/iavf/iavf_rxtx.c
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@
 #include <rte_ip.h>
 #include <rte_net.h>
 #include <rte_vect.h>
+#ifdef RTE_LIBRTE_IAVF_CLIENT
+#include <vfio_user/vfio_user_pci.h>
+#endif
 
 #include "iavf.h"
 #include "iavf_rxtx.h"
@@ -595,7 +598,15 @@ iavf_dev_rx_queue_setup(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint16_t queue_idx,
 	reset_rx_queue(rxq);
 	rxq->q_set = true;
 	dev->data->rx_queues[queue_idx] = rxq;
-	rxq->qrx_tail = hw->hw_addr + IAVF_QRX_TAIL1(rxq->queue_id);
+
+#ifdef RTE_LIBRTE_IAVF_CLIENT
+	if (hw->bus.type == iavf_bus_type_vfio_user)
+		rxq->qrx_tail = client_vfio_user_get_bar_addr(
+				(struct vfio_device *)hw->hw_addr, 0,
+				IAVF_QRX_TAIL1(rxq->queue_id), 4);
+	else
+#endif
+		rxq->qrx_tail = hw->hw_addr + IAVF_QRX_TAIL1(rxq->queue_id);
 	rxq->ops = &def_rxq_ops;
 
 	if (check_rx_bulk_allow(rxq) == true) {
@@ -705,7 +716,15 @@ iavf_dev_tx_queue_setup(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 	reset_tx_queue(txq);
 	txq->q_set = true;
 	dev->data->tx_queues[queue_idx] = txq;
-	txq->qtx_tail = hw->hw_addr + IAVF_QTX_TAIL1(queue_idx);
+#ifdef RTE_LIBRTE_IAVF_CLIENT
+	if (hw->bus.type == iavf_bus_type_vfio_user)
+		txq->qtx_tail = client_vfio_user_get_bar_addr(
+			(struct vfio_device *)hw->hw_addr, 0,
+			IAVF_QTX_TAIL1(queue_idx), 4);
+	else
+#endif
+		txq->qtx_tail = hw->hw_addr + IAVF_QTX_TAIL1(queue_idx);
+
 	txq->ops = &def_txq_ops;
 
 	if (check_tx_vec_allow(txq) == false) {
diff --git a/drivers/net/iavf/meson.build b/drivers/net/iavf/meson.build
index 26c02c4401..580307c462 100644
--- a/drivers/net/iavf/meson.build
+++ b/drivers/net/iavf/meson.build
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ sources = files(
 	'iavf_generic_flow.c',
 	'iavf_fdir.c',
 	'iavf_hash.c',
+	'iavf_client_ethdev.c',
 )
 
 if arch_subdir == 'x86'
