diff --git a/app/test/virtual_pmd.c b/app/test/virtual_pmd.c
index ade6cb0..ff8f747 100644
--- a/app/test/virtual_pmd.c
+++ b/app/test/virtual_pmd.c
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ virtual_ethdev_create(const char *name, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 		goto err;
 
 	/* reserve an ethdev entry */
-	eth_dev = rte_eth_dev_allocate(name);
+	eth_dev = rte_eth_dev_allocate(name, RTE_ETH_DEV_PHYSICAL);
 	if (eth_dev == NULL)
 		goto err;
 
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_dev.c b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_dev.c
index 9ff03ed..c9d4894 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_dev.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_dev.c
@@ -322,4 +322,38 @@ err:
 	RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "Drver, cannot detach the device\n");
 	return -1;
 }
+
+/* attach the new device, then store port_id of the device */
+int
+rte_eal_dev_attach(const char *devargs, uint8_t *port_id)
+{
+	struct rte_pci_addr addr;
+
+	if (eal_parse_pci_DomBDF(devargs, &addr) == 0)
+		return rte_eal_dev_attach_pdev(&addr, port_id);
+	else
+		return rte_eal_dev_attach_vdev(devargs, port_id);
+}
+
+/* detach the device, then store the name of the device */
+int
+rte_eal_dev_detach(uint8_t port_id, char *name)
+{
+	struct rte_pci_addr addr;
+	int ret;
+
+	if (rte_eth_dev_get_device_type(port_id) == RTE_ETH_DEV_PHYSICAL) {
+		ret = rte_eth_dev_get_addr_by_port(port_id, &addr);
+		if (ret < 0)
+			return ret;
+
+		ret = rte_eal_dev_detach_pdev(port_id, &addr);
+		if (ret == 0)
+			snprintf(name, RTE_ETH_NAME_MAX_LEN, "%04x.%02x.%02x.%d",
+				addr.domain, addr.bus, addr.devid, addr.function);
+
+		return ret;
+	} else
+		return rte_eal_dev_detach_vdev(port_id, name);
+}
 #endif /* RTE_LIBRTE_EAL_HOTPLUG & RTE_LIBRTE_EAL_LINUXAPP */
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_dev.h b/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_dev.h
index f0677cb..1f8f24a 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_dev.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_dev.h
@@ -151,6 +151,31 @@ int rte_eal_dev_detach_pdev(uint8_t port_id, struct rte_pci_addr *addr);
  */
 int rte_eal_dev_detach_vdev(uint8_t port_id, char *vdevname);
 
+/**
+ * Attach a new device.
+ *
+ * @param devargs
+ *   A pointer to a strings array describing the new device
+ *   to be attached.
+ * @param port_id
+ *  A pointer to a port identifier actually attached.
+ * @return
+ *  0 on success and port_id is filled, negative on error
+ */
+int rte_eal_dev_attach(const char *devargs, uint8_t *port_id);
+
+/**
+ * Detach a device.
+ *
+ * @param port_id
+ *   The port identifier of the device to detach.
+ * @param addr
+ *  A pointer to a device name actually detached.
+ * @return
+ *  0 on success and devname is filled, negative on error
+ */
+int rte_eal_dev_detach(uint8_t port_id, char *devname);
+
 #endif /* RTE_LIBRTE_EAL_HOTPLUG & RTE_LIBRTE_EAL_LINUXAPP */
 
 /**
diff --git a/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.c b/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.c
index 86200e0..cd5ef67 100644
--- a/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.c
+++ b/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.c
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ rte_eth_dev_allocate_new_port(void)
 }
 
 struct rte_eth_dev *
-rte_eth_dev_allocate(const char *name)
+rte_eth_dev_allocate(const char *name, enum rte_eth_dev_type type)
 {
 	uint8_t port_id;
 	struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev;
@@ -256,6 +256,7 @@ rte_eth_dev_allocate(const char *name)
 	snprintf(eth_dev->data->name, sizeof(eth_dev->data->name), "%s", name);
 	eth_dev->data->port_id = port_id;
 	eth_dev->attached = DEV_CONNECTED;
+	eth_dev->dev_type = type;
 	nb_ports++;
 	return eth_dev;
 }
@@ -273,6 +274,7 @@ rte_eth_dev_free(const char *name)
 	}
 
 	eth_dev->attached = 0;
+	eth_dev->dev_type = RTE_ETH_DEV_UNKNOWN;
 	nb_ports--;
 	return eth_dev;
 }
@@ -293,7 +295,7 @@ rte_eth_dev_init(struct rte_pci_driver *pci_drv,
 	snprintf(ethdev_name, RTE_ETH_NAME_MAX_LEN, "%d:%d.%d",
 			pci_dev->addr.bus, pci_dev->addr.devid, pci_dev->addr.function);
 
-	eth_dev = rte_eth_dev_allocate(ethdev_name);
+	eth_dev = rte_eth_dev_allocate(ethdev_name, RTE_ETH_DEV_PHYSICAL);
 	if (eth_dev == NULL)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
@@ -416,6 +418,14 @@ rte_eth_dev_count(void)
 	return (nb_ports);
 }
 
+enum rte_eth_dev_type
+rte_eth_dev_get_device_type(uint8_t port_id)
+{
+	if (rte_eth_dev_validate_port(port_id) == DEV_INVALID)
+		return -1;
+	return rte_eth_devices[port_id].dev_type;
+}
+
 void
 rte_eth_dev_save(struct rte_eth_dev *devs)
 {
diff --git a/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.h b/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.h
index 47622a2..0d500eb 100644
--- a/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.h
+++ b/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.h
@@ -1548,6 +1548,16 @@ struct eth_dev_ops {
 };
 
 /**
+ * The eth device type
+ */
+enum rte_eth_dev_type {
+	RTE_ETH_DEV_UNKNOWN,	/**< unknown device type */
+	RTE_ETH_DEV_PHYSICAL,	/**< physical device type */
+	RTE_ETH_DEV_VIRTUAL,	/**< virtual device type */
+	RTE_ETH_DEV_MAX		/**< max value of this enum */
+};
+
+/**
  * @internal
  * The generic data structure associated with each ethernet device.
  *
@@ -1566,6 +1576,7 @@ struct rte_eth_dev {
 	struct rte_pci_device *pci_dev; /**< PCI info. supplied by probing */
 	struct rte_eth_dev_cb_list callbacks; /**< User application callbacks */
 	uint8_t attached; /**< Flag indicating the port is attached */
+	enum rte_eth_dev_type dev_type; /**< Flag indicating the device type */
 };
 
 struct rte_eth_dev_sriov {
@@ -1643,6 +1654,15 @@ extern uint8_t rte_eth_dev_count(void);
 
 /**
  * Function for internal use by port hotplug functions.
+ * Get the device type to know whether the device is physical or virtual.
+ *
+ * @return
+ *   - Device type.
+ */
+extern enum rte_eth_dev_type rte_eth_dev_get_device_type(uint8_t port_id);
+
+/**
+ * Function for internal use by port hotplug functions.
  * Copies current ethdev structures to the specified pointer.
  *
  * @param	devs	The pointer to the ethdev structures
@@ -1728,10 +1748,12 @@ extern struct rte_eth_dev *rte_eth_dev_allocated(const char *name);
  * to that slot for the driver to use.
  *
  * @param	name	Unique identifier name for each Ethernet device
+ * @param	type	Device type of this Ethernet device
  * @return
  *   - Slot in the rte_dev_devices array for a new device;
  */
-struct rte_eth_dev *rte_eth_dev_allocate(const char *name);
+struct rte_eth_dev *rte_eth_dev_allocate(const char *name,
+		enum rte_eth_dev_type type);
 
 /**
  * Function for internal use by dummy drivers primarily, e.g. ring-based
diff --git a/lib/librte_pmd_af_packet/rte_eth_af_packet.c b/lib/librte_pmd_af_packet/rte_eth_af_packet.c
index d0fb3eb..1237903 100644
--- a/lib/librte_pmd_af_packet/rte_eth_af_packet.c
+++ b/lib/librte_pmd_af_packet/rte_eth_af_packet.c
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ rte_pmd_init_internals(const char *name,
 	}
 
 	/* reserve an ethdev entry */
-	*eth_dev = rte_eth_dev_allocate(name);
+	*eth_dev = rte_eth_dev_allocate(name, RTE_ETH_DEV_VIRTUAL);
 	if (*eth_dev == NULL)
 		goto error;
 
diff --git a/lib/librte_pmd_bond/rte_eth_bond_api.c b/lib/librte_pmd_bond/rte_eth_bond_api.c
index ef5ddf4..a6986e3 100644
--- a/lib/librte_pmd_bond/rte_eth_bond_api.c
+++ b/lib/librte_pmd_bond/rte_eth_bond_api.c
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ rte_eth_bond_create(const char *name, uint8_t mode, uint8_t socket_id)
 	}
 
 	/* reserve an ethdev entry */
-	eth_dev = rte_eth_dev_allocate(name);
+	eth_dev = rte_eth_dev_allocate(name, RTE_ETH_DEV_VIRTUAL);
 	if (eth_dev == NULL) {
 		RTE_BOND_LOG(ERR, "Unable to allocate rte_eth_dev");
 		goto err;
diff --git a/lib/librte_pmd_pcap/rte_eth_pcap.c b/lib/librte_pmd_pcap/rte_eth_pcap.c
index f12d1e7..0f34f73 100644
--- a/lib/librte_pmd_pcap/rte_eth_pcap.c
+++ b/lib/librte_pmd_pcap/rte_eth_pcap.c
@@ -710,7 +710,7 @@ rte_pmd_init_internals(const char *name, const unsigned nb_rx_queues,
 		goto error;
 
 	/* reserve an ethdev entry */
-	*eth_dev = rte_eth_dev_allocate(name);
+	*eth_dev = rte_eth_dev_allocate(name, VIRTUAL);
 	if (*eth_dev == NULL)
 		goto error;
 
diff --git a/lib/librte_pmd_ring/rte_eth_ring.c b/lib/librte_pmd_ring/rte_eth_ring.c
index 4f1b6ed..d901053 100644
--- a/lib/librte_pmd_ring/rte_eth_ring.c
+++ b/lib/librte_pmd_ring/rte_eth_ring.c
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ rte_eth_from_rings(const char *name, struct rte_ring *const rx_queues[],
 		goto error;
 
 	/* reserve an ethdev entry */
-	eth_dev = rte_eth_dev_allocate(name);
+	eth_dev = rte_eth_dev_allocate(name, RTE_ETH_DEV_VIRTUAL);
 	if (eth_dev == NULL)
 		goto error;
 
diff --git a/lib/librte_pmd_xenvirt/rte_eth_xenvirt.c b/lib/librte_pmd_xenvirt/rte_eth_xenvirt.c
index 6555ec5..4f0eda5 100644
--- a/lib/librte_pmd_xenvirt/rte_eth_xenvirt.c
+++ b/lib/librte_pmd_xenvirt/rte_eth_xenvirt.c
@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ eth_dev_xenvirt_create(const char *name, const char *params,
 		goto err;
 
 	/* reserve an ethdev entry */
-	eth_dev = rte_eth_dev_allocate(name);
+	eth_dev = rte_eth_dev_allocate(name, VIRTUAL);
 	if (eth_dev == NULL)
 		goto err;
 
