diff --git a/dts/framework/config/__init__.py b/dts/framework/config/__init__.py
index e3e2d74eac..ca61cb10fe 100644
--- a/dts/framework/config/__init__.py
+++ b/dts/framework/config/__init__.py
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ class BuildTargetConfiguration:
     os: OS
     cpu: CPUType
     compiler: Compiler
+    compiler_wrapper: str
     name: str
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ def from_dict(d: dict) -> "BuildTargetConfiguration":
             os=OS(d["os"]),
             cpu=CPUType(d["cpu"]),
             compiler=Compiler(d["compiler"]),
+            compiler_wrapper=d.get("compiler_wrapper", ""),
             name=f"{d['arch']}-{d['os']}-{d['cpu']}-{d['compiler']}",
         )
 
diff --git a/dts/framework/exception.py b/dts/framework/exception.py
index e776b42bd9..b4545a5a40 100644
--- a/dts/framework/exception.py
+++ b/dts/framework/exception.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ class ErrorSeverity(IntEnum):
     CONFIG_ERR = 2
     REMOTE_CMD_EXEC_ERR = 3
     SSH_ERR = 4
+    DPDK_BUILD_ERR = 10
 
 
 class DTSError(Exception):
@@ -111,3 +112,19 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
             f"Command {self.command} returned a non-zero exit code: "
             f"{self.command_return_code}"
         )
+
+
+class RemoteDirectoryExistsError(DTSError):
+    """
+    Raised when a remote directory to be created already exists.
+    """
+
+    severity: ClassVar[ErrorSeverity] = ErrorSeverity.REMOTE_CMD_EXEC_ERR
+
+
+class DPDKBuildError(DTSError):
+    """
+    Raised when DPDK build fails for any reason.
+    """
+
+    severity: ClassVar[ErrorSeverity] = ErrorSeverity.DPDK_BUILD_ERR
diff --git a/dts/framework/remote_session/os_session.py b/dts/framework/remote_session/os_session.py
index 7a4cc5e669..06d1ffefdd 100644
--- a/dts/framework/remote_session/os_session.py
+++ b/dts/framework/remote_session/os_session.py
@@ -2,10 +2,14 @@
 # Copyright(c) 2023 PANTHEON.tech s.r.o.
 # Copyright(c) 2023 University of New Hampshire
 
-from abc import ABC
+from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from pathlib import PurePath
 
-from framework.config import NodeConfiguration
+from framework.config import Architecture, NodeConfiguration
 from framework.logger import DTSLOG
+from framework.settings import SETTINGS
+from framework.testbed_model import MesonArgs
+from framework.utils import EnvVarsDict
 
 from .remote import RemoteSession, create_remote_session
 
@@ -44,3 +48,85 @@ def is_alive(self) -> bool:
         Check whether the remote session is still responding.
         """
         return self.remote_session.is_alive()
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def guess_dpdk_remote_dir(self, remote_dir) -> PurePath:
+        """
+        Try to find DPDK remote dir in remote_dir.
+        """
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def get_remote_tmp_dir(self) -> PurePath:
+        """
+        Get the path of the temporary directory of the remote OS.
+        """
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def get_dpdk_build_env_vars(self, arch: Architecture) -> dict:
+        """
+        Create extra environment variables needed for the target architecture. Get
+        information from the node if needed.
+        """
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def join_remote_path(self, *args: str | PurePath) -> PurePath:
+        """
+        Join path parts using the path separator that fits the remote OS.
+        """
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def copy_file(
+        self,
+        source_file: str | PurePath,
+        destination_file: str | PurePath,
+        source_remote: bool = False,
+    ) -> None:
+        """
+        Copy source_file from local filesystem to destination_file
+        on the remote Node associated with the remote session.
+        If source_remote is True, reverse the direction - copy source_file from the
+        associated remote Node to destination_file on local storage.
+        """
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def remove_remote_dir(
+        self,
+        remote_dir_path: str | PurePath,
+        recursive: bool = True,
+        force: bool = True,
+    ) -> None:
+        """
+        Remove remote directory, by default remove recursively and forcefully.
+        """
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def extract_remote_tarball(
+        self,
+        remote_tarball_path: str | PurePath,
+        expected_dir: str | PurePath | None = None,
+    ) -> None:
+        """
+        Extract remote tarball in place. If expected_dir is a non-empty string, check
+        whether the dir exists after extracting the archive.
+        """
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def build_dpdk(
+        self,
+        env_vars: EnvVarsDict,
+        meson_args: MesonArgs,
+        remote_dpdk_dir: str | PurePath,
+        remote_dpdk_build_dir: str | PurePath,
+        rebuild: bool = False,
+        timeout: float = SETTINGS.compile_timeout,
+    ) -> None:
+        """
+        Build DPDK in the input dir with specified environment variables and meson
+        arguments.
+        """
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def get_dpdk_version(self, version_path: str | PurePath) -> str:
+        """
+        Inspect DPDK version on the remote node from version_path.
+        """
diff --git a/dts/framework/remote_session/posix_session.py b/dts/framework/remote_session/posix_session.py
index 110b6a4804..d4da9f114e 100644
--- a/dts/framework/remote_session/posix_session.py
+++ b/dts/framework/remote_session/posix_session.py
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 # Copyright(c) 2023 PANTHEON.tech s.r.o.
 # Copyright(c) 2023 University of New Hampshire
 
+from pathlib import PurePath, PurePosixPath
+
+from framework.config import Architecture
+from framework.exception import DPDKBuildError, RemoteCommandExecutionError
+from framework.settings import SETTINGS
+from framework.testbed_model import MesonArgs
+from framework.utils import EnvVarsDict
+
 from .os_session import OSSession
 
 
@@ -10,3 +18,121 @@ class PosixSession(OSSession):
     An intermediary class implementing the Posix compliant parts of
     Linux and other OS remote sessions.
     """
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def combine_short_options(**opts: bool) -> str:
+        ret_opts = ""
+        for opt, include in opts.items():
+            if include:
+                ret_opts = f"{ret_opts}{opt}"
+
+        if ret_opts:
+            ret_opts = f" -{ret_opts}"
+
+        return ret_opts
+
+    def guess_dpdk_remote_dir(self, remote_dir) -> PurePosixPath:
+        remote_guess = self.join_remote_path(remote_dir, "dpdk-*")
+        result = self.remote_session.send_command(f"ls -d {remote_guess} | tail -1")
+        return PurePosixPath(result.stdout)
+
+    def get_remote_tmp_dir(self) -> PurePosixPath:
+        return PurePosixPath("/tmp")
+
+    def get_dpdk_build_env_vars(self, arch: Architecture) -> dict:
+        """
+        Create extra environment variables needed for i686 arch build. Get information
+        from the node if needed.
+        """
+        env_vars = {}
+        if arch == Architecture.i686:
+            # find the pkg-config path and store it in PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR
+            out = self.remote_session.send_command("find /usr -type d -name pkgconfig")
+            pkg_path = ""
+            res_path = out.stdout.split("\r\n")
+            for cur_path in res_path:
+                if "i386" in cur_path:
+                    pkg_path = cur_path
+                    break
+            assert pkg_path != "", "i386 pkg-config path not found"
+
+            env_vars["CFLAGS"] = "-m32"
+            env_vars["PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR"] = pkg_path
+
+        return env_vars
+
+    def join_remote_path(self, *args: str | PurePath) -> PurePosixPath:
+        return PurePosixPath(*args)
+
+    def copy_file(
+        self,
+        source_file: str | PurePath,
+        destination_file: str | PurePath,
+        source_remote: bool = False,
+    ) -> None:
+        self.remote_session.copy_file(source_file, destination_file, source_remote)
+
+    def remove_remote_dir(
+        self,
+        remote_dir_path: str | PurePath,
+        recursive: bool = True,
+        force: bool = True,
+    ) -> None:
+        opts = PosixSession.combine_short_options(r=recursive, f=force)
+        self.remote_session.send_command(f"rm{opts} {remote_dir_path}")
+
+    def extract_remote_tarball(
+        self,
+        remote_tarball_path: str | PurePath,
+        expected_dir: str | PurePath | None = None,
+    ) -> None:
+        self.remote_session.send_command(
+            f"tar xfm {remote_tarball_path} "
+            f"-C {PurePosixPath(remote_tarball_path).parent}",
+            60,
+        )
+        if expected_dir:
+            self.remote_session.send_command(f"ls {expected_dir}", verify=True)
+
+    def build_dpdk(
+        self,
+        env_vars: EnvVarsDict,
+        meson_args: MesonArgs,
+        remote_dpdk_dir: str | PurePath,
+        remote_dpdk_build_dir: str | PurePath,
+        rebuild: bool = False,
+        timeout: float = SETTINGS.compile_timeout,
+    ) -> None:
+        try:
+            if rebuild:
+                # reconfigure, then build
+                self._logger.info("Reconfiguring DPDK build.")
+                self.remote_session.send_command(
+                    f"meson configure {meson_args} {remote_dpdk_build_dir}",
+                    timeout,
+                    verify=True,
+                    env=env_vars,
+                )
+            else:
+                # fresh build - remove target dir first, then build from scratch
+                self._logger.info("Configuring DPDK build from scratch.")
+                self.remove_remote_dir(remote_dpdk_build_dir)
+                self.remote_session.send_command(
+                    f"meson {meson_args} {remote_dpdk_dir} {remote_dpdk_build_dir}",
+                    timeout,
+                    verify=True,
+                    env=env_vars,
+                )
+
+            self._logger.info("Building DPDK.")
+            self.remote_session.send_command(
+                f"ninja -C {remote_dpdk_build_dir}", timeout, verify=True, env=env_vars
+            )
+        except RemoteCommandExecutionError as e:
+            raise DPDKBuildError(f"DPDK build failed when doing '{e.command}'.")
+
+    def get_dpdk_version(self, build_dir: str | PurePath) -> str:
+        out = self.remote_session.send_command(
+            f"cat {self.join_remote_path(build_dir, 'VERSION')}", verify=True
+        )
+        return out.stdout
diff --git a/dts/framework/remote_session/remote/remote_session.py b/dts/framework/remote_session/remote/remote_session.py
index 5ac395ec79..91dee3cb4f 100644
--- a/dts/framework/remote_session/remote/remote_session.py
+++ b/dts/framework/remote_session/remote/remote_session.py
@@ -5,11 +5,13 @@
 
 import dataclasses
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from pathlib import PurePath
 
 from framework.config import NodeConfiguration
 from framework.exception import RemoteCommandExecutionError
 from framework.logger import DTSLOG
 from framework.settings import SETTINGS
+from framework.utils import EnvVarsDict
 
 
 @dataclasses.dataclass(slots=True, frozen=True)
@@ -83,15 +85,22 @@ def _connect(self) -> None:
         """
 
     def send_command(
-        self, command: str, timeout: float = SETTINGS.timeout, verify: bool = False
+        self,
+        command: str,
+        timeout: float = SETTINGS.timeout,
+        verify: bool = False,
+        env: EnvVarsDict | None = None,
     ) -> CommandResult:
         """
-        Send a command to the connected node and return CommandResult.
+        Send a command to the connected node using optional env vars
+        and return CommandResult.
         If verify is True, check the return code of the executed command
         and raise a RemoteCommandExecutionError if the command failed.
         """
-        self._logger.info(f"Sending: '{command}'")
-        result = self._send_command(command, timeout)
+        self._logger.info(
+            f"Sending: '{command}'" + (f" with env vars: '{env}'" if env else "")
+        )
+        result = self._send_command(command, timeout, env)
         if verify and result.return_code:
             self._logger.debug(
                 f"Command '{command}' failed with return code '{result.return_code}'"
@@ -104,9 +113,12 @@ def send_command(
         return result
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def _send_command(self, command: str, timeout: float) -> CommandResult:
+    def _send_command(
+        self, command: str, timeout: float, env: EnvVarsDict | None
+    ) -> CommandResult:
         """
-        Use the underlying protocol to execute the command and return CommandResult.
+        Use the underlying protocol to execute the command using optional env vars
+        and return CommandResult.
         """
 
     def close(self, force: bool = False) -> None:
@@ -127,3 +139,17 @@ def is_alive(self) -> bool:
         """
         Check whether the remote session is still responding.
         """
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def copy_file(
+        self,
+        source_file: str | PurePath,
+        destination_file: str | PurePath,
+        source_remote: bool = False,
+    ) -> None:
+        """
+        Copy source_file from local filesystem to destination_file on the remote Node
+        associated with the remote session.
+        If source_remote is True, reverse the direction - copy source_file from the
+        associated Node to destination_file on local filesystem.
+        """
diff --git a/dts/framework/remote_session/remote/ssh_session.py b/dts/framework/remote_session/remote/ssh_session.py
index 6da5be9fff..d0863d8791 100644
--- a/dts/framework/remote_session/remote/ssh_session.py
+++ b/dts/framework/remote_session/remote/ssh_session.py
@@ -4,13 +4,15 @@
 # Copyright(c) 2022-2023 University of New Hampshire
 
 import time
+from pathlib import PurePath
 
+import pexpect  # type: ignore
 from pexpect import pxssh  # type: ignore
 
 from framework.config import NodeConfiguration
 from framework.exception import SSHConnectionError, SSHSessionDeadError, SSHTimeoutError
 from framework.logger import DTSLOG
-from framework.utils import GREEN, RED
+from framework.utils import GREEN, RED, EnvVarsDict
 
 from .remote_session import CommandResult, RemoteSession
 
@@ -163,16 +165,22 @@ def _flush(self) -> None:
     def is_alive(self) -> bool:
         return self.session.isalive()
 
-    def _send_command(self, command: str, timeout: float) -> CommandResult:
-        output = self._send_command_get_output(command, timeout)
-        return_code = int(self._send_command_get_output("echo $?", timeout))
+    def _send_command(
+        self, command: str, timeout: float, env: EnvVarsDict | None
+    ) -> CommandResult:
+        output = self._send_command_get_output(command, timeout, env)
+        return_code = int(self._send_command_get_output("echo $?", timeout, None))
 
         # we're capturing only stdout
         return CommandResult(self.name, command, output, "", return_code)
 
-    def _send_command_get_output(self, command: str, timeout: float) -> str:
+    def _send_command_get_output(
+        self, command: str, timeout: float, env: EnvVarsDict | None
+    ) -> str:
         try:
             self._clean_session()
+            if env:
+                command = f"{env} {command}"
             self._send_line(command)
         except Exception as e:
             raise e
@@ -189,3 +197,53 @@ def _close(self, force: bool = False) -> None:
         else:
             if self.is_alive():
                 self.session.logout()
+
+    def copy_file(
+        self,
+        source_file: str | PurePath,
+        destination_file: str | PurePath,
+        source_remote: bool = False,
+    ) -> None:
+        """
+        Send a local file to a remote host.
+        """
+        if source_remote:
+            source_file = f"{self.username}@{self.ip}:{source_file}"
+        else:
+            destination_file = f"{self.username}@{self.ip}:{destination_file}"
+
+        port = ""
+        if self.port:
+            port = f" -P {self.port}"
+
+        # this is not OS agnostic, find a Pythonic (and thus OS agnostic) way
+        # TODO Fabric should handle this
+        command = (
+            f"scp -v{port} -o NoHostAuthenticationForLocalhost=yes"
+            f" {source_file} {destination_file}"
+        )
+
+        self._spawn_scp(command)
+
+    def _spawn_scp(self, scp_cmd: str) -> None:
+        """
+        Transfer a file with SCP
+        """
+        self._logger.info(scp_cmd)
+        p: pexpect.spawn = pexpect.spawn(scp_cmd)
+        time.sleep(0.5)
+        ssh_newkey: str = "Are you sure you want to continue connecting"
+        i: int = p.expect(
+            [ssh_newkey, "[pP]assword", "# ", pexpect.EOF, pexpect.TIMEOUT], 120
+        )
+        if i == 0:  # add once in trust list
+            p.sendline("yes")
+            i = p.expect([ssh_newkey, "[pP]assword", pexpect.EOF], 2)
+
+        if i == 1:
+            time.sleep(0.5)
+            p.sendline(self.password)
+            p.expect("Exit status 0", 60)
+        if i == 4:
+            self._logger.error("SCP TIMEOUT error %d" % i)
+        p.close()
diff --git a/dts/framework/settings.py b/dts/framework/settings.py
index 800f2c7b7f..a298b1eaac 100644
--- a/dts/framework/settings.py
+++ b/dts/framework/settings.py
@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 # Copyright(c) 2010-2021 Intel Corporation
-# Copyright(c) 2022 PANTHEON.tech s.r.o.
-# Copyright(c) 2022 University of New Hampshire
+# Copyright(c) 2022-2023 PANTHEON.tech s.r.o.
+# Copyright(c) 2022-2023 University of New Hampshire
 
 import argparse
 import os
 from collections.abc import Callable, Iterable, Sequence
 from dataclasses import dataclass
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, TypeVar
 
+from .exception import ConfigurationError
+
 _T = TypeVar("_T")
 
 
@@ -60,6 +63,9 @@ class _Settings:
     output_dir: str
     timeout: float
     verbose: bool
+    skip_setup: bool
+    dpdk_ref: Path | str
+    compile_timeout: float
 
 
 def _get_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
@@ -88,6 +94,7 @@ def _get_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
         "--timeout",
         action=_env_arg("DTS_TIMEOUT"),
         default=15,
+        type=float,
         required=False,
         help="[DTS_TIMEOUT] The default timeout for all DTS operations except for "
         "compiling DPDK.",
@@ -103,16 +110,58 @@ def _get_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
         "to the console.",
     )
 
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "-s",
+        "--skip-setup",
+        action=_env_arg("DTS_SKIP_SETUP"),
+        required=False,
+        help="[DTS_SKIP_SETUP] Set to 'Y' to skip all setup steps on SUT and TG nodes.",
+    )
+
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--dpdk-ref",
+        "--git",
+        "--snapshot",
+        action=_env_arg("DTS_DPDK_REF"),
+        default="dpdk.tar.xz",
+        required=False,
+        help="[DTS_DPDK_REF] Reference to DPDK source code, "
+        "can be either a path to a tarball or a git refspec. "
+        "In case of a tarball, it will be extracted in the same directory.",
+    )
+
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--compile-timeout",
+        action=_env_arg("DTS_COMPILE_TIMEOUT"),
+        default=1200,
+        type=float,
+        required=False,
+        help="[DTS_COMPILE_TIMEOUT] The timeout for compiling DPDK.",
+    )
+
     return parser
 
 
+def _check_dpdk_ref(parsed_args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
+    if not os.path.exists(parsed_args.dpdk_ref):
+        raise ConfigurationError(
+            f"DPDK tarball '{parsed_args.dpdk_ref}' doesn't exist."
+        )
+    else:
+        parsed_args.dpdk_ref = Path(parsed_args.dpdk_ref)
+
+
 def _get_settings() -> _Settings:
     parsed_args = _get_parser().parse_args()
+    _check_dpdk_ref(parsed_args)
     return _Settings(
         config_file_path=parsed_args.config_file,
         output_dir=parsed_args.output_dir,
-        timeout=float(parsed_args.timeout),
+        timeout=parsed_args.timeout,
         verbose=(parsed_args.verbose == "Y"),
+        skip_setup=(parsed_args.skip_setup == "Y"),
+        dpdk_ref=parsed_args.dpdk_ref,
+        compile_timeout=parsed_args.compile_timeout,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/dts/framework/testbed_model/__init__.py b/dts/framework/testbed_model/__init__.py
index 8ead9db482..96e2ab7c3f 100644
--- a/dts/framework/testbed_model/__init__.py
+++ b/dts/framework/testbed_model/__init__.py
@@ -9,5 +9,6 @@
 
 # pylama:ignore=W0611
 
+from .dpdk import MesonArgs
 from .node import Node
 from .sut_node import SutNode
diff --git a/dts/framework/testbed_model/dpdk.py b/dts/framework/testbed_model/dpdk.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0526974f72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dts/framework/testbed_model/dpdk.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+# Copyright(c) 2010-2014 Intel Corporation
+# Copyright(c) 2023 PANTHEON.tech s.r.o.
+
+"""
+Various utilities used for configuring, building and running DPDK.
+"""
+
+
+class MesonArgs(object):
+    """
+    Aggregate the arguments needed to build DPDK:
+    default_library: Default library type, Meson allows "shared", "static" and "both".
+               Defaults to None, in which case the argument won't be used.
+    Keyword arguments: The arguments found in meson_option.txt in root DPDK directory.
+               Do not use -D with them, for example: enable_kmods=True.
+    """
+
+    default_library: str
+
+    def __init__(self, default_library: str | None = None, **dpdk_args: str | bool):
+        self.default_library = (
+            f"--default-library={default_library}" if default_library else ""
+        )
+        self.dpdk_args = " ".join(
+            (
+                f"-D{dpdk_arg_name}={dpdk_arg_value}"
+                for dpdk_arg_name, dpdk_arg_value in dpdk_args.items()
+            )
+        )
+
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
+        return " ".join(f"{self.default_library} {self.dpdk_args}".split())
diff --git a/dts/framework/testbed_model/sut_node.py b/dts/framework/testbed_model/sut_node.py
index 42acb6f9b2..c97d995b31 100644
--- a/dts/framework/testbed_model/sut_node.py
+++ b/dts/framework/testbed_model/sut_node.py
@@ -2,6 +2,15 @@
 # Copyright(c) 2010-2014 Intel Corporation
 # Copyright(c) 2023 PANTHEON.tech s.r.o.
 
+import os
+import tarfile
+from pathlib import PurePath
+
+from framework.config import BuildTargetConfiguration, NodeConfiguration
+from framework.settings import SETTINGS
+from framework.utils import EnvVarsDict, skip_setup
+
+from .dpdk import MesonArgs
 from .node import Node
 
 
@@ -10,4 +19,153 @@ class SutNode(Node):
     A class for managing connections to the System under Test, providing
     methods that retrieve the necessary information about the node (such as
     CPU, memory and NIC details) and configuration capabilities.
+    Another key capability is building DPDK according to given build target.
     """
+
+    _build_target_config: BuildTargetConfiguration | None
+    _env_vars: EnvVarsDict
+    _remote_tmp_dir: PurePath
+    __remote_dpdk_dir: PurePath | None
+    _dpdk_version: str | None
+    _app_compile_timeout: float
+
+    def __init__(self, node_config: NodeConfiguration):
+        super(SutNode, self).__init__(node_config)
+        self._build_target_config = None
+        self._env_vars = EnvVarsDict()
+        self._remote_tmp_dir = self.main_session.get_remote_tmp_dir()
+        self.__remote_dpdk_dir = None
+        self._dpdk_version = None
+        self._app_compile_timeout = 90
+
+    @property
+    def _remote_dpdk_dir(self) -> PurePath:
+        if self.__remote_dpdk_dir is None:
+            self.__remote_dpdk_dir = self._guess_dpdk_remote_dir()
+        return self.__remote_dpdk_dir
+
+    @_remote_dpdk_dir.setter
+    def _remote_dpdk_dir(self, value: PurePath) -> None:
+        self.__remote_dpdk_dir = value
+
+    @property
+    def remote_dpdk_build_dir(self) -> PurePath:
+        if self._build_target_config:
+            return self.main_session.join_remote_path(
+                self._remote_dpdk_dir, self._build_target_config.name
+            )
+        else:
+            return self.main_session.join_remote_path(self._remote_dpdk_dir, "build")
+
+    @property
+    def dpdk_version(self) -> str:
+        if self._dpdk_version is None:
+            self._dpdk_version = self.main_session.get_dpdk_version(
+                self._remote_dpdk_dir
+            )
+        return self._dpdk_version
+
+    def _guess_dpdk_remote_dir(self) -> PurePath:
+        return self.main_session.guess_dpdk_remote_dir(self._remote_tmp_dir)
+
+    def _set_up_build_target(
+        self, build_target_config: BuildTargetConfiguration
+    ) -> None:
+        """
+        Setup DPDK on the SUT node.
+        """
+        self._configure_build_target(build_target_config)
+        self._copy_dpdk_tarball()
+        self._build_dpdk()
+
+    def _configure_build_target(
+        self, build_target_config: BuildTargetConfiguration
+    ) -> None:
+        """
+        Populate common environment variables and set build target config.
+        """
+        self._env_vars = EnvVarsDict()
+        self._build_target_config = build_target_config
+        self._env_vars.update(
+            self.main_session.get_dpdk_build_env_vars(build_target_config.arch)
+        )
+        self._env_vars["CC"] = build_target_config.compiler.name
+        if build_target_config.compiler_wrapper:
+            self._env_vars["CC"] = (
+                f"'{build_target_config.compiler_wrapper} "
+                f"{build_target_config.compiler.name}'"
+            )
+
+    @skip_setup
+    def _copy_dpdk_tarball(self) -> None:
+        """
+        Copy to and extract DPDK tarball on the SUT node.
+        """
+        self._logger.info("Copying DPDK tarball to SUT.")
+        self.main_session.copy_file(SETTINGS.dpdk_ref, self._remote_tmp_dir)
+
+        # construct remote tarball path
+        # the basename is the same on local host and on remote Node
+        remote_tarball_path = self.main_session.join_remote_path(
+            self._remote_tmp_dir, os.path.basename(SETTINGS.dpdk_ref)
+        )
+
+        # construct remote path after extracting
+        with tarfile.open(SETTINGS.dpdk_ref) as dpdk_tar:
+            dpdk_top_dir = dpdk_tar.getnames()[0]
+        self._remote_dpdk_dir = self.main_session.join_remote_path(
+            self._remote_tmp_dir, dpdk_top_dir
+        )
+
+        self._logger.info(
+            f"Extracting DPDK tarball on SUT: "
+            f"'{remote_tarball_path}' into '{self._remote_dpdk_dir}'."
+        )
+        # clean remote path where we're extracting
+        self.main_session.remove_remote_dir(self._remote_dpdk_dir)
+
+        # then extract to remote path
+        self.main_session.extract_remote_tarball(
+            remote_tarball_path, self._remote_dpdk_dir
+        )
+
+    @skip_setup
+    def _build_dpdk(self) -> None:
+        """
+        Build DPDK. Uses the already configured target. Assumes that the tarball has
+        already been copied to and extracted on the SUT node.
+        """
+        self.main_session.build_dpdk(
+            self._env_vars,
+            MesonArgs(default_library="static", enable_kmods=True, libdir="lib"),
+            self._remote_dpdk_dir,
+            self.remote_dpdk_build_dir,
+        )
+
+    def build_dpdk_app(self, app_name: str, **meson_dpdk_args: str | bool) -> PurePath:
+        """
+        Build one or all DPDK apps. Requires DPDK to be already built on the SUT node.
+        When app_name is 'all', build all example apps.
+        When app_name is any other string, tries to build that example app.
+        Return the directory path of the built app. If building all apps, return
+        the path to the examples directory (where all apps reside).
+        The meson_dpdk_args are keyword arguments
+        found in meson_option.txt in root DPDK directory. Do not use -D with them,
+        for example: enable_kmods=True.
+        """
+        self.main_session.build_dpdk(
+            self._env_vars,
+            MesonArgs(examples=app_name, **meson_dpdk_args),
+            self._remote_dpdk_dir,
+            self.remote_dpdk_build_dir,
+            rebuild=True,
+            timeout=self._app_compile_timeout,
+        )
+
+        if app_name == "all":
+            return self.main_session.join_remote_path(
+                self.remote_dpdk_build_dir, "examples"
+            )
+        return self.main_session.join_remote_path(
+            self.remote_dpdk_build_dir, "examples", f"dpdk-{app_name}"
+        )
diff --git a/dts/framework/utils.py b/dts/framework/utils.py
index c28c8f1082..611071604b 100644
--- a/dts/framework/utils.py
+++ b/dts/framework/utils.py
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 # Copyright(c) 2010-2014 Intel Corporation
-# Copyright(c) 2022 PANTHEON.tech s.r.o.
-# Copyright(c) 2022 University of New Hampshire
+# Copyright(c) 2022-2023 PANTHEON.tech s.r.o.
+# Copyright(c) 2022-2023 University of New Hampshire
 
 import sys
+from typing import Callable
+
+from .settings import SETTINGS
 
 
 def check_dts_python_version() -> None:
@@ -22,9 +25,21 @@ def check_dts_python_version() -> None:
         print(RED("Please use Python >= 3.10 instead"), file=sys.stderr)
 
 
+def skip_setup(func) -> Callable[..., None]:
+    if SETTINGS.skip_setup:
+        return lambda *args: None
+    else:
+        return func
+
+
 def GREEN(text: str) -> str:
     return f"\u001B[32;1m{str(text)}\u001B[0m"
 
 
 def RED(text: str) -> str:
     return f"\u001B[31;1m{str(text)}\u001B[0m"
+
+
+class EnvVarsDict(dict):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
+        return " ".join(["=".join(item) for item in self.items()])
