VIRTIO_NET_F_STANDBY feature enables hypervisor to indicate virtio_net
device to act as a standby for another device with the same MAC address.
Signed-off-by: Sridhar Samudrala <>
Acked-by: Cornelia Huck <>
Fixes: https://github.com/oasis-tcs/virtio-spec/issues/18
---
content.tex | 8 ++++++++
1 file changed, 8 insertions(+)
diff --git a/content.tex b/content.tex
index be18234..42a0e7e 100644
--- a/content.tex
+++ b/content.tex
@@ -2525,6 +2525,9 @@ features.
\item[VIRTIO_NET_F_CTRL_MAC_ADDR(23)] Set MAC address through control
channel.
+
+\item[VIRTIO_NET_F_STANDBY(62)] Device may act as a standby for a primary
+ device with the same MAC address.
\end{description}
\subsubsection{Feature bit requirements}\label{sec:Device Types / Network Device / Feature bits / Feature bit requirements}
@@ -2614,6 +2617,9 @@ level ethernet header length) size with \field{gso_type} NONE or ECN, and do
so without fragmentation, after VIRTIO_NET_F_MTU has been successfully
negotiated.
+If the driver negotiates the VIRTIO_NET_F_STANDBY feature, the device MAY act
+as a standby device for a primary device with the same MAC address.
+
\drivernormative{\subsubsection}{Device configuration layout}{Device Types / Network Device / Device configuration layout}
A driver SHOULD negotiate VIRTIO_NET_F_MAC if the device offers it.
@@ -2636,6 +2642,8 @@ If the driver negotiates VIRTIO_NET_F_MTU, it MUST NOT transmit packets of
size exceeding the value of \field{mtu} (plus low level ethernet header length)
with \field{gso_type} NONE or ECN.
+A driver SHOULD negotiate the VIRTIO_NET_F_STANDBY feature if the device offers it.
+
\subsubsection{Legacy Interface: Device configuration layout}\label{sec:Device Types / Network Device / Device configuration layout / Legacy Interface: Device configuration layout}
\label{sec:Device Types / Block Device / Feature bits / Device configuration layout / Legacy Interface: Device configuration layout}
When using the legacy interface, transitional devices and drivers
--
2.14.4
