diff --git a/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_iov_api.h b/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_iov_api.h
index 1f0edeb..218ef50 100644
--- a/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_iov_api.h
+++ b/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_iov_api.h
@@ -720,6 +720,20 @@ enum _ecore_status_t
 
 void ecore_iov_bulletin_set_udp_ports(struct ecore_hwfn *p_hwfn, int vfid,
 				      u16 vxlan_port, u16 geneve_port);
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_ECORE_SW_CHANNEL
+/**
+ * @brief Set whether PF should communicate with VF using SW/HW channel
+ *        Needs to be called for an enabled VF before acquire is over
+ *        [latest good point for doing that is OSAL_IOV_VF_ACQUIRE()]
+ *
+ * @param p_hwfn
+ * @param vfid - relative vf index
+ * @param b_is_hw - true iff PF is to use HW channel for communication
+ */
+void ecore_iov_set_vf_hw_channel(struct ecore_hwfn *p_hwfn, int vfid,
+				 bool b_is_hw);
+#endif
 #endif /* CONFIG_ECORE_SRIOV */
 
 #define ecore_for_each_vf(_p_hwfn, _i)					\
diff --git a/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_sriov.c b/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_sriov.c
index a1d4982..53d3d24 100644
--- a/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_sriov.c
+++ b/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_sriov.c
@@ -1381,7 +1381,7 @@ static void ecore_iov_send_response(struct ecore_hwfn *p_hwfn,
 	mbx->sw_mbx.response_size =
 	    length + sizeof(struct channel_list_end_tlv);
 
-	if (!p_hwfn->p_dev->b_hw_channel)
+	if (!p_vf->b_hw_channel)
 		return;
 #endif
 
@@ -4828,3 +4828,17 @@ enum _ecore_status_t
 	else
 		return 0;
 }
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_ECORE_SW_CHANNEL
+void ecore_iov_set_vf_hw_channel(struct ecore_hwfn *p_hwfn, int vfid,
+				 bool b_is_hw)
+{
+	struct ecore_vf_info *vf_info;
+
+	vf_info = ecore_iov_get_vf_info(p_hwfn, (u16)vfid, true);
+	if (!vf_info)
+		return;
+
+	vf_info->b_hw_channel = b_is_hw;
+}
+#endif
diff --git a/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_sriov.h b/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_sriov.h
index 4ff5425..0e83f0f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_sriov.h
+++ b/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_sriov.h
@@ -117,6 +117,11 @@ struct ecore_vf_info {
 	struct ecore_bulletin	bulletin;
 	dma_addr_t		vf_bulletin;
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_ECORE_SW_CHANNEL
+	/* Determine whether PF communicate with VF using HW/SW channel */
+	bool	b_hw_channel;
+#endif
+
 	/* PF saves a copy of the last VF acquire message */
 	struct vfpf_acquire_tlv acquire;
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_vf.c b/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_vf.c
index b78d735..9ad986c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_vf.c
+++ b/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_vf.c
@@ -1861,3 +1861,10 @@ void ecore_vf_get_fw_version(struct ecore_hwfn *p_hwfn,
 	*fw_rev = info->fw_rev;
 	*fw_eng = info->fw_eng;
 }
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_ECORE_SW_CHANNEL
+void ecore_vf_set_hw_channel(struct ecore_hwfn *p_hwfn, bool b_is_hw)
+{
+	p_hwfn->vf_iov_info->b_hw_channel = b_is_hw;
+}
+#endif
diff --git a/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_vf.h b/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_vf.h
index fdb0fe0..de2758c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_vf.h
+++ b/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_vf.h
@@ -50,6 +50,13 @@ struct ecore_vf_iov {
 	 */
 	struct ecore_sb_info *sbs_info[PFVF_MAX_SBS_PER_VF];
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_ECORE_SW_CHANNEL
+	/* Would be set if the VF is to try communicating with it PF
+	 * using a hw channel.
+	 */
+	bool b_hw_channel;
+#endif
+
 	/* Determines whether VF utilizes doorbells via limited register
 	 * bar or via the doorbell bar.
 	 */
diff --git a/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_vf_api.h b/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_vf_api.h
index be3a326..9815cf8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_vf_api.h
+++ b/drivers/net/qede/base/ecore_vf_api.h
@@ -163,5 +163,18 @@ void ecore_vf_get_fw_version(struct ecore_hwfn *p_hwfn,
 			     u16 *fw_eng);
 void ecore_vf_bulletin_get_udp_ports(struct ecore_hwfn *p_hwfn,
 				     u16 *p_vxlan_port, u16 *p_geneve_port);
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_ECORE_SW_CHANNEL
+/**
+ * @brief set the VF to use a SW/HW channel when communicating with PF.
+ *        NOTICE: today the likely first place to call this from VF
+ *        would be OSAL_VF_FILL_ACQUIRE_RESC_REQ(); Might want to consider
+ *        something a bit more appropriate.
+ *
+ * @param p_hwfn
+ * @param b_is_hw - true iff VF is to use a HW-channel
+ */
+void ecore_vf_set_hw_channel(struct ecore_hwfn *p_hwfn, bool b_is_hw);
+#endif
 #endif
 #endif
