diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost_vdpa.c b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost_vdpa.c
index 5e3778b682..e2d6d3504d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost_vdpa.c
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost_vdpa.c
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@
 #include "vhost.h"
 #include "virtio_user_dev.h"
 
+struct vhost_vdpa_data {
+	int vhostfd;
+	uint64_t protocol_features;
+};
+
 #define VHOST_VDPA_SUPPORTED_BACKEND_FEATURES		\
 	(1ULL << VHOST_BACKEND_F_IOTLB_MSG_V2	|	\
 	1ULL << VHOST_BACKEND_F_IOTLB_BATCH)
@@ -88,27 +93,34 @@ vhost_vdpa_ioctl(int fd, uint64_t request, void *arg)
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_set_owner(struct virtio_user_dev *dev)
 {
-	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_OWNER, NULL);
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
+
+	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(data->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_OWNER, NULL);
 }
 
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_get_protocol_features(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint64_t *features)
 {
-	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_GET_BACKEND_FEATURES, features);
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
+
+	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(data->vhostfd, VHOST_GET_BACKEND_FEATURES, features);
 }
 
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_set_protocol_features(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint64_t features)
 {
-	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_BACKEND_FEATURES, &features);
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
+
+	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(data->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_BACKEND_FEATURES, &features);
 }
 
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_get_features(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint64_t *features)
 {
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
 	int ret;
 
-	ret = vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_GET_FEATURES, features);
+	ret = vhost_vdpa_ioctl(data->vhostfd, VHOST_GET_FEATURES, features);
 	if (ret) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to get features");
 		return -1;
@@ -118,15 +130,15 @@ vhost_vdpa_get_features(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint64_t *features)
 	*features &= ~(1ULL << VIRTIO_NET_F_MQ);
 
 	/* Negotiated vDPA backend features */
-	ret = vhost_vdpa_get_protocol_features(dev, &dev->protocol_features);
+	ret = vhost_vdpa_get_protocol_features(dev, &data->protocol_features);
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to get backend features");
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	dev->protocol_features &= VHOST_VDPA_SUPPORTED_BACKEND_FEATURES;
+	data->protocol_features &= VHOST_VDPA_SUPPORTED_BACKEND_FEATURES;
 
-	ret = vhost_vdpa_set_protocol_features(dev, dev->protocol_features);
+	ret = vhost_vdpa_set_protocol_features(dev, data->protocol_features);
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to set backend features");
 		return -1;
@@ -138,21 +150,24 @@ vhost_vdpa_get_features(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint64_t *features)
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_set_features(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint64_t features)
 {
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
+
 	/* WORKAROUND */
 	features |= 1ULL << VIRTIO_F_IOMMU_PLATFORM;
 
-	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_FEATURES, &features);
+	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(data->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_FEATURES, &features);
 }
 
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_iotlb_batch_begin(struct virtio_user_dev *dev)
 {
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
 	struct vhost_msg msg = {};
 
-	if (!(dev->protocol_features & (1ULL << VHOST_BACKEND_F_IOTLB_BATCH)))
+	if (!(data->protocol_features & (1ULL << VHOST_BACKEND_F_IOTLB_BATCH)))
 		return 0;
 
-	if (!(dev->protocol_features & (1ULL << VHOST_BACKEND_F_IOTLB_MSG_V2))) {
+	if (!(data->protocol_features & (1ULL << VHOST_BACKEND_F_IOTLB_MSG_V2))) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "IOTLB_MSG_V2 not supported by the backend.");
 		return -1;
 	}
@@ -160,7 +175,7 @@ vhost_vdpa_iotlb_batch_begin(struct virtio_user_dev *dev)
 	msg.type = VHOST_IOTLB_MSG_V2;
 	msg.iotlb.type = VHOST_IOTLB_BATCH_BEGIN;
 
-	if (write(dev->vhostfd, &msg, sizeof(msg)) != sizeof(msg)) {
+	if (write(data->vhostfd, &msg, sizeof(msg)) != sizeof(msg)) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to send IOTLB batch begin (%s)",
 				strerror(errno));
 		return -1;
@@ -172,12 +187,13 @@ vhost_vdpa_iotlb_batch_begin(struct virtio_user_dev *dev)
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_iotlb_batch_end(struct virtio_user_dev *dev)
 {
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
 	struct vhost_msg msg = {};
 
-	if (!(dev->protocol_features & (1ULL << VHOST_BACKEND_F_IOTLB_BATCH)))
+	if (!(data->protocol_features & (1ULL << VHOST_BACKEND_F_IOTLB_BATCH)))
 		return 0;
 
-	if (!(dev->protocol_features & (1ULL << VHOST_BACKEND_F_IOTLB_MSG_V2))) {
+	if (!(data->protocol_features & (1ULL << VHOST_BACKEND_F_IOTLB_MSG_V2))) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "IOTLB_MSG_V2 not supported by the backend.");
 		return -1;
 	}
@@ -185,7 +201,7 @@ vhost_vdpa_iotlb_batch_end(struct virtio_user_dev *dev)
 	msg.type = VHOST_IOTLB_MSG_V2;
 	msg.iotlb.type = VHOST_IOTLB_BATCH_END;
 
-	if (write(dev->vhostfd, &msg, sizeof(msg)) != sizeof(msg)) {
+	if (write(data->vhostfd, &msg, sizeof(msg)) != sizeof(msg)) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to send IOTLB batch end (%s)",
 				strerror(errno));
 		return -1;
@@ -198,9 +214,10 @@ static int
 vhost_vdpa_dma_map(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, void *addr,
 				  uint64_t iova, size_t len)
 {
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
 	struct vhost_msg msg = {};
 
-	if (!(dev->protocol_features & (1ULL << VHOST_BACKEND_F_IOTLB_MSG_V2))) {
+	if (!(data->protocol_features & (1ULL << VHOST_BACKEND_F_IOTLB_MSG_V2))) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "IOTLB_MSG_V2 not supported by the backend.");
 		return -1;
 	}
@@ -215,7 +232,7 @@ vhost_vdpa_dma_map(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, void *addr,
 	PMD_DRV_LOG(DEBUG, "%s: iova: 0x%" PRIx64 ", addr: %p, len: 0x%zx",
 			__func__, iova, addr, len);
 
-	if (write(dev->vhostfd, &msg, sizeof(msg)) != sizeof(msg)) {
+	if (write(data->vhostfd, &msg, sizeof(msg)) != sizeof(msg)) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to send IOTLB update (%s)",
 				strerror(errno));
 		return -1;
@@ -228,9 +245,10 @@ static int
 vhost_vdpa_dma_unmap(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, __rte_unused void *addr,
 				  uint64_t iova, size_t len)
 {
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
 	struct vhost_msg msg = {};
 
-	if (!(dev->protocol_features & (1ULL << VHOST_BACKEND_F_IOTLB_MSG_V2))) {
+	if (!(data->protocol_features & (1ULL << VHOST_BACKEND_F_IOTLB_MSG_V2))) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "IOTLB_MSG_V2 not supported by the backend.");
 		return -1;
 	}
@@ -243,7 +261,7 @@ vhost_vdpa_dma_unmap(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, __rte_unused void *addr,
 	PMD_DRV_LOG(DEBUG, "%s: iova: 0x%" PRIx64 ", len: 0x%zx",
 			__func__, iova, len);
 
-	if (write(dev->vhostfd, &msg, sizeof(msg)) != sizeof(msg)) {
+	if (write(data->vhostfd, &msg, sizeof(msg)) != sizeof(msg)) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to send IOTLB invalidate (%s)",
 				strerror(errno));
 		return -1;
@@ -353,55 +371,73 @@ vhost_vdpa_set_memory_table(struct virtio_user_dev *dev)
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_set_vring_enable(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, struct vhost_vring_state *state)
 {
-	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_VDPA_SET_VRING_ENABLE, state);
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
+
+	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(data->vhostfd, VHOST_VDPA_SET_VRING_ENABLE, state);
 }
 
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_set_vring_num(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, struct vhost_vring_state *state)
 {
-	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_VRING_NUM, state);
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
+
+	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(data->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_VRING_NUM, state);
 }
 
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_set_vring_base(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, struct vhost_vring_state *state)
 {
-	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_VRING_BASE, state);
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
+
+	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(data->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_VRING_BASE, state);
 }
 
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_get_vring_base(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, struct vhost_vring_state *state)
 {
-	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_GET_VRING_BASE, state);
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
+
+	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(data->vhostfd, VHOST_GET_VRING_BASE, state);
 }
 
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_set_vring_call(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, struct vhost_vring_file *file)
 {
-	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_VRING_CALL, file);
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
+
+	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(data->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_VRING_CALL, file);
 }
 
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_set_vring_kick(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, struct vhost_vring_file *file)
 {
-	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_VRING_KICK, file);
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
+
+	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(data->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_VRING_KICK, file);
 }
 
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_set_vring_addr(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, struct vhost_vring_addr *addr)
 {
-	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_VRING_ADDR, addr);
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
+
+	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(data->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_VRING_ADDR, addr);
 }
 
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_get_status(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint8_t *status)
 {
-	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_VDPA_GET_STATUS, status);
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
+
+	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(data->vhostfd, VHOST_VDPA_GET_STATUS, status);
 }
 
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_set_status(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint8_t status)
 {
-	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_VDPA_SET_STATUS, &status);
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
+
+	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(data->vhostfd, VHOST_VDPA_SET_STATUS, &status);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -414,27 +450,49 @@ vhost_vdpa_set_status(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint8_t status)
 static int
 vhost_vdpa_setup(struct virtio_user_dev *dev)
 {
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data;
 	uint32_t did = (uint32_t)-1;
 
-	dev->vhostfd = open(dev->path, O_RDWR);
-	if (dev->vhostfd < 0) {
+	data = malloc(sizeof(*data));
+	if (!data) {
+		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "(%s) Faidle to allocate backend data", dev->path);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	data->vhostfd = open(dev->path, O_RDWR);
+	if (data->vhostfd < 0) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to open %s: %s\n",
 				dev->path, strerror(errno));
+		free(data);
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	if (ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_VDPA_GET_DEVICE_ID, &did) < 0 ||
+	if (ioctl(data->vhostfd, VHOST_VDPA_GET_DEVICE_ID, &did) < 0 ||
 			did != VIRTIO_ID_NETWORK) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Invalid vdpa device ID: %u\n", did);
+		close(data->vhostfd);
+		free(data);
 		return -1;
 	}
 
+	dev->backend_data = data;
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
 static int
-vhost_vdpa_destroy(struct virtio_user_dev *dev __rte_unused)
+vhost_vdpa_destroy(struct virtio_user_dev *dev)
 {
+	struct vhost_vdpa_data *data = dev->backend_data;
+
+	if (!data)
+		return 0;
+
+	close(data->vhostfd);
+
+	free(data);
+	dev->backend_data = NULL;
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/virtio_user_dev.h b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/virtio_user_dev.h
index 36a9cadcad..9a6723da24 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/virtio_user_dev.h
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/virtio_user_dev.h
@@ -29,9 +29,6 @@ struct virtio_user_dev {
 	enum virtio_user_backend_type backend_type;
 	bool		is_server;  /* server or client mode */
 
-	/* for vhost_vdpa backend */
-	int		vhostfd;
-
 	/* for both vhost_user and vhost_kernel */
 	int		callfds[VIRTIO_MAX_VIRTQUEUES];
 	int		kickfds[VIRTIO_MAX_VIRTQUEUES];
@@ -45,7 +42,6 @@ struct virtio_user_dev {
 	uint64_t	device_features; /* supported features by device */
 	uint64_t	frontend_features; /* enabled frontend features */
 	uint64_t	unsupported_features; /* unsupported features mask */
-	uint64_t	protocol_features; /* negotiated protocol features */
 	uint8_t		status;
 	uint16_t	net_status;
 	uint16_t	port_id;
