diff --git a/doc/guides/nics/octeon_ep.rst b/doc/guides/nics/octeon_ep.rst
index b5040aeee2..befa0a4097 100644
--- a/doc/guides/nics/octeon_ep.rst
+++ b/doc/guides/nics/octeon_ep.rst
@@ -11,6 +11,18 @@ and **Cavium OCTEON** families of adapters in SR-IOV context.
 More information can be found at `Marvell Official Website
 <https://www.marvell.com/content/dam/marvell/en/public-collateral/embedded-processors/marvell-liquidio-III-solutions-brief.pdf>`_.
 
+Runtime Config Options
+----------------------
+
+- ``Rx&Tx ISM memory accesses enable`` (default ``0``)
+
+   PMD supports 2 modes for checking Rx & Tx packet count, PMD may read the packet count directly
+   from hardware registers or it may read from ISM memory, this may be selected at runtime
+   using ``ism_enable`` ``devargs`` parameter.
+
+   For example::
+
+      -a 0002:02:00.0,ism_enable=1
 
 Prerequisites
 -------------
diff --git a/drivers/net/octeon_ep/cnxk_ep_rx.h b/drivers/net/octeon_ep/cnxk_ep_rx.h
index 61263e651e..ecf95cd961 100644
--- a/drivers/net/octeon_ep/cnxk_ep_rx.h
+++ b/drivers/net/octeon_ep/cnxk_ep_rx.h
@@ -88,8 +88,9 @@ cnxk_ep_rx_refill(struct otx_ep_droq *droq)
 }
 
 static inline uint32_t
-cnxk_ep_check_rx_pkts(struct otx_ep_droq *droq)
+cnxk_ep_check_rx_ism_mem(void *rx_queue)
 {
+	struct otx_ep_droq *droq = (struct otx_ep_droq *)rx_queue;
 	uint32_t new_pkts;
 	uint32_t val;
 
@@ -98,8 +99,9 @@ cnxk_ep_check_rx_pkts(struct otx_ep_droq *droq)
 	 * number of PCIe writes.
 	 */
 	val = __atomic_load_n(droq->pkts_sent_ism, __ATOMIC_RELAXED);
-	new_pkts = val - droq->pkts_sent_ism_prev;
-	droq->pkts_sent_ism_prev = val;
+
+	new_pkts = val - droq->pkts_sent_prev;
+	droq->pkts_sent_prev = val;
 
 	if (val > RTE_BIT32(31)) {
 		/* Only subtract the packet count in the HW counter
@@ -113,11 +115,34 @@ cnxk_ep_check_rx_pkts(struct otx_ep_droq *droq)
 			rte_write64(OTX2_SDP_REQUEST_ISM, droq->pkts_sent_reg);
 			rte_mb();
 		}
-
-		droq->pkts_sent_ism_prev = 0;
+		droq->pkts_sent_prev = 0;
 	}
+
 	rte_write64(OTX2_SDP_REQUEST_ISM, droq->pkts_sent_reg);
-	droq->pkts_pending += new_pkts;
+
+	return new_pkts;
+}
+
+static inline uint32_t
+cnxk_ep_check_rx_pkt_reg(void *rx_queue)
+{
+	struct otx_ep_droq *droq = (struct otx_ep_droq *)rx_queue;
+	uint32_t new_pkts;
+	uint32_t val;
+
+	val = rte_read32(droq->pkts_sent_reg);
+
+	new_pkts = val - droq->pkts_sent_prev;
+	droq->pkts_sent_prev = val;
+
+	if (val > RTE_BIT32(31)) {
+		/* Only subtract the packet count in the HW counter
+		 * when count above halfway to saturation.
+		 */
+		rte_write64((uint64_t)val, droq->pkts_sent_reg);
+		rte_mb();
+		droq->pkts_sent_prev = 0;
+	}
 
 	return new_pkts;
 }
@@ -125,8 +150,11 @@ cnxk_ep_check_rx_pkts(struct otx_ep_droq *droq)
 static inline int16_t __rte_hot
 cnxk_ep_rx_pkts_to_process(struct otx_ep_droq *droq, uint16_t nb_pkts)
 {
+	const otx_ep_check_pkt_count_t cnxk_rx_pkt_count[2] = { cnxk_ep_check_rx_pkt_reg,
+								cnxk_ep_check_rx_ism_mem};
+
 	if (droq->pkts_pending < nb_pkts)
-		cnxk_ep_check_rx_pkts(droq);
+		droq->pkts_pending += cnxk_rx_pkt_count[droq->ism_ena](droq);
 
 	return RTE_MIN(nb_pkts, droq->pkts_pending);
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/octeon_ep/cnxk_ep_tx.c b/drivers/net/octeon_ep/cnxk_ep_tx.c
index 9f11a2f317..98c0a861c3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/octeon_ep/cnxk_ep_tx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/octeon_ep/cnxk_ep_tx.c
@@ -5,9 +5,10 @@
 #include "cnxk_ep_vf.h"
 #include "otx_ep_rxtx.h"
 
-static uint32_t
-cnxk_vf_update_read_index(struct otx_ep_instr_queue *iq)
+static inline uint32_t
+cnxk_ep_check_tx_ism_mem(void *tx_queue)
 {
+	struct otx_ep_instr_queue *iq = (struct otx_ep_instr_queue *)tx_queue;
 	uint32_t val;
 
 	/* Batch subtractions from the HW counter to reduce PCIe traffic
@@ -15,8 +16,8 @@ cnxk_vf_update_read_index(struct otx_ep_instr_queue *iq)
 	 * number of PCIe writes.
 	 */
 	val = __atomic_load_n(iq->inst_cnt_ism, __ATOMIC_RELAXED);
-	iq->inst_cnt += val - iq->inst_cnt_ism_prev;
-	iq->inst_cnt_ism_prev = val;
+	iq->inst_cnt += val - iq->inst_cnt_prev;
+	iq->inst_cnt_prev = val;
 
 	if (val > (uint32_t)(1 << 31)) {
 		/* Only subtract the packet count in the HW counter
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ cnxk_vf_update_read_index(struct otx_ep_instr_queue *iq)
 			rte_mb();
 		}
 
-		iq->inst_cnt_ism_prev = 0;
+		iq->inst_cnt_prev = 0;
 	}
 	rte_write64(OTX2_SDP_REQUEST_ISM, iq->inst_cnt_reg);
 
@@ -41,13 +42,42 @@ cnxk_vf_update_read_index(struct otx_ep_instr_queue *iq)
 	return iq->inst_cnt & (iq->nb_desc - 1);
 }
 
+static inline uint32_t
+cnxk_ep_check_tx_pkt_reg(void *tx_queue)
+{
+	struct otx_ep_instr_queue *iq = (struct otx_ep_instr_queue *)tx_queue;
+	uint32_t val;
+
+	val = rte_read32(iq->inst_cnt_reg);
+	iq->inst_cnt += val - iq->inst_cnt_prev;
+	iq->inst_cnt_prev = val;
+
+	if (val > (uint32_t)(1 << 31)) {
+		/* Only subtract the packet count in the HW counter
+		 * when count above halfway to saturation.
+		 */
+		rte_write64((uint64_t)val, iq->inst_cnt_reg);
+		rte_mb();
+
+		iq->inst_cnt_prev = 0;
+	}
+
+	/* Modulo of the new index with the IQ size will give us
+	 * the new index.
+	 */
+	return iq->inst_cnt & (iq->nb_desc - 1);
+}
+
 static inline void
 cnxk_ep_flush_iq(struct otx_ep_instr_queue *iq)
 {
+	const otx_ep_check_pkt_count_t cnxk_tx_pkt_count[2] = { cnxk_ep_check_tx_pkt_reg,
+								cnxk_ep_check_tx_ism_mem};
+
 	uint32_t instr_processed = 0;
 	uint32_t cnt = 0;
 
-	iq->otx_read_index = cnxk_vf_update_read_index(iq);
+	iq->otx_read_index = cnxk_tx_pkt_count[iq->ism_ena](iq);
 
 	if (unlikely(iq->flush_index == iq->otx_read_index))
 		return;
diff --git a/drivers/net/octeon_ep/cnxk_ep_vf.c b/drivers/net/octeon_ep/cnxk_ep_vf.c
index ef275703c3..39f357ee81 100644
--- a/drivers/net/octeon_ep/cnxk_ep_vf.c
+++ b/drivers/net/octeon_ep/cnxk_ep_vf.c
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ cnxk_ep_vf_setup_iq_regs(struct otx_ep_device *otx_ep, uint32_t iq_no)
 	otx_ep_err("SDP_R[%d] INST Q ISM virt: %p, dma: 0x%" PRIX64, iq_no,
 		   (void *)iq->inst_cnt_ism, ism_addr);
 	*iq->inst_cnt_ism = 0;
-	iq->inst_cnt_ism_prev = 0;
+	iq->inst_cnt_prev = 0;
 	iq->partial_ih = ((uint64_t)otx_ep->pkind) << 36;
 
 	return 0;
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ cnxk_ep_vf_setup_oq_regs(struct otx_ep_device *otx_ep, uint32_t oq_no)
 	otx_ep_err("SDP_R[%d] OQ ISM virt: %p dma: 0x%" PRIX64,
 		    oq_no, (void *)droq->pkts_sent_ism, ism_addr);
 	*droq->pkts_sent_ism = 0;
-	droq->pkts_sent_ism_prev = 0;
+	droq->pkts_sent_prev = 0;
 
 	loop = OTX_EP_BUSY_LOOP_COUNT;
 	while (((rte_read32(droq->pkts_sent_reg)) != 0ull) && loop--) {
diff --git a/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx2_ep_vf.c b/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx2_ep_vf.c
index 7f4edf8dcf..25e0e5a500 100644
--- a/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx2_ep_vf.c
+++ b/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx2_ep_vf.c
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ otx2_vf_setup_iq_regs(struct otx_ep_device *otx_ep, uint32_t iq_no)
 		   (void *)iq->inst_cnt_ism,
 		   (unsigned int)ism_addr);
 	*iq->inst_cnt_ism = 0;
-	iq->inst_cnt_ism_prev = 0;
+	iq->inst_cnt_prev = 0;
 	iq->partial_ih = ((uint64_t)otx_ep->pkind) << 36;
 
 	return 0;
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ otx2_vf_setup_oq_regs(struct otx_ep_device *otx_ep, uint32_t oq_no)
 		   (void *)droq->pkts_sent_ism,
 		   (unsigned int)ism_addr);
 	*droq->pkts_sent_ism = 0;
-	droq->pkts_sent_ism_prev = 0;
+	droq->pkts_sent_prev = 0;
 
 	loop = SDP_VF_BUSY_LOOP_COUNT;
 	while (((rte_read32(droq->pkts_sent_reg)) != 0ull) && loop--) {
diff --git a/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx_ep_common.h b/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx_ep_common.h
index d64b04d2c2..7776940e1d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx_ep_common.h
+++ b/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx_ep_common.h
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <rte_eal.h>
+#include <rte_kvargs.h>
 #include <rte_mempool.h>
 #include <rte_mbuf.h>
 #include <rte_io.h>
@@ -223,7 +224,7 @@ struct otx_ep_instr_queue {
 	uint8_t *base_addr;
 
 	/* track inst count locally to consolidate HW counter updates */
-	uint32_t inst_cnt_ism_prev;
+	uint32_t inst_cnt_prev;
 
 	/* Input ring index, where the driver should write the next packet */
 	uint32_t host_write_index;
@@ -261,6 +262,9 @@ struct otx_ep_instr_queue {
 	/* Number of  descriptors in this ring. */
 	uint32_t nb_desc;
 
+	/* Use ISM memory */
+	uint8_t ism_ena;
+
 	/* Size of the descriptor. */
 	uint8_t desc_size;
 
@@ -405,9 +409,12 @@ struct otx_ep_droq {
 	 */
 	void *pkts_sent_reg;
 
+	/* Use ISM memory */
+	uint8_t ism_ena;
+
 	/* Pointer to host memory copy of output packet count, set by ISM */
 	uint32_t *pkts_sent_ism;
-	uint32_t pkts_sent_ism_prev;
+	uint32_t pkts_sent_prev;
 
 	/* Statistics for this DROQ. */
 	struct otx_ep_droq_stats stats;
@@ -565,6 +572,9 @@ struct otx_ep_device {
 
 	/* Generation */
 	uint32_t chip_gen;
+
+	/* Use ISM memory */
+	uint8_t ism_ena;
 };
 
 int otx_ep_setup_iqs(struct otx_ep_device *otx_ep, uint32_t iq_no,
diff --git a/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx_ep_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx_ep_ethdev.c
index 8daa7d225c..86ed6df6a9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx_ep_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx_ep_ethdev.c
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 #define OTX_EP_DEV(_eth_dev) \
 	((struct otx_ep_device *)(_eth_dev)->data->dev_private)
 
+#define OTX_ISM_ENABLE	"ism_enable"
+
 static const struct rte_eth_desc_lim otx_ep_rx_desc_lim = {
 	.nb_max		= OTX_EP_MAX_OQ_DESCRIPTORS,
 	.nb_min		= OTX_EP_MIN_OQ_DESCRIPTORS,
@@ -27,6 +29,41 @@ static const struct rte_eth_desc_lim otx_ep_tx_desc_lim = {
 	.nb_align	= OTX_EP_TXD_ALIGN,
 };
 
+static int
+parse_flag(const char *key, const char *value, void *extra_args)
+{
+	RTE_SET_USED(key);
+
+	*(uint8_t *)extra_args = atoi(value);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+otx_ethdev_parse_devargs(struct rte_devargs *devargs, struct otx_ep_device *otx_epvf)
+{
+	struct rte_kvargs *kvlist;
+	uint8_t ism_enable = 0;
+
+	if (devargs == NULL)
+		goto null_devargs;
+
+	kvlist = rte_kvargs_parse(devargs->args, NULL);
+	if (kvlist == NULL)
+		goto exit;
+
+	rte_kvargs_process(kvlist, OTX_ISM_ENABLE, &parse_flag, &ism_enable);
+	rte_kvargs_free(kvlist);
+
+null_devargs:
+	otx_epvf->ism_ena = !!ism_enable;
+
+	return 0;
+
+exit:
+	return -EINVAL;
+}
+
 static void
 otx_ep_set_tx_func(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev)
 {
@@ -741,6 +778,12 @@ otx_ep_eth_dev_init(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
+	/* Parse devargs string */
+	if (otx_ethdev_parse_devargs(eth_dev->device->devargs, otx_epvf)) {
+		otx_ep_err("Failed to parse devargs\n");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	rte_eth_copy_pci_info(eth_dev, pdev);
 	otx_epvf->eth_dev = eth_dev;
 	otx_epvf->port_id = eth_dev->data->port_id;
diff --git a/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx_ep_rxtx.c b/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx_ep_rxtx.c
index aea148ee4a..59144e0f84 100644
--- a/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx_ep_rxtx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx_ep_rxtx.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include <rte_net.h>
 #include <ethdev_pci.h>
 
+#include "cnxk_ep_rx.h"
 #include "otx_ep_common.h"
 #include "otx_ep_vf.h"
 #include "otx_ep_rxtx.h"
@@ -159,6 +160,7 @@ otx_ep_init_instr_queue(struct otx_ep_device *otx_ep, int iq_no, int num_descs,
 		otx_ep->io_qmask.iq64B |= (1ull << iq_no);
 
 	iq->iqcmd_64B = (conf->iq.instr_type == 64);
+	iq->ism_ena = otx_ep->ism_ena;
 
 	/* Set up IQ registers */
 	ret = otx_ep->fn_list.setup_iq_regs(otx_ep, iq_no);
@@ -367,6 +369,7 @@ otx_ep_init_droq(struct otx_ep_device *otx_ep, uint32_t q_no,
 
 	droq->refill_threshold = c_refill_threshold;
 	droq->rearm_data = otx_ep_set_rearm_data(otx_ep);
+	droq->ism_ena = otx_ep->ism_ena;
 
 	/* Set up OQ registers */
 	ret = otx_ep->fn_list.setup_oq_regs(otx_ep, q_no);
@@ -460,8 +463,8 @@ otx_vf_update_read_index(struct otx_ep_instr_queue *iq)
 	 * number of PCIe writes.
 	 */
 	val = *iq->inst_cnt_ism;
-	iq->inst_cnt += val - iq->inst_cnt_ism_prev;
-	iq->inst_cnt_ism_prev = val;
+	iq->inst_cnt += val - iq->inst_cnt_prev;
+	iq->inst_cnt_prev = val;
 
 	if (val > (uint32_t)(1 << 31)) {
 		/*
@@ -477,7 +480,7 @@ otx_vf_update_read_index(struct otx_ep_instr_queue *iq)
 			rte_mb();
 		}
 
-		iq->inst_cnt_ism_prev = 0;
+		iq->inst_cnt_prev = 0;
 	}
 	rte_write64(OTX2_SDP_REQUEST_ISM, iq->inst_cnt_reg);
 
@@ -856,8 +859,8 @@ otx_ep_check_droq_pkts(struct otx_ep_droq *droq)
 	 * number of PCIe writes.
 	 */
 	val = *droq->pkts_sent_ism;
-	new_pkts = val - droq->pkts_sent_ism_prev;
-	droq->pkts_sent_ism_prev = val;
+	new_pkts = val - droq->pkts_sent_prev;
+	droq->pkts_sent_prev = val;
 
 	if (val > (uint32_t)(1 << 31)) {
 		/*
@@ -873,7 +876,7 @@ otx_ep_check_droq_pkts(struct otx_ep_droq *droq)
 			rte_mb();
 		}
 
-		droq->pkts_sent_ism_prev = 0;
+		droq->pkts_sent_prev = 0;
 	}
 	rte_write64(OTX2_SDP_REQUEST_ISM, droq->pkts_sent_reg);
 	droq->pkts_pending += new_pkts;
diff --git a/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx_ep_rxtx.h b/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx_ep_rxtx.h
index f5bc807dc0..6b3abe21b1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx_ep_rxtx.h
+++ b/drivers/net/octeon_ep/otx_ep_rxtx.h
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 #define DROQ_REFILL_THRESHOLD  64
 #define OTX2_SDP_REQUEST_ISM   (0x1ULL << 63)
 
+typedef uint32_t (*otx_ep_check_pkt_count_t)(void *queue);
+
 static inline uint32_t
 otx_ep_incr_index(uint32_t index, uint32_t count, uint32_t max)
 {
