diff --git a/vppcfg/config/interface.py b/vppcfg/config/interface.py
index be7d3b8..4755a93 100644
--- a/vppcfg/config/interface.py
+++ b/vppcfg/config/interface.py
@@ -447,6 +447,10 @@ def validate_interfaces(yaml):
             )
             result = False
 
+        if "device-type" in iface and not is_phy(yaml, ifname):
+            msgs.append(f"interface {ifname} is not a PHY, cannot set device-type")
+            result = False
+
         iface_mtu = get_mtu(yaml, ifname)
         iface_lcp = get_lcp(yaml, ifname)
         iface_address = has_address(yaml, ifname)
diff --git a/vppcfg/intest/hippo-empty.yaml b/vppcfg/intest/hippo-empty.yaml
index 970e046..3095257 100644
--- a/vppcfg/intest/hippo-empty.yaml
+++ b/vppcfg/intest/hippo-empty.yaml
@@ -1,20 +1,24 @@
 interfaces:
   GigabitEthernet3/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 1500
     mac: 00:25:90:0c:05:00
     state: down
     description: Not Used
   GigabitEthernet3/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 1500
     mac: 00:25:90:0c:05:01
     state: down
     description: Not Used
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 1500
     mac: b4:96:91:b3:b1:10
     state: down
     description: Not Used
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 1500
     mac: b4:96:91:b3:b1:11
     state: down
diff --git a/vppcfg/intest/hippo1.yaml b/vppcfg/intest/hippo1.yaml
index 73790fb..8679471 100644
--- a/vppcfg/intest/hippo1.yaml
+++ b/vppcfg/intest/hippo1.yaml
@@ -6,13 +6,16 @@ bondethernets:
 
 interfaces:
   GigabitEthernet3/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9000
     description: "LAG #1"
   GigabitEthernet3/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9000
     description: "LAG #2"
 
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     lcp: "ice0"
     mtu: 9000
     addresses: [ 192.0.2.17/30, 2001:db8:3::1/64 ]
@@ -32,6 +35,7 @@ interfaces:
           exact-match: True
 
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 2000
     description: "Bridged"
 
diff --git a/vppcfg/intest/hippo10.yaml b/vppcfg/intest/hippo10.yaml
index eb5f8e0..9d3e135 100644
--- a/vppcfg/intest/hippo10.yaml
+++ b/vppcfg/intest/hippo10.yaml
@@ -6,16 +6,20 @@ bondethernets:
 
 interfaces:
   GigabitEthernet3/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9000
     description: "LAG #1"
   GigabitEthernet3/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9000
     description: "LAG #2"
 
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     description: Not Used
 
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     description: Not Used
 
   BondEthernet0:
diff --git a/vppcfg/intest/hippo11.yaml b/vppcfg/intest/hippo11.yaml
index f3e804c..25ea07c 100644
--- a/vppcfg/intest/hippo11.yaml
+++ b/vppcfg/intest/hippo11.yaml
@@ -4,17 +4,21 @@ bondethernets:
 
 interfaces:
   GigabitEthernet3/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9000
     description: "LAG #1"
   GigabitEthernet3/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9000
     description: "LAG #2"
 
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 1500
     description: "bridged with tap"
 
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     description: Not Used
 
   BondEthernet0:
diff --git a/vppcfg/intest/hippo12.yaml b/vppcfg/intest/hippo12.yaml
index 4652836..4d7dd10 100644
--- a/vppcfg/intest/hippo12.yaml
+++ b/vppcfg/intest/hippo12.yaml
@@ -6,13 +6,16 @@ bondethernets:
 
 interfaces:
   GigabitEthernet3/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9000
     description: "LAG #1"
   GigabitEthernet3/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9000
     description: "LAG #2"
 
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     lcp: "ice12-0-0"
     mtu: 9000
     addresses: [ 192.0.2.17/30, 2001:db8:3::1/64 ]
@@ -32,6 +35,7 @@ interfaces:
           exact-match: True
 
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 2000
     description: "Bridged"
 
diff --git a/vppcfg/intest/hippo13.yaml b/vppcfg/intest/hippo13.yaml
index 4ee4410..42ea00d 100644
--- a/vppcfg/intest/hippo13.yaml
+++ b/vppcfg/intest/hippo13.yaml
@@ -5,13 +5,16 @@ bondethernets:
 
 interfaces:
   GigabitEthernet3/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9000
     description: "LAG #1"
   GigabitEthernet3/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9000
     description: "LAG #2"
 
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     lcp: "ice0"
     mtu: 9000
     addresses: [ 192.0.2.17/30, 2001:db8:3::1/64 ]
@@ -31,6 +34,7 @@ interfaces:
           exact-match: True
 
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 2000
     description: "Bridged"
 
diff --git a/vppcfg/intest/hippo14.yaml b/vppcfg/intest/hippo14.yaml
index 81d24bb..33e91b4 100644
--- a/vppcfg/intest/hippo14.yaml
+++ b/vppcfg/intest/hippo14.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 interfaces:
   GigabitEthernet3/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9000
     state: up
     sub-interfaces:
@@ -7,16 +8,19 @@ interfaces:
         mtu: 9000
         l2xc: tap100
   GigabitEthernet3/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 1500
     mac: 00:25:90:0c:05:01
     state: down
     description: Not Used
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 1500
     mac: b4:96:91:b3:b1:10
     state: down
     description: Not Used
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 1500
     mac: b4:96:91:b3:b1:11
     state: down
diff --git a/vppcfg/intest/hippo2.yaml b/vppcfg/intest/hippo2.yaml
index 75714ee..f0f1d2b 100644
--- a/vppcfg/intest/hippo2.yaml
+++ b/vppcfg/intest/hippo2.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 interfaces:
   GigabitEthernet3/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     sub-interfaces:
       100:
         description: "Sub-int"
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ interfaces:
           exact-match: true
 
   GigabitEthernet3/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     sub-interfaces:
       100:
         description: "Sub-int"
@@ -34,6 +36,7 @@ interfaces:
           inner-dot1q: 100
 
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     sub-interfaces:
       100:
         description: "Sub-int"
@@ -48,6 +51,7 @@ interfaces:
           inner-dot1q: 100
 
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     sub-interfaces:
       100:
         description: "Sub-int"
diff --git a/vppcfg/intest/hippo3.yaml b/vppcfg/intest/hippo3.yaml
index b934e27..32c5d4a 100644
--- a/vppcfg/intest/hippo3.yaml
+++ b/vppcfg/intest/hippo3.yaml
@@ -6,14 +6,18 @@ bondethernets:
   
 interfaces:
   GigabitEthernet3/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9000
     description: LAG
   GigabitEthernet3/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9000
     description: LAG
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 2500
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     description: Not Used
 
   BondEthernet1:
diff --git a/vppcfg/intest/hippo4.yaml b/vppcfg/intest/hippo4.yaml
index 489c2ea..d221483 100644
--- a/vppcfg/intest/hippo4.yaml
+++ b/vppcfg/intest/hippo4.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 interfaces:
   GigabitEthernet3/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mac: 12:00:ba:03:00:00
     mtu: 9216
     sub-interfaces:
@@ -7,8 +8,10 @@ interfaces:
         mtu: 2000
         l2xc: HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/1.100
   GigabitEthernet3/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     description: Not Used
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9216
     sub-interfaces:
       100:
@@ -20,6 +23,7 @@ interfaces:
           inner-dot1q: 200
           exact-match: True
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9216
     sub-interfaces:
       100:
diff --git a/vppcfg/intest/hippo5.yaml b/vppcfg/intest/hippo5.yaml
index f255f15..e0e0e3b 100644
--- a/vppcfg/intest/hippo5.yaml
+++ b/vppcfg/intest/hippo5.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 interfaces:
   GigabitEthernet3/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9216
     sub-interfaces:
       100:
@@ -9,9 +10,11 @@ interfaces:
         mtu: 1500
         l2xc: vxlan_tunnel1
   GigabitEthernet3/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     lcp: "e3-0-1"
     addresses: [ 10.0.0.1/24 ]
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9216
     sub-interfaces:
       100:
@@ -23,6 +26,7 @@ interfaces:
           inner-dot1q: 200
           exact-match: True
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9216
   vxlan_tunnel0:
     mtu: 2000
diff --git a/vppcfg/intest/hippo6.yaml b/vppcfg/intest/hippo6.yaml
index e3af0e4..bdf5167 100644
--- a/vppcfg/intest/hippo6.yaml
+++ b/vppcfg/intest/hippo6.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 interfaces:
   GigabitEthernet3/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9216
     sub-interfaces:
       100:
@@ -8,9 +9,11 @@ interfaces:
       101:
         mtu: 3000
   GigabitEthernet3/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     lcp: "e3-0-1"
     addresses: [ 10.0.0.1/24 ]
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9216
     sub-interfaces:
       100:
@@ -22,6 +25,7 @@ interfaces:
           inner-dot1q: 200
           exact-match: True
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9216
   vxlan_tunnel0:
     mtu: 2000
diff --git a/vppcfg/intest/hippo7.yaml b/vppcfg/intest/hippo7.yaml
index c3e8a06..938025b 100644
--- a/vppcfg/intest/hippo7.yaml
+++ b/vppcfg/intest/hippo7.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 interfaces:
   GigabitEthernet3/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mac: 02:ff:ba:03:00:00
     mtu: 9216
     sub-interfaces:
@@ -9,8 +10,10 @@ interfaces:
       101:
         mtu: 3000
   GigabitEthernet3/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     description: Not Used
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9216
     sub-interfaces:
       100:
@@ -22,6 +25,7 @@ interfaces:
           inner-dot1q: 200
           exact-match: True
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9216
   vxlan_tunnel0:
     mtu: 2000
diff --git a/vppcfg/intest/hippo8.yaml b/vppcfg/intest/hippo8.yaml
index d2bfc61..a8a4b95 100644
--- a/vppcfg/intest/hippo8.yaml
+++ b/vppcfg/intest/hippo8.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 interfaces:
   GigabitEthernet3/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9216
     sub-interfaces:
       100:
@@ -8,8 +9,10 @@ interfaces:
       101:
         mtu: 3000
   GigabitEthernet3/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     description: Not Used
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9216
     sub-interfaces:
       100:
@@ -21,6 +24,7 @@ interfaces:
           inner-dot1q: 200
           exact-match: True
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9216
     sub-interfaces:
       100:
diff --git a/vppcfg/intest/hippo9.yaml b/vppcfg/intest/hippo9.yaml
index beab0ae..17283f7 100644
--- a/vppcfg/intest/hippo9.yaml
+++ b/vppcfg/intest/hippo9.yaml
@@ -5,17 +5,21 @@ bondethernets:
 
 interfaces:
   GigabitEthernet3/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9000
     description: "LAG #1"
   GigabitEthernet3/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mtu: 9000
     description: "LAG #2"
 
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/0:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     mac: 02:ff:ba:12:00:00
     lcp: "ice0"
 
   HundredGigabitEthernet13/0/1:
+    device-type: "dpdk"
     lcp: "ice1"
     mtu: 9000
     addresses: [ 192.0.2.17/30, 2001:db8:3::1/64 ]
diff --git a/vppcfg/schema.yaml b/vppcfg/schema.yaml
index e323988..2baadb6 100644
--- a/vppcfg/schema.yaml
+++ b/vppcfg/schema.yaml
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ interface:
   sub-interfaces: map(include('sub-interface'),key=int(min=1,max=4294967295),required=False)
   l2xc: str(required=False)
   state: enum('up', 'down', required=False)
+  device-type: enum('dpdk', required=False)
 ---
 sub-interface:
   description: str(exclude='\'"',len=64,required=False)
diff --git a/vppcfg/unittest/yaml/error-interface-type.yaml b/vppcfg/unittest/yaml/error-interface-type.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..297025d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vppcfg/unittest/yaml/error-interface-type.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+test:
+  description: "Device types can be set on physical interface only"
+  errors:
+    expected:
+     - ".*interface BondEthernet0 is not a PHY, cannot set device-type"
+     - ".*interface vxlan_tunnel0 is not a PHY, cannot set device-type"
+    count: 2
+---
+bondethernets:
+  BondEthernet0:
+    mac: 00:01:02:03:04:05
+    description: "Infra: xsw0.lab.ipng.ch LACP"
+    interfaces: [ GigabitEthernet2/0/0, GigabitEthernet2/0/1 ]
+
+interfaces:
+  GigabitEthernet1/0/0:
+    device-type: 'dpdk'
+
+  GigabitEthernet2/0/0:
+    description: "Infra: LAG to xsw0"
+
+  GigabitEthernet2/0/1:
+    description: "Infra: LAG to xsw1"
+
+  BondEthernet0:
+    device-type: 'dpdk'  ## bond-ethernets cannot have device-type set
+    description: "Bond, James Bond!"
+
+  vxlan_tunnel0:
+    device-type: 'dpdk'
+    mtu: 1500
+
+vxlan_tunnels:
+  vxlan_tunnel0:
+    local: 192.0.2.1
+    remote: 192.0.2.2
+    vni: 100
+
+loopbacks:
+  loop0:
+    description: "Core: example.ipng.ch"
+    mtu: 9216
+    lcp: "loop0"
+    addresses: [ 192.0.2.1/32, 2001:db8:1::1/128 ]