diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_cmds.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_cmds.c
index 29aeb91cba4975eb24b866287cd603805927e5c5..a98b6ab33ed58e7145a50b9ff0c84777ae6210ca 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_cmds.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_cmds.c
@@ -87,6 +87,11 @@ static struct be_cmd_priv_map cmd_priv_map[] = {
 		CMD_SUBSYSTEM_LOWLEVEL,
 		BE_PRIV_DEVCFG | BE_PRIV_DEVSEC
 	},
+	{
+		OPCODE_COMMON_SET_HSW_CONFIG,
+		CMD_SUBSYSTEM_COMMON,
+		BE_PRIV_DEVCFG | BE_PRIV_VHADM
+	},
 };
 
 static bool be_cmd_allowed(struct be_adapter *adapter, u8 opcode, u8 subsystem)
@@ -3850,6 +3855,10 @@ int be_cmd_set_hsw_config(struct be_adapter *adapter, u16 pvid,
 	void *ctxt;
 	int status;
 
+	if (!be_cmd_allowed(adapter, OPCODE_COMMON_SET_HSW_CONFIG,
+			    CMD_SUBSYSTEM_COMMON))
+		return -EPERM;
+
 	spin_lock_bh(&adapter->mcc_lock);
 
 	wrb = wrb_from_mccq(adapter);
@@ -3871,7 +3880,7 @@ int be_cmd_set_hsw_config(struct be_adapter *adapter, u16 pvid,
 		AMAP_SET_BITS(struct amap_set_hsw_context, pvid_valid, ctxt, 1);
 		AMAP_SET_BITS(struct amap_set_hsw_context, pvid, ctxt, pvid);
 	}
-	if (!BEx_chip(adapter) && hsw_mode) {
+	if (hsw_mode) {
 		AMAP_SET_BITS(struct amap_set_hsw_context, interface_id,
 			      ctxt, adapter->hba_port_num);
 		AMAP_SET_BITS(struct amap_set_hsw_context, pport, ctxt, 1);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c
index a654c12e924b2db448b32dda13c7667ef9691f1d..f11a19b75c995366408d66c2c7183787b5443600 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c
@@ -3729,6 +3729,11 @@ static void be_vf_clear(struct be_adapter *adapter)
 
 		be_cmd_if_destroy(adapter, vf_cfg->if_handle, vf + 1);
 	}
+
+	if (BE3_chip(adapter))
+		be_cmd_set_hsw_config(adapter, 0, 0,
+				      adapter->if_handle,
+				      PORT_FWD_TYPE_PASSTHRU, 0);
 done:
 	kfree(adapter->vf_cfg);
 	adapter->num_vfs = 0;
@@ -4019,6 +4024,15 @@ static int be_vf_setup(struct be_adapter *adapter)
 		}
 	}
 
+	if (BE3_chip(adapter)) {
+		/* On BE3, enable VEB only when SRIOV is enabled */
+		status = be_cmd_set_hsw_config(adapter, 0, 0,
+					       adapter->if_handle,
+					       PORT_FWD_TYPE_VEB, 0);
+		if (status)
+			goto err;
+	}
+
 	adapter->flags |= BE_FLAGS_SRIOV_ENABLED;
 	return 0;
 err:
@@ -4564,6 +4578,15 @@ static int be_setup(struct be_adapter *adapter)
 		be_cmd_set_logical_link_config(adapter,
 					       IFLA_VF_LINK_STATE_AUTO, 0);
 
+	/* BE3 EVB echoes broadcast/multicast packets back to PF's vport
+	 * confusing a linux bridge or OVS that it might be connected to.
+	 * Set the EVB to PASSTHRU mode which effectively disables the EVB
+	 * when SRIOV is not enabled.
+	 */
+	if (BE3_chip(adapter))
+		be_cmd_set_hsw_config(adapter, 0, 0, adapter->if_handle,
+				      PORT_FWD_TYPE_PASSTHRU, 0);
+
 	if (adapter->num_vfs)
 		be_vf_setup(adapter);