diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/defines.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/defines.h
index 418af827b230..da17ccf5c09d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/defines.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/defines.h
@@ -272,5 +272,6 @@ struct ixgbe_adv_tx_context_desc {
 /* Error Codes */
 #define IXGBE_ERR_INVALID_MAC_ADDR              -1
 #define IXGBE_ERR_RESET_FAILED                  -2
+#define IXGBE_ERR_INVALID_ARGUMENT              -3
 
 #endif /* _IXGBEVF_DEFINES_H_ */
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/ixgbevf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/ixgbevf_main.c
index a5d9cc5bb257..c5ffe1dd3fcd 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/ixgbevf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/ixgbevf_main.c
@@ -1334,6 +1334,25 @@ static void ixgbevf_init_last_counter_stats(struct ixgbevf_adapter *adapter)
 	adapter->stats.base_vfmprc = adapter->stats.last_vfmprc;
 }
 
+static void ixgbevf_negotiate_api(struct ixgbevf_adapter *adapter)
+{
+	struct ixgbe_hw *hw = &adapter->hw;
+	int api[] = { ixgbe_mbox_api_10,
+		      ixgbe_mbox_api_unknown };
+	int err = 0, idx = 0;
+
+	spin_lock(&adapter->mbx_lock);
+
+	while (api[idx] != ixgbe_mbox_api_unknown) {
+		err = ixgbevf_negotiate_api_version(hw, api[idx]);
+		if (!err)
+			break;
+		idx++;
+	}
+
+	spin_unlock(&adapter->mbx_lock);
+}
+
 static void ixgbevf_up_complete(struct ixgbevf_adapter *adapter)
 {
 	struct net_device *netdev = adapter->netdev;
@@ -1399,6 +1418,8 @@ void ixgbevf_up(struct ixgbevf_adapter *adapter)
 {
 	struct ixgbe_hw *hw = &adapter->hw;
 
+	ixgbevf_negotiate_api(adapter);
+
 	ixgbevf_configure(adapter);
 
 	ixgbevf_up_complete(adapter);
@@ -2388,6 +2409,8 @@ static int ixgbevf_open(struct net_device *netdev)
 		}
 	}
 
+	ixgbevf_negotiate_api(adapter);
+
 	/* allocate transmit descriptors */
 	err = ixgbevf_setup_all_tx_resources(adapter);
 	if (err)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/mbx.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/mbx.h
index cf9131c5c115..946ce86f337f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/mbx.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/mbx.h
@@ -76,12 +76,29 @@
 /* bits 23:16 are used for exra info for certain messages */
 #define IXGBE_VT_MSGINFO_MASK     (0xFF << IXGBE_VT_MSGINFO_SHIFT)
 
+/* definitions to support mailbox API version negotiation */
+
+/*
+ * each element denotes a version of the API; existing numbers may not
+ * change; any additions must go at the end
+ */
+enum ixgbe_pfvf_api_rev {
+	ixgbe_mbox_api_10,	/* API version 1.0, linux/freebsd VF driver */
+	ixgbe_mbox_api_20,	/* API version 2.0, solaris Phase1 VF driver */
+	/* This value should always be last */
+	ixgbe_mbox_api_unknown,	/* indicates that API version is not known */
+};
+
+/* mailbox API, legacy requests */
 #define IXGBE_VF_RESET            0x01 /* VF requests reset */
 #define IXGBE_VF_SET_MAC_ADDR     0x02 /* VF requests PF to set MAC addr */
 #define IXGBE_VF_SET_MULTICAST    0x03 /* VF requests PF to set MC addr */
 #define IXGBE_VF_SET_VLAN         0x04 /* VF requests PF to set VLAN */
-#define IXGBE_VF_SET_LPE          0x05 /* VF requests PF to set VMOLR.LPE */
-#define IXGBE_VF_SET_MACVLAN      0x06 /* VF requests PF for unicast filter */
+
+/* mailbox API, version 1.0 VF requests */
+#define IXGBE_VF_SET_LPE	0x05 /* VF requests PF to set VMOLR.LPE */
+#define IXGBE_VF_SET_MACVLAN	0x06 /* VF requests PF for unicast filter */
+#define IXGBE_VF_API_NEGOTIATE	0x08 /* negotiate API version */
 
 /* length of permanent address message returned from PF */
 #define IXGBE_VF_PERMADDR_MSG_LEN 4
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/vf.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/vf.c
index 3d555a10f592..690801bd15b0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/vf.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/vf.c
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ static s32 ixgbevf_reset_hw_vf(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 	/* Call adapter stop to disable tx/rx and clear interrupts */
 	hw->mac.ops.stop_adapter(hw);
 
+	/* reset the api version */
+	hw->api_version = ixgbe_mbox_api_10;
+
 	IXGBE_WRITE_REG(hw, IXGBE_VFCTRL, IXGBE_CTRL_RST);
 	IXGBE_WRITE_FLUSH(hw);
 
@@ -433,6 +436,40 @@ void ixgbevf_rlpml_set_vf(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u16 max_size)
 	ixgbevf_write_msg_read_ack(hw, msgbuf, 2);
 }
 
+/**
+ *  ixgbevf_negotiate_api_version - Negotiate supported API version
+ *  @hw: pointer to the HW structure
+ *  @api: integer containing requested API version
+ **/
+int ixgbevf_negotiate_api_version(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, int api)
+{
+	int err;
+	u32 msg[3];
+
+	/* Negotiate the mailbox API version */
+	msg[0] = IXGBE_VF_API_NEGOTIATE;
+	msg[1] = api;
+	msg[2] = 0;
+	err = hw->mbx.ops.write_posted(hw, msg, 3);
+
+	if (!err)
+		err = hw->mbx.ops.read_posted(hw, msg, 3);
+
+	if (!err) {
+		msg[0] &= ~IXGBE_VT_MSGTYPE_CTS;
+
+		/* Store value and return 0 on success */
+		if (msg[0] == (IXGBE_VF_API_NEGOTIATE | IXGBE_VT_MSGTYPE_ACK)) {
+			hw->api_version = api;
+			return 0;
+		}
+
+		err = IXGBE_ERR_INVALID_ARGUMENT;
+	}
+
+	return err;
+}
+
 static const struct ixgbe_mac_operations ixgbevf_mac_ops = {
 	.init_hw             = ixgbevf_init_hw_vf,
 	.reset_hw            = ixgbevf_reset_hw_vf,
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/vf.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/vf.h
index 07fd87688e35..47f11a584d8c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/vf.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/vf.h
@@ -137,6 +137,8 @@ struct ixgbe_hw {
 
 	u8  revision_id;
 	bool adapter_stopped;
+
+	int api_version;
 };
 
 struct ixgbevf_hw_stats {
@@ -171,5 +173,6 @@ struct ixgbevf_info {
 };
 
 void ixgbevf_rlpml_set_vf(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u16 max_size);
+int ixgbevf_negotiate_api_version(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, int api);
 #endif /* __IXGBE_VF_H__ */