diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/README b/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/README
index f9281e8aa31365a39c50c44fd040defcdcf84467..22e5da9008fd8af70364b7f24cac1a2084cab8a9 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/README
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/README
@@ -12,10 +12,10 @@ REQUIREMENTS
 *  Minimum Python version of 3.4. Earlier 3.X versions may work but are not
    guaranteed.
 
-*  The kernel must have network namespace support
+*  The kernel must have network namespace support if using nsPlugin
 
 *  The kernel must have veth support available, as a veth pair is created
-   prior to running the tests.
+   prior to running the tests when using nsPlugin.
 
 *  The kernel must have the appropriate infrastructure enabled to run all tdc
    unit tests. See the config file in this directory for minimum required
@@ -53,8 +53,12 @@ commands being tested must be run as root.  The code that enforces
 execution by root uid has been moved into a plugin (see PLUGIN
 ARCHITECTURE, below).
 
-If nsPlugin is linked, all tests are executed inside a network
-namespace to prevent conflicts within the host.
+Tests that use a network device should have nsPlugin.py listed as a
+requirement for that test. nsPlugin executes all commands within a
+network namespace and creates a veth pair which may be used in those test
+cases. To disable execution within the namespace, pass the -N option
+to tdc when starting a test run; the veth pair will still be created
+by the plugin.
 
 Running tdc without any arguments will run all tests. Refer to the section
 on command line arguments for more information, or run:
@@ -154,8 +158,8 @@ action:
 netns:
   options for nsPlugin (run commands in net namespace)
 
-  -n, --namespace
-                        Run commands in namespace as specified in tdc_config.py
+  -N, --no-namespace
+                        Do not run commands in a network namespace.
 
 valgrind:
   options for valgrindPlugin (run command under test under Valgrind)
@@ -171,7 +175,8 @@ was in the tdc.py script has been moved into the plugins.
 
 The plugins are in the directory plugin-lib.  The are executed from
 directory plugins.  Put symbolic links from plugins to plugin-lib,
-and name them according to the order you want them to run.
+and name them according to the order you want them to run. This is not
+necessary if a test case being run requires a specific plugin to work.
 
 Example:
 
@@ -223,7 +228,8 @@ directory:
   - rootPlugin.py:
       implements the enforcement of running as root
   - nsPlugin.py:
-      sets up a network namespace and runs all commands in that namespace
+      sets up a network namespace and runs all commands in that namespace,
+      while also setting up dummy devices to be used in testing.
   - valgrindPlugin.py
       runs each command in the execute stage under valgrind,
       and checks for leaks.
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/plugin-lib/buildebpfPlugin.py b/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/plugin-lib/buildebpfPlugin.py
index 9f0ba10c44b42a32761dc9d02699e652eeff78fe..e98c36750faedcb5084fa15c9bcb55afda270112 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/plugin-lib/buildebpfPlugin.py
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/plugin-lib/buildebpfPlugin.py
@@ -34,8 +34,9 @@ class SubPlugin(TdcPlugin):
             'buildebpf',
             'options for buildebpfPlugin')
         self.argparser_group.add_argument(
-            '-B', '--buildebpf', action='store_true',
-            help='build eBPF programs')
+            '--nobuildebpf', action='store_false', default=True,
+            dest='buildebpf',
+            help='Don\'t build eBPF programs')
 
         return self.argparser
 
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/plugin-lib/nsPlugin.py b/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/plugin-lib/nsPlugin.py
index a194b1af2b30bddbfbcb60b65ffa9f023079cc33..affa7f2d96702c9e399caccc5d497f4cb144eca2 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/plugin-lib/nsPlugin.py
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/plugin-lib/nsPlugin.py
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ class SubPlugin(TdcPlugin):
 
         if self.args.namespace:
             self._ns_create()
+        else:
+            self._ports_create()
 
     def post_suite(self, index):
         '''run commands after test_runner goes into a test loop'''
@@ -27,6 +29,8 @@ class SubPlugin(TdcPlugin):
 
         if self.args.namespace:
             self._ns_destroy()
+        else:
+            self._ports_destroy()
 
     def add_args(self, parser):
         super().add_args(parser)
@@ -34,8 +38,8 @@ class SubPlugin(TdcPlugin):
             'netns',
             'options for nsPlugin(run commands in net namespace)')
         self.argparser_group.add_argument(
-            '-n', '--namespace', action='store_true',
-            help='Run commands in namespace')
+            '-N', '--no-namespace', action='store_false', default=True,
+            dest='namespace', help='Don\'t run commands in namespace')
         return self.argparser
 
     def adjust_command(self, stage, command):
@@ -73,20 +77,30 @@ class SubPlugin(TdcPlugin):
             print('adjust_command:  return command [{}]'.format(command))
         return command
 
+    def _ports_create(self):
+        cmd = 'ip link add $DEV0 type veth peer name $DEV1'
+        self._exec_cmd('pre', cmd)
+        cmd = 'ip link set $DEV0 up'
+        self._exec_cmd('pre', cmd)
+        if not self.args.namespace:
+            cmd = 'ip link set $DEV1 up'
+            self._exec_cmd('pre', cmd)
+
+    def _ports_destroy(self):
+        cmd = 'ip link del $DEV0'
+        self._exec_cmd('post', cmd)
+
     def _ns_create(self):
         '''
         Create the network namespace in which the tests will be run and set up
         the required network devices for it.
         '''
+        self._ports_create()
         if self.args.namespace:
             cmd = 'ip netns add {}'.format(self.args.NAMES['NS'])
             self._exec_cmd('pre', cmd)
-            cmd = 'ip link add $DEV0 type veth peer name $DEV1'
-            self._exec_cmd('pre', cmd)
             cmd = 'ip link set $DEV1 netns {}'.format(self.args.NAMES['NS'])
             self._exec_cmd('pre', cmd)
-            cmd = 'ip link set $DEV0 up'
-            self._exec_cmd('pre', cmd)
             cmd = 'ip -n {} link set $DEV1 up'.format(self.args.NAMES['NS'])
             self._exec_cmd('pre', cmd)
             if self.args.device:
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tc-tests/actions/bpf.json b/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tc-tests/actions/bpf.json
index b074ea9b6fe864b25720729ff1a8c18ef03dedfd..47a3082b666134172090c7d287a41196fb5290c9 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tc-tests/actions/bpf.json
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tc-tests/actions/bpf.json
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@
             "actions",
             "bpf"
         ],
+        "plugins": {
+                "requires": "buildebpfPlugin"
+        },
         "setup": [
             [
                 "$TC action flush action bpf",
@@ -78,6 +81,9 @@
             "actions",
             "bpf"
         ],
+        "plugins": {
+                "requires": "buildebpfPlugin"
+        },
         "setup": [
             [
                 "$TC action flush action bpf",
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tc-tests/filters/fw.json b/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tc-tests/filters/fw.json
index 6944b90d4897959b4c504623284f1888dc41c0df..5272049566d6c59ac404d75b1c3e1cbaa347aa66 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tc-tests/filters/fw.json
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tc-tests/filters/fw.json
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress"
         ],
@@ -25,6 +28,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress"
         ],
@@ -44,6 +50,114 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress"
         ],
@@ -872,6 +986,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress",
             "$TC filter add dev $DEV1 parent ffff: protocol 802_3 prio 3 handle 7 fw action ok"
@@ -892,6 +1009,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress",
             "$TC filter add dev $DEV1 parent ffff: prio 6 handle 2 fw action continue index 5"
@@ -912,6 +1032,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress"
         ],
@@ -931,6 +1054,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress"
         ],
@@ -950,6 +1076,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress",
             "$TC filter add dev $DEV1 parent ffff: handle 5 prio 7 fw action pass",
@@ -972,6 +1101,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress",
             "$TC filter add dev $DEV1 parent ffff: handle 5 prio 7 fw action pass",
@@ -994,6 +1126,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress",
             "$TC filter add dev $DEV1 parent ffff: handle 5 prio 7 fw action pass",
@@ -1015,6 +1150,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress",
             "$TC filter add dev $DEV1 parent ffff: handle 1 prio 4 fw action ok",
@@ -1036,6 +1174,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress",
             "$TC filter add dev $DEV1 parent ffff: handle 4 prio 2 chain 13 fw action pipe",
@@ -1057,6 +1198,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress",
             "$TC filter add dev $DEV1 parent ffff: handle 2 prio 4 fw action drop"
@@ -1077,6 +1221,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress",
             "$TC filter add dev $DEV1 parent ffff: handle 3 prio 4 fw action continue"
@@ -1097,6 +1244,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress",
             "$TC filter add dev $DEV1 parent ffff: handle 4 prio 2 protocol arp fw action pipe"
@@ -1117,6 +1267,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress",
             "$TC filter add dev $DEV1 parent ffff: handle 4 prio 2 fw action pipe flowid 45"
@@ -1137,6 +1290,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress",
             "$TC filter add dev $DEV1 parent ffff: handle 1 prio 2 fw action ok"
@@ -1157,6 +1313,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress",
             "$TC filter add dev $DEV1 parent ffff: handle 1 prio 2 fw action ok"
@@ -1177,6 +1336,9 @@
             "filter",
             "fw"
         ],
+	"plugins": {
+		"requires": "nsPlugin"
+	},
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress",
             "$TC filter add dev $DEV1 parent ffff: handle 1 prio 2 fw action ok index 3"
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tc-tests/filters/tests.json b/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tc-tests/filters/tests.json
index e2f92cefb8d5ef06237e87ffc88cad19667afbac..8135778040c23aacc24e515b57f1ff14a096db27 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tc-tests/filters/tests.json
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tc-tests/filters/tests.json
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
             "filter",
             "u32"
         ],
+        "plugins": {
+                "requires": "nsPlugin"
+        },
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 ingress"
         ],
@@ -25,6 +28,9 @@
             "filter",
             "matchall"
         ],
+        "plugins": {
+                "requires": "nsPlugin"
+        },
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV1 clsact",
             "$TC filter add dev $DEV1 protocol all pref 1 ingress handle 0x1234 matchall action ok"
@@ -45,6 +51,9 @@
             "filter",
             "flower"
         ],
+        "plugins": {
+                "requires": "nsPlugin"
+        },
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV2 ingress",
             "./tdc_batch.py $DEV2 $BATCH_FILE --share_action -n 1000000"
@@ -66,6 +75,9 @@
             "filter",
             "flower"
         ],
+        "plugins": {
+                "requires": "nsPlugin"
+        },
         "setup": [
             "$TC qdisc add dev $DEV2 ingress",
             "$TC filter add dev $DEV2 protocol ip prio 1 parent ffff: flower dst_mac e4:11:22:11:4a:51 src_mac e4:11:22:11:4a:50 ip_proto tcp src_ip 1.1.1.1 dst_ip 2.2.2.2 action drop"
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tdc.py b/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tdc.py
index 5cee15659e5f5ae4ffd527a2ed2ee789740f75e6..678182a2676d13f6650ccb89865151b0a78248ed 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tdc.py
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tdc.py
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ from tdc_helper import *
 import TdcPlugin
 from TdcResults import *
 
+class PluginDependencyException(Exception):
+    def __init__(self, missing_pg):
+        self.missing_pg = missing_pg
 
 class PluginMgrTestFail(Exception):
     def __init__(self, stage, output, message):
@@ -37,7 +40,7 @@ class PluginMgr:
         super().__init__()
         self.plugins = {}
         self.plugin_instances = []
-        self.args = []
+        self.failed_plugins = {}
         self.argparser = argparser
 
         # TODO, put plugins in order
@@ -53,6 +56,64 @@ class PluginMgr:
                     self.plugins[mn] = foo
                     self.plugin_instances.append(foo.SubPlugin())
 
+    def load_plugin(self, pgdir, pgname):
+        pgname = pgname[0:-3]
+        foo = importlib.import_module('{}.{}'.format(pgdir, pgname))
+        self.plugins[pgname] = foo
+        self.plugin_instances.append(foo.SubPlugin())
+        self.plugin_instances[-1].check_args(self.args, None)
+
+    def get_required_plugins(self, testlist):
+        '''
+        Get all required plugins from the list of test cases and return
+        all unique items.
+        '''
+        reqs = []
+        for t in testlist:
+            try:
+                if 'requires' in t['plugins']:
+                    if isinstance(t['plugins']['requires'], list):
+                        reqs.extend(t['plugins']['requires'])
+                    else:
+                        reqs.append(t['plugins']['requires'])
+            except KeyError:
+                continue
+        reqs = get_unique_item(reqs)
+        return reqs
+
+    def load_required_plugins(self, reqs, parser, args, remaining):
+        '''
+        Get all required plugins from the list of test cases and load any plugin
+        that is not already enabled.
+        '''
+        pgd = ['plugin-lib', 'plugin-lib-custom']
+        pnf = []
+
+        for r in reqs:
+            if r not in self.plugins:
+                fname = '{}.py'.format(r)
+                source_path = []
+                for d in pgd:
+                    pgpath = '{}/{}'.format(d, fname)
+                    if os.path.isfile(pgpath):
+                        source_path.append(pgpath)
+                if len(source_path) == 0:
+                    print('ERROR: unable to find required plugin {}'.format(r))
+                    pnf.append(fname)
+                    continue
+                elif len(source_path) > 1:
+                    print('WARNING: multiple copies of plugin {} found, using version found')
+                    print('at {}'.format(source_path[0]))
+                pgdir = source_path[0]
+                pgdir = pgdir.split('/')[0]
+                self.load_plugin(pgdir, fname)
+        if len(pnf) > 0:
+            raise PluginDependencyException(pnf)
+
+        parser = self.call_add_args(parser)
+        (args, remaining) = parser.parse_known_args(args=remaining, namespace=args)
+        return args
+
     def call_pre_suite(self, testcount, testidlist):
         for pgn_inst in self.plugin_instances:
             pgn_inst.pre_suite(testcount, testidlist)
@@ -98,6 +159,9 @@ class PluginMgr:
             command = pgn_inst.adjust_command(stage, command)
         return command
 
+    def set_args(self, args):
+        self.args = args
+
     @staticmethod
     def _make_argparser(args):
         self.argparser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
@@ -550,6 +614,7 @@ def filter_tests_by_category(args, testlist):
 
     return answer
 
+
 def get_test_cases(args):
     """
     If a test case file is specified, retrieve tests from that file.
@@ -611,7 +676,7 @@ def get_test_cases(args):
     return allcatlist, allidlist, testcases_by_cats, alltestcases
 
 
-def set_operation_mode(pm, args):
+def set_operation_mode(pm, parser, args, remaining):
     """
     Load the test case data and process remaining arguments to determine
     what the script should do for this run, and call the appropriate
@@ -649,6 +714,12 @@ def set_operation_mode(pm, args):
             exit(0)
 
     if len(alltests):
+        req_plugins = pm.get_required_plugins(alltests)
+        try:
+            args = pm.load_required_plugins(req_plugins, parser, args, remaining)
+        except PluginDependencyException as pde:
+            print('The following plugins were not found:')
+            print('{}'.format(pde.missing_pg))
         catresults = test_runner(pm, args, alltests)
         if args.format == 'none':
             print('Test results output suppression requested\n')
@@ -686,11 +757,12 @@ def main():
     parser = pm.call_add_args(parser)
     (args, remaining) = parser.parse_known_args()
     args.NAMES = NAMES
+    pm.set_args(args)
     check_default_settings(args, remaining, pm)
     if args.verbose > 2:
         print('args is {}'.format(args))
 
-    set_operation_mode(pm, args)
+    set_operation_mode(pm, parser, args, remaining)
 
     exit(0)
 
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tdc_helper.py b/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tdc_helper.py
index 9f35c96c88a04ddac1f2c1ebd44b99fc5c5cfe82..0440d252c4c5f168cfef81dc4835cd85ae76e17c 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tdc_helper.py
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/tc-testing/tdc_helper.py
@@ -17,7 +17,10 @@ def get_categorized_testlist(alltests, ucat):
 
 def get_unique_item(lst):
     """ For a list, return a list of the unique items in the list. """
-    return list(set(lst))
+    if len(lst) > 1:
+        return list(set(lst))
+    else:
+        return lst
 
 
 def get_test_categories(alltests):