diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/Makefile b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..2259a39a70edf5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0+ OR MIT
+
+TEST_PROGS = \
+	devlink_port_split.py \
+	ethtool.sh \
+	ethtool_extended_state.sh \
+	ethtool_mm.sh \
+	ethtool_rmon.sh \
+	hw_stats_l3.sh \
+	hw_stats_l3_gre.sh \
+	loopback.sh \
+	#
+
+TEST_FILES := \
+	ethtool_lib.sh \
+	#
+
+TEST_INCLUDES := \
+	../../../net/lib.sh \
+	../../../net/forwarding/lib.sh \
+	../../../net/forwarding/ipip_lib.sh \
+	../../../net/forwarding/tc_common.sh \
+	#
+
+include ../../../lib.mk
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/devlink_port_split.py b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/devlink_port_split.py
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/testing/selftests/net/devlink_port_split.py
rename to tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/devlink_port_split.py
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ethtool.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/ethtool.sh
similarity index 98%
rename from tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ethtool.sh
rename to tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/ethtool.sh
index aa2eafb7b24376..bb12d5d709493a 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ethtool.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/ethtool.sh
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ ALL_TESTS="
 	different_speeds_autoneg_on
 "
 NUM_NETIFS=2
-source lib.sh
+lib_dir=$(dirname "$0")
+source "$lib_dir"/../../../net/forwarding/lib.sh
 source ethtool_lib.sh
 
 h1_create()
@@ -286,8 +287,6 @@ different_speeds_autoneg_on()
 	ethtool -s $h1 autoneg on
 }
 
-skip_on_veth
-
 trap cleanup EXIT
 
 setup_prepare
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ethtool_extended_state.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/ethtool_extended_state.sh
similarity index 96%
rename from tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ethtool_extended_state.sh
rename to tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/ethtool_extended_state.sh
index 17f89c3b7c0206..a7584448416ea6 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ethtool_extended_state.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/ethtool_extended_state.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ ALL_TESTS="
 "
 
 NUM_NETIFS=2
-source lib.sh
+lib_dir=$(dirname "$0")
+source "$lib_dir"/../../../net/forwarding/lib.sh
 source ethtool_lib.sh
 
 TIMEOUT=$((WAIT_TIMEOUT * 1000)) # ms
@@ -108,8 +109,6 @@ no_cable()
 	ip link set dev $swp3 down
 }
 
-skip_on_veth
-
 setup_prepare
 
 tests_run
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ethtool_lib.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/ethtool_lib.sh
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ethtool_lib.sh
rename to tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/ethtool_lib.sh
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ethtool_mm.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/ethtool_mm.sh
similarity index 99%
rename from tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ethtool_mm.sh
rename to tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/ethtool_mm.sh
index 50d5bfb17ef184..c301e735c8ab5d 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ethtool_mm.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/ethtool_mm.sh
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ ALL_TESTS="
 NUM_NETIFS=2
 REQUIRE_MZ=no
 PREEMPTIBLE_PRIO=0
-source lib.sh
+lib_dir=$(dirname "$0")
+source "$lib_dir"/../../../net/forwarding/lib.sh
 
 traffic_test()
 {
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ethtool_rmon.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/ethtool_rmon.sh
similarity index 92%
rename from tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ethtool_rmon.sh
rename to tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/ethtool_rmon.sh
index 41a34a61f7632e..e2a1c10d35035c 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ethtool_rmon.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/ethtool_rmon.sh
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ ALL_TESTS="
 "
 
 NUM_NETIFS=2
-source lib.sh
+lib_dir=$(dirname "$0")
+source "$lib_dir"/../../../net/forwarding/lib.sh
 
 ETH_FCS_LEN=4
 ETH_HLEN=$((6+6+2))
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ rmon_histogram()
 
 		for if in $iface $neigh; do
 			if ! ensure_mtu $if ${bucket[0]}; then
-				log_test_skip "$if does not support the required MTU for $step"
+				log_test_xfail "$if does not support the required MTU for $step"
 				return
 			fi
 		done
@@ -93,7 +94,7 @@ rmon_histogram()
 		jq -r ".[0].rmon[\"${set}-pktsNtoM\"][]|[.low, .high]|@tsv" 2>/dev/null)
 
 	if [ $nbuckets -eq 0 ]; then
-		log_test_skip "$iface does not support $set histogram counters"
+		log_test_xfail "$iface does not support $set histogram counters"
 		return
 	fi
 }
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/hw_stats_l3.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/hw_stats_l3.sh
similarity index 96%
rename from tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/hw_stats_l3.sh
rename to tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/hw_stats_l3.sh
index 48584a51388fd9..7dfc50366c992e 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/hw_stats_l3.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/hw_stats_l3.sh
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ ALL_TESTS="
 	test_double_enable
 "
 NUM_NETIFS=4
-source lib.sh
+lib_dir=$(dirname "$0")
+source "$lib_dir"/../../../net/forwarding/lib.sh
 
 h1_create()
 {
@@ -324,17 +325,9 @@ setup_wait
 
 used=$(ip -j stats show dev $rp1.200 group offload subgroup hw_stats_info |
 	   jq '.[].info.l3_stats.used')
-kind=$(ip -j -d link show dev $rp1 |
-	   jq -r '.[].linkinfo.info_kind')
-if [[ $used != true ]]; then
-	if [[ $kind == veth ]]; then
-		log_test_skip "l3_stats not offloaded on veth interface"
-		EXIT_STATUS=$ksft_skip
-	else
-		RET=1 log_test "l3_stats not offloaded"
-	fi
-else
-	tests_run
-fi
+[[ $used = true ]]
+check_err $? "hw_stats_info.used=$used"
+log_test "l3_stats offloaded"
+tests_run
 
 exit $EXIT_STATUS
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/hw_stats_l3_gre.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/hw_stats_l3_gre.sh
similarity index 92%
rename from tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/hw_stats_l3_gre.sh
rename to tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/hw_stats_l3_gre.sh
index 7594bbb4902923..ab8d04855af5c6 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/hw_stats_l3_gre.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/hw_stats_l3_gre.sh
@@ -12,8 +12,9 @@ ALL_TESTS="
 	test_stats_tx
 "
 NUM_NETIFS=6
-source lib.sh
-source ipip_lib.sh
+lib_dir=$(dirname "$0")
+source "$lib_dir"/../../../net/forwarding/lib.sh
+source "$lib_dir"/../../../net/forwarding/ipip_lib.sh
 
 setup_prepare()
 {
@@ -99,8 +100,6 @@ test_stats_rx()
 	test_stats g2a rx
 }
 
-skip_on_veth
-
 trap cleanup EXIT
 
 setup_prepare
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/loopback.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/loopback.sh
similarity index 92%
rename from tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/loopback.sh
rename to tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/loopback.sh
index 8f4057310b5b41..5acc3ff820aa9e 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/loopback.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/loopback.sh
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@ ksft_skip=4
 
 ALL_TESTS="loopback_test"
 NUM_NETIFS=2
-source tc_common.sh
-source lib.sh
+lib_dir=$(dirname "$0")
+source "$lib_dir"/../../../net/forwarding/tc_common.sh
+source "$lib_dir"/../../../net/forwarding/lib.sh
 
 h1_create()
 {
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/settings b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/settings
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..e7b9417537fbc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/hw/settings
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+timeout=0
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/mlxsw/mlxsw_lib.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/mlxsw/mlxsw_lib.sh
index 6369927e9c378b..48395cfd4f9587 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/mlxsw/mlxsw_lib.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/mlxsw/mlxsw_lib.sh
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ __mlxsw_only_on_spectrum()
 	local src=$1; shift
 
 	if ! mlxsw_on_spectrum "$rev"; then
-		log_test_skip $src:$caller "(Spectrum-$rev only)"
+		log_test_xfail $src:$caller "(Spectrum-$rev only)"
 		return 1
 	fi
 }
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/mlxsw/spectrum-2/resource_scale.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/mlxsw/spectrum-2/resource_scale.sh
index a88d8a8c85f2e0..899b6892603fd0 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/mlxsw/spectrum-2/resource_scale.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/mlxsw/spectrum-2/resource_scale.sh
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ for current_test in ${TESTS:-$ALL_TESTS}; do
 		RET=0
 		target=$(${current_test}_get_target "$should_fail")
 		if ((target == 0)); then
-			log_test_skip "'$current_test' should_fail=$should_fail test"
 			continue
 		fi
 
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/mlxsw/spectrum/resource_scale.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/mlxsw/spectrum/resource_scale.sh
index f981c957f09759..482ebb744ebad8 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/mlxsw/spectrum/resource_scale.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/mlxsw/spectrum/resource_scale.sh
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ for current_test in ${TESTS:-$ALL_TESTS}; do
 			RET=0
 			target=$(${current_test}_get_target "$should_fail")
 			if ((target == 0)); then
-				log_test_skip "'$current_test' [$profile] should_fail=$should_fail test"
 				continue
 			fi
 			${current_test}_setup_prepare
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/Makefile b/tools/testing/selftests/net/Makefile
index 7b6918d5f4afac..cb418a2346bc9e 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/Makefile
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/Makefile
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ TEST_PROGS += reuseaddr_ports_exhausted.sh
 TEST_PROGS += txtimestamp.sh
 TEST_PROGS += vrf-xfrm-tests.sh
 TEST_PROGS += rxtimestamp.sh
-TEST_PROGS += devlink_port_split.py
 TEST_PROGS += drop_monitor_tests.sh
 TEST_PROGS += vrf_route_leaking.sh
 TEST_PROGS += bareudp.sh
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/Makefile b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/Makefile
index 535865b3d1d6cc..fa7b59ff40295a 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/Makefile
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/Makefile
@@ -15,18 +15,12 @@ TEST_PROGS = bridge_fdb_learning_limit.sh \
 	bridge_vlan_unaware.sh \
 	custom_multipath_hash.sh \
 	dual_vxlan_bridge.sh \
-	ethtool_extended_state.sh \
-	ethtool_mm.sh \
-	ethtool_rmon.sh \
-	ethtool.sh \
 	gre_custom_multipath_hash.sh \
 	gre_inner_v4_multipath.sh \
 	gre_inner_v6_multipath.sh \
 	gre_multipath_nh_res.sh \
 	gre_multipath_nh.sh \
 	gre_multipath.sh \
-	hw_stats_l3.sh \
-	hw_stats_l3_gre.sh \
 	ip6_forward_instats_vrf.sh \
 	ip6gre_custom_multipath_hash.sh \
 	ip6gre_flat_key.sh \
@@ -43,8 +37,8 @@ TEST_PROGS = bridge_fdb_learning_limit.sh \
 	ipip_hier_gre_key.sh \
 	ipip_hier_gre_keys.sh \
 	ipip_hier_gre.sh \
+	lib_sh_test.sh \
 	local_termination.sh \
-	loopback.sh \
 	mirror_gre_bound.sh \
 	mirror_gre_bridge_1d.sh \
 	mirror_gre_bridge_1d_vlan.sh \
@@ -113,7 +107,6 @@ TEST_PROGS = bridge_fdb_learning_limit.sh \
 	vxlan_symmetric.sh
 
 TEST_FILES := devlink_lib.sh \
-	ethtool_lib.sh \
 	fib_offload_lib.sh \
 	forwarding.config.sample \
 	ip6gre_lib.sh \
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/README b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/README
index b8a2af8fcfb796..7fdb6a9ca543f1 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/README
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/README
@@ -56,3 +56,36 @@ o Checks shall be added to lib.sh for any external dependencies.
 o Code shall be checked using ShellCheck [1] prior to submission.
 
 1. https://www.shellcheck.net/
+
+Customization
+=============
+
+The forwarding selftests framework uses a number of variables that
+influence its behavior and tools it invokes, and how it invokes them, in
+various ways. A number of these variables can be overridden. The way these
+overridable variables are specified is typically one of the following two
+syntaxes:
+
+	: "${VARIABLE:=default_value}"
+	VARIABLE=${VARIABLE:=default_value}
+
+Any of these variables can be overridden. Notably net/forwarding/lib.sh and
+net/lib.sh contain a number of overridable variables.
+
+One way of overriding these variables is through the environment:
+
+	PAUSE_ON_FAIL=yes ./some_test.sh
+
+The variable NETIFS is special. Since it is an array variable, there is no
+way to pass it through the environment. Its value can instead be given as
+consecutive arguments to the selftest:
+
+	./some_test.sh swp{1..8}
+
+A way to customize variables in a persistent fashion is to create a file
+named forwarding.config in this directory. lib.sh sources the file if
+present, so it can contain any shell code. Typically it will contain
+assignments of variables whose value should be overridden.
+
+forwarding.config.sample is available in the directory as an example of
+how forwarding.config might look.
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/forwarding.config.sample b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/forwarding.config.sample
index 1fc4f0242fc53b..f1ca95e79a65e8 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/forwarding.config.sample
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/forwarding.config.sample
@@ -3,51 +3,28 @@
 
 ##############################################################################
 # Topology description. p1 looped back to p2, p3 to p4 and so on.
-declare -A NETIFS
 
-NETIFS[p1]=veth0
-NETIFS[p2]=veth1
-NETIFS[p3]=veth2
-NETIFS[p4]=veth3
-NETIFS[p5]=veth4
-NETIFS[p6]=veth5
-NETIFS[p7]=veth6
-NETIFS[p8]=veth7
-NETIFS[p9]=veth8
-NETIFS[p10]=veth9
+NETIFS=(
+	[p1]=veth0
+	[p2]=veth1
+	[p3]=veth2
+	[p4]=veth3
+	[p5]=veth4
+	[p6]=veth5
+	[p7]=veth6
+	[p8]=veth7
+	[p9]=veth8
+	[p10]=veth9
+)
 
 # Port that does not have a cable connected.
 NETIF_NO_CABLE=eth8
 
 ##############################################################################
-# Defines
+# In addition to the topology-related variables, it is also possible to override
+# in this file other variables that net/lib.sh, net/forwarding/lib.sh or other
+# libraries or selftests use. E.g.:
 
-# IPv4 ping utility name
-PING=ping
-# IPv6 ping utility name. Some distributions use 'ping' for IPv6.
 PING6=ping6
-# Packet generator. Some distributions use 'mz'.
 MZ=mausezahn
-# mausezahn delay between transmissions in microseconds.
-MZ_DELAY=0
-# Time to wait after interfaces participating in the test are all UP
 WAIT_TIME=5
-# Whether to pause on failure or not.
-PAUSE_ON_FAIL=no
-# Whether to pause on cleanup or not.
-PAUSE_ON_CLEANUP=no
-# Type of network interface to create
-NETIF_TYPE=veth
-# Whether to create virtual interfaces (veth) or not
-NETIF_CREATE=yes
-# Timeout (in seconds) before ping exits regardless of how many packets have
-# been sent or received
-PING_TIMEOUT=5
-# Minimum ageing_time (in centiseconds) supported by hardware
-LOW_AGEING_TIME=1000
-# Flag for tc match, supposed to be skip_sw/skip_hw which means do not process
-# filter by software/hardware
-TC_FLAG=skip_hw
-# IPv6 traceroute utility name.
-TROUTE6=traceroute6
-
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ipip_lib.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ipip_lib.sh
index 30f36a57bae6c8..01e62c4ac94ddc 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ipip_lib.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/ipip_lib.sh
@@ -141,7 +141,6 @@
 # |               $h2 +       |
 # |     192.0.2.18/28         |
 # +---------------------------+
-source lib.sh
 
 h1_create()
 {
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/lib.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/lib.sh
index e579c2e0c462af..4103ed7afcde3d 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/lib.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/lib.sh
@@ -1,34 +1,88 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 
+##############################################################################
+# Topology description. p1 looped back to p2, p3 to p4 and so on.
+
+declare -A NETIFS=(
+    [p1]=veth0
+    [p2]=veth1
+    [p3]=veth2
+    [p4]=veth3
+    [p5]=veth4
+    [p6]=veth5
+    [p7]=veth6
+    [p8]=veth7
+    [p9]=veth8
+    [p10]=veth9
+)
+
+# Port that does not have a cable connected.
+: "${NETIF_NO_CABLE:=eth8}"
+
 ##############################################################################
 # Defines
 
-# Can be overridden by the configuration file.
-PING=${PING:=ping}
-PING6=${PING6:=ping6}
-MZ=${MZ:=mausezahn}
-MZ_DELAY=${MZ_DELAY:=0}
-ARPING=${ARPING:=arping}
-TEAMD=${TEAMD:=teamd}
-WAIT_TIME=${WAIT_TIME:=5}
-PAUSE_ON_FAIL=${PAUSE_ON_FAIL:=no}
-PAUSE_ON_CLEANUP=${PAUSE_ON_CLEANUP:=no}
-NETIF_TYPE=${NETIF_TYPE:=veth}
-NETIF_CREATE=${NETIF_CREATE:=yes}
-MCD=${MCD:=smcrouted}
-MC_CLI=${MC_CLI:=smcroutectl}
-PING_COUNT=${PING_COUNT:=10}
-PING_TIMEOUT=${PING_TIMEOUT:=5}
-WAIT_TIMEOUT=${WAIT_TIMEOUT:=20}
-INTERFACE_TIMEOUT=${INTERFACE_TIMEOUT:=600}
-LOW_AGEING_TIME=${LOW_AGEING_TIME:=1000}
-REQUIRE_JQ=${REQUIRE_JQ:=yes}
-REQUIRE_MZ=${REQUIRE_MZ:=yes}
-REQUIRE_MTOOLS=${REQUIRE_MTOOLS:=no}
-STABLE_MAC_ADDRS=${STABLE_MAC_ADDRS:=no}
-TCPDUMP_EXTRA_FLAGS=${TCPDUMP_EXTRA_FLAGS:=}
-TROUTE6=${TROUTE6:=traceroute6}
+# Networking utilities.
+: "${PING:=ping}"
+: "${PING6:=ping6}"	# Some distros just use ping.
+: "${ARPING:=arping}"
+: "${TROUTE6:=traceroute6}"
+
+# Packet generator.
+: "${MZ:=mausezahn}"	# Some distributions use 'mz'.
+: "${MZ_DELAY:=0}"
+
+# Host configuration tools.
+: "${TEAMD:=teamd}"
+: "${MCD:=smcrouted}"
+: "${MC_CLI:=smcroutectl}"
+
+# Constants for netdevice bring-up:
+# Default time in seconds to wait for an interface to come up before giving up
+# and bailing out. Used during initial setup.
+: "${INTERFACE_TIMEOUT:=600}"
+# Like INTERFACE_TIMEOUT, but default for ad-hoc waiting in testing scripts.
+: "${WAIT_TIMEOUT:=20}"
+# Time to wait after interfaces participating in the test are all UP.
+: "${WAIT_TIME:=5}"
+
+# Whether to pause on, respectively, after a failure and before cleanup.
+: "${PAUSE_ON_FAIL:=no}"
+: "${PAUSE_ON_CLEANUP:=no}"
+
+# Whether to create virtual interfaces, and what netdevice type they should be.
+: "${NETIF_CREATE:=yes}"
+: "${NETIF_TYPE:=veth}"
+
+# Constants for ping tests:
+# How many packets should be sent.
+: "${PING_COUNT:=10}"
+# Timeout (in seconds) before ping exits regardless of how many packets have
+# been sent or received
+: "${PING_TIMEOUT:=5}"
+
+# Minimum ageing_time (in centiseconds) supported by hardware
+: "${LOW_AGEING_TIME:=1000}"
+
+# Whether to check for availability of certain tools.
+: "${REQUIRE_JQ:=yes}"
+: "${REQUIRE_MZ:=yes}"
+: "${REQUIRE_MTOOLS:=no}"
+
+# Whether to override MAC addresses on interfaces participating in the test.
+: "${STABLE_MAC_ADDRS:=no}"
+
+# Flags for tcpdump
+: "${TCPDUMP_EXTRA_FLAGS:=}"
+
+# Flags for TC filters.
+: "${TC_FLAG:=skip_hw}"
+
+# Whether the machine is "slow" -- i.e. might be incapable of running tests
+# involving heavy traffic. This might be the case on a debug kernel, a VM, or
+# e.g. a low-power board.
+: "${KSFT_MACHINE_SLOW:=no}"
 
 net_forwarding_dir=$(dirname "$(readlink -e "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")")
 
@@ -205,17 +259,6 @@ check_port_mab_support()
 	fi
 }
 
-skip_on_veth()
-{
-	local kind=$(ip -j -d link show dev ${NETIFS[p1]} |
-		jq -r '.[].linkinfo.info_kind')
-
-	if [[ $kind == veth ]]; then
-		echo "SKIP: Test cannot be run with veth pairs"
-		exit $ksft_skip
-	fi
-}
-
 if [[ "$(id -u)" -ne 0 ]]; then
 	echo "SKIP: need root privileges"
 	exit $ksft_skip
@@ -358,14 +401,31 @@ EXIT_STATUS=0
 # Per-test return value. Clear at the beginning of each test.
 RET=0
 
+ret_set_ksft_status()
+{
+	local ksft_status=$1; shift
+	local msg=$1; shift
+
+	RET=$(ksft_status_merge $RET $ksft_status)
+	if (( $? )); then
+		retmsg=$msg
+	fi
+}
+
+# Whether FAILs should be interpreted as XFAILs. Internal.
+FAIL_TO_XFAIL=
+
 check_err()
 {
 	local err=$1
 	local msg=$2
 
-	if [[ $RET -eq 0 && $err -ne 0 ]]; then
-		RET=$err
-		retmsg=$msg
+	if ((err)); then
+		if [[ $FAIL_TO_XFAIL = yes ]]; then
+			ret_set_ksft_status $ksft_xfail "$msg"
+		else
+			ret_set_ksft_status $ksft_fail "$msg"
+		fi
 	fi
 }
 
@@ -374,10 +434,7 @@ check_fail()
 	local err=$1
 	local msg=$2
 
-	if [[ $RET -eq 0 && $err -eq 0 ]]; then
-		RET=1
-		retmsg=$msg
-	fi
+	check_err $((!err)) "$msg"
 }
 
 check_err_fail()
@@ -393,6 +450,85 @@ check_err_fail()
 	fi
 }
 
+xfail_on_slow()
+{
+	if [[ $KSFT_MACHINE_SLOW = yes ]]; then
+		FAIL_TO_XFAIL=yes "$@"
+	else
+		"$@"
+	fi
+}
+
+xfail_on_veth()
+{
+	local dev=$1; shift
+	local kind
+
+	kind=$(ip -j -d link show dev $dev |
+			jq -r '.[].linkinfo.info_kind')
+	if [[ $kind = veth ]]; then
+		FAIL_TO_XFAIL=yes "$@"
+	else
+		"$@"
+	fi
+}
+
+log_test_result()
+{
+	local test_name=$1; shift
+	local opt_str=$1; shift
+	local result=$1; shift
+	local retmsg=$1; shift
+
+	printf "TEST: %-60s  [%s]\n" "$test_name $opt_str" "$result"
+	if [[ $retmsg ]]; then
+		printf "\t%s\n" "$retmsg"
+	fi
+}
+
+pause_on_fail()
+{
+	if [[ $PAUSE_ON_FAIL == yes ]]; then
+		echo "Hit enter to continue, 'q' to quit"
+		read a
+		[[ $a == q ]] && exit 1
+	fi
+}
+
+handle_test_result_pass()
+{
+	local test_name=$1; shift
+	local opt_str=$1; shift
+
+	log_test_result "$test_name" "$opt_str" " OK "
+}
+
+handle_test_result_fail()
+{
+	local test_name=$1; shift
+	local opt_str=$1; shift
+
+	log_test_result "$test_name" "$opt_str" FAIL "$retmsg"
+	pause_on_fail
+}
+
+handle_test_result_xfail()
+{
+	local test_name=$1; shift
+	local opt_str=$1; shift
+
+	log_test_result "$test_name" "$opt_str" XFAIL "$retmsg"
+	pause_on_fail
+}
+
+handle_test_result_skip()
+{
+	local test_name=$1; shift
+	local opt_str=$1; shift
+
+	log_test_result "$test_name" "$opt_str" SKIP "$retmsg"
+}
+
 log_test()
 {
 	local test_name=$1
@@ -402,31 +538,28 @@ log_test()
 		opt_str="($opt_str)"
 	fi
 
-	if [[ $RET -ne 0 ]]; then
-		EXIT_STATUS=1
-		printf "TEST: %-60s  [FAIL]\n" "$test_name $opt_str"
-		if [[ ! -z "$retmsg" ]]; then
-			printf "\t%s\n" "$retmsg"
-		fi
-		if [ "${PAUSE_ON_FAIL}" = "yes" ]; then
-			echo "Hit enter to continue, 'q' to quit"
-			read a
-			[ "$a" = "q" ] && exit 1
-		fi
-		return 1
+	if ((RET == ksft_pass)); then
+		handle_test_result_pass "$test_name" "$opt_str"
+	elif ((RET == ksft_xfail)); then
+		handle_test_result_xfail "$test_name" "$opt_str"
+	elif ((RET == ksft_skip)); then
+		handle_test_result_skip "$test_name" "$opt_str"
+	else
+		handle_test_result_fail "$test_name" "$opt_str"
 	fi
 
-	printf "TEST: %-60s  [ OK ]\n" "$test_name $opt_str"
-	return 0
+	EXIT_STATUS=$(ksft_exit_status_merge $EXIT_STATUS $RET)
+	return $RET
 }
 
 log_test_skip()
 {
-	local test_name=$1
-	local opt_str=$2
+	RET=$ksft_skip retmsg= log_test "$@"
+}
 
-	printf "TEST: %-60s  [SKIP]\n" "$test_name $opt_str"
-	return 0
+log_test_xfail()
+{
+	RET=$ksft_xfail retmsg= log_test "$@"
 }
 
 log_info()
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/lib_sh_test.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/lib_sh_test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000000..ff2accccaf4d43
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/lib_sh_test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,208 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+
+# This tests the operation of lib.sh itself.
+
+ALL_TESTS="
+	test_ret
+	test_exit_status
+"
+NUM_NETIFS=0
+source lib.sh
+
+# Simulated checks.
+
+do_test()
+{
+	local msg=$1; shift
+
+	"$@"
+	check_err $? "$msg"
+}
+
+tpass()
+{
+	do_test "tpass" true
+}
+
+tfail()
+{
+	do_test "tfail" false
+}
+
+txfail()
+{
+	FAIL_TO_XFAIL=yes do_test "txfail" false
+}
+
+# Simulated tests.
+
+pass()
+{
+	RET=0
+	do_test "true" true
+	log_test "true"
+}
+
+fail()
+{
+	RET=0
+	do_test "false" false
+	log_test "false"
+}
+
+xfail()
+{
+	RET=0
+	FAIL_TO_XFAIL=yes do_test "xfalse" false
+	log_test "xfalse"
+}
+
+skip()
+{
+	RET=0
+	log_test_skip "skip"
+}
+
+slow_xfail()
+{
+	RET=0
+	xfail_on_slow do_test "slow_false" false
+	log_test "slow_false"
+}
+
+# lib.sh tests.
+
+ret_tests_run()
+{
+	local t
+
+	RET=0
+	retmsg=
+	for t in "$@"; do
+		$t
+	done
+	echo "$retmsg"
+	return $RET
+}
+
+ret_subtest()
+{
+	local expect_ret=$1; shift
+	local expect_retmsg=$1; shift
+	local -a tests=( "$@" )
+
+	local status_names=(pass fail xfail xpass skip)
+	local ret
+	local out
+
+	RET=0
+
+	# Run this in a subshell, so that our environment is intact.
+	out=$(ret_tests_run "${tests[@]}")
+	ret=$?
+
+	(( ret == expect_ret ))
+	check_err $? "RET=$ret expected $expect_ret"
+
+	[[ $out == $expect_retmsg ]]
+	check_err $? "retmsg=$out expected $expect_retmsg"
+
+	log_test "RET $(echo ${tests[@]}) -> ${status_names[$ret]}"
+}
+
+test_ret()
+{
+	ret_subtest $ksft_pass ""
+
+	ret_subtest $ksft_pass "" tpass
+	ret_subtest $ksft_fail "tfail" tfail
+	ret_subtest $ksft_xfail "txfail" txfail
+
+	ret_subtest $ksft_pass "" tpass tpass
+	ret_subtest $ksft_fail "tfail" tpass tfail
+	ret_subtest $ksft_xfail "txfail" tpass txfail
+
+	ret_subtest $ksft_fail "tfail" tfail tpass
+	ret_subtest $ksft_xfail "txfail" txfail tpass
+
+	ret_subtest $ksft_fail "tfail" tfail tfail
+	ret_subtest $ksft_fail "tfail" tfail txfail
+
+	ret_subtest $ksft_fail "tfail" txfail tfail
+
+	ret_subtest $ksft_xfail "txfail" txfail txfail
+}
+
+exit_status_tests_run()
+{
+	EXIT_STATUS=0
+	tests_run > /dev/null
+	return $EXIT_STATUS
+}
+
+exit_status_subtest()
+{
+	local expect_exit_status=$1; shift
+	local tests=$1; shift
+	local what=$1; shift
+
+	local status_names=(pass fail xfail xpass skip)
+	local exit_status
+	local out
+
+	RET=0
+
+	# Run this in a subshell, so that our environment is intact.
+	out=$(TESTS="$tests" exit_status_tests_run)
+	exit_status=$?
+
+	(( exit_status == expect_exit_status ))
+	check_err $? "EXIT_STATUS=$exit_status, expected $expect_exit_status"
+
+	log_test "EXIT_STATUS $tests$what -> ${status_names[$exit_status]}"
+}
+
+test_exit_status()
+{
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_pass ":"
+
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_pass "pass"
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_fail "fail"
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_pass "xfail"
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_skip "skip"
+
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_pass "pass pass"
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_fail "pass fail"
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_pass "pass xfail"
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_skip "pass skip"
+
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_fail "fail pass"
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_pass "xfail pass"
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_skip "skip pass"
+
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_fail "fail fail"
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_fail "fail xfail"
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_fail "fail skip"
+
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_fail "xfail fail"
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_fail "skip fail"
+
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_pass "xfail xfail"
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_skip "xfail skip"
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_skip "skip xfail"
+
+	exit_status_subtest $ksft_skip "skip skip"
+
+	KSFT_MACHINE_SLOW=yes \
+		exit_status_subtest $ksft_pass "slow_xfail" ": slow"
+
+	KSFT_MACHINE_SLOW=no \
+		exit_status_subtest $ksft_fail "slow_xfail" ": fast"
+}
+
+trap pre_cleanup EXIT
+
+tests_run
+
+exit $EXIT_STATUS
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/router_mpath_nh_lib.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/router_mpath_nh_lib.sh
index 7e7d62161c345a..2903294d8bca0c 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/router_mpath_nh_lib.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/router_mpath_nh_lib.sh
@@ -56,21 +56,12 @@ nh_stats_test_dispatch_swhw()
 	local group_id=$1; shift
 	local mz="$@"
 
-	local used
-
 	nh_stats_do_test "$what" "$nh1_id" "$nh2_id" "$group_id" \
 			 nh_stats_get "${mz[@]}"
 
-	used=$(ip -s -j -d nexthop show id $group_id |
-		   jq '.[].hw_stats.used')
-	kind=$(ip -j -d link show dev $rp11 |
-		   jq -r '.[].linkinfo.info_kind')
-	if [[ $used == true ]]; then
+	xfail_on_veth $rp11 \
 		nh_stats_do_test "HW $what" "$nh1_id" "$nh2_id" "$group_id" \
 				 nh_stats_get_hw "${mz[@]}"
-	elif [[ $kind == veth ]]; then
-		log_test_skip "HW stats not offloaded on veth topology"
-	fi
 }
 
 nh_stats_test_dispatch()
@@ -83,7 +74,6 @@ nh_stats_test_dispatch()
 	local mz="$@"
 
 	local enabled
-	local kind
 
 	if ! ip nexthop help 2>&1 | grep -q hw_stats; then
 		log_test_skip "NH stats test: ip doesn't support HW stats"
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/sch_ets_tests.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/sch_ets_tests.sh
index cdf689e99458e0..f9d26a7911bb7b 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/sch_ets_tests.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/sch_ets_tests.sh
@@ -199,25 +199,28 @@ ets_set_dwrr_two_bands()
 ets_test_strict()
 {
 	ets_set_strict
-	ets_dwrr_test_01
-	ets_dwrr_test_12
+	xfail_on_slow ets_dwrr_test_01
+	xfail_on_slow ets_dwrr_test_12
 }
 
 ets_test_mixed()
 {
 	ets_set_mixed
-	ets_dwrr_test_01
-	ets_dwrr_test_12
+	xfail_on_slow ets_dwrr_test_01
+	xfail_on_slow ets_dwrr_test_12
 }
 
 ets_test_dwrr()
 {
 	ets_set_dwrr_uniform
-	ets_dwrr_test_012
+	xfail_on_slow ets_dwrr_test_012
+
 	ets_set_dwrr_varying
-	ets_dwrr_test_012
+	xfail_on_slow ets_dwrr_test_012
+
 	ets_change_quantum
-	ets_dwrr_test_012
+	xfail_on_slow ets_dwrr_test_012
+
 	ets_set_dwrr_two_bands
-	ets_dwrr_test_01
+	xfail_on_slow ets_dwrr_test_01
 }
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/sch_red.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/sch_red.sh
index 81f31179ac8878..17f28644568eba 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/sch_red.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/sch_red.sh
@@ -451,35 +451,35 @@ uninstall_qdisc()
 ecn_test()
 {
 	install_qdisc ecn
-	do_ecn_test $BACKLOG
+	xfail_on_slow do_ecn_test $BACKLOG
 	uninstall_qdisc
 }
 
 ecn_nodrop_test()
 {
 	install_qdisc ecn nodrop
-	do_ecn_nodrop_test $BACKLOG
+	xfail_on_slow do_ecn_nodrop_test $BACKLOG
 	uninstall_qdisc
 }
 
 red_test()
 {
 	install_qdisc
-	do_red_test $BACKLOG
+	xfail_on_slow do_red_test $BACKLOG
 	uninstall_qdisc
 }
 
 red_qevent_test()
 {
 	install_qdisc qevent early_drop block 10
-	do_red_qevent_test $BACKLOG
+	xfail_on_slow do_red_qevent_test $BACKLOG
 	uninstall_qdisc
 }
 
 ecn_qevent_test()
 {
 	install_qdisc ecn qevent mark block 10
-	do_ecn_qevent_test $BACKLOG
+	xfail_on_slow do_ecn_qevent_test $BACKLOG
 	uninstall_qdisc
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/sch_tbf_core.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/sch_tbf_core.sh
index d1f26cb7cd73b7..9cd884d4a5dec1 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/sch_tbf_core.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/sch_tbf_core.sh
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ do_tbf_test()
 	local nr=$(rate $t2 $t3 10)
 	local nr_pct=$((100 * (nr - er) / er))
 	((-5 <= nr_pct && nr_pct <= 5))
-	check_err $? "Expected rate $(humanize $er), got $(humanize $nr), which is $nr_pct% off. Required accuracy is +-5%."
+	xfail_on_slow check_err $? "Expected rate $(humanize $er), got $(humanize $nr), which is $nr_pct% off. Required accuracy is +-5%."
 
 	log_test "TC $((vlan - 10)): TBF rate ${mbit}Mbit"
 }
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/tc_common.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/tc_common.sh
index bce8bb8d2b6f3c..2e3326edfa9a01 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/tc_common.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/tc_common.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 CHECK_TC="yes"
 
 # Can be overridden by the configuration file. See lib.sh
-TC_HIT_TIMEOUT=${TC_HIT_TIMEOUT:=1000} # ms
+: "${TC_HIT_TIMEOUT:=1000}" # ms
 
 tc_check_packets()
 {
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/tc_tunnel_key.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/tc_tunnel_key.sh
index 5a5dd90348195c..79775b10b99f1e 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/tc_tunnel_key.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/tc_tunnel_key.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
-# Kselftest framework requirement - SKIP code is 4.
-ksft_skip=4
 
 ALL_TESTS="tunnel_key_nofrag_test"
 
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/lib.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/net/lib.sh
index f9fe182dfbd44e..b7f7b8695165b4 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/lib.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/lib.sh
@@ -4,16 +4,60 @@
 ##############################################################################
 # Defines
 
-WAIT_TIMEOUT=${WAIT_TIMEOUT:=20}
+: "${WAIT_TIMEOUT:=20}"
+
 BUSYWAIT_TIMEOUT=$((WAIT_TIMEOUT * 1000)) # ms
 
-# Kselftest framework requirement - SKIP code is 4.
+# Kselftest framework constants.
+ksft_pass=0
+ksft_fail=1
+ksft_xfail=2
 ksft_skip=4
+
 # namespace list created by setup_ns
 NS_LIST=""
 
 ##############################################################################
 # Helpers
+
+__ksft_status_merge()
+{
+	local a=$1; shift
+	local b=$1; shift
+	local -A weights
+	local weight=0
+
+	for i in "$@"; do
+		weights[$i]=$((weight++))
+	done
+
+	if [[ ${weights[$a]} > ${weights[$b]} ]]; then
+		echo "$a"
+		return 0
+	else
+		echo "$b"
+		return 1
+	fi
+}
+
+ksft_status_merge()
+{
+	local a=$1; shift
+	local b=$1; shift
+
+	__ksft_status_merge "$a" "$b" \
+		$ksft_pass $ksft_xfail $ksft_skip $ksft_fail
+}
+
+ksft_exit_status_merge()
+{
+	local a=$1; shift
+	local b=$1; shift
+
+	__ksft_status_merge "$a" "$b" \
+		$ksft_xfail $ksft_pass $ksft_skip $ksft_fail
+}
+
 busywait()
 {
 	local timeout=$1; shift