An embodiment may include circuitry to be included, at least in part, in a node in a network. The circuitry may expose, at least in part, a virtual function (VF) via which a subset of a physical function (PF) of the circuitry may be accessible. The circuitry may generate, at least in part, a packet that may indicate, at least in part, a command, and/or may issue, at least in part, a result of execution of the command by another (external) node in the network. The packet may be received, at least in part, by the other node. The command may be issued to the VF from a virtual machine (VM) resident, at least in part, in the node. The result may be issued, at least in part, to the VM, via the VF. Many modifications, variations, and alternatives are possible without departing from this embodiment.