As discussed on this thread, switching operation can work with the ICSSG
switch firmware, without creating bridge. However without bridge only
forwarding works. If we want the switch to consume packets bridge is
required.

What packets will the switch consume? The only packets i can think of
are pause frames. Everything else get passed to the CPU.

You also need to think of what happens when a single switch port is
added to the bridge, and an external port, like a tun/tap device for a
VPN is added to the bridge.

For most switches, a port not being a member of a switch means the
port is pretty dumb and every frame is forwarded to the CPU. There are
however some switches which perform address learning as usual,
learning if an address is on the port, or on the CPU. Maybe you can
see if that is possible.

It might be you need your firmware people involved to produce a new
firmware version which combines both firmwares in one.

	 Andrew