diff --git a/clab/config.go b/clab/config.go
index c3804a6f0..484b03b01 100644
--- a/clab/config.go
+++ b/clab/config.go
@@ -524,13 +524,29 @@ func (c *CLab) resolveBindPaths(binds []string, nodedir string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// SetClabIntfsEnvVar sets CLAB_INTFS env var for each node
-// which holds the number of interfaces a node expects to have (without mgmt interfaces).
+// SetClabIntfsEnvVar sets CLAB_INTFS and CLAB_INTFS_WITH_MGMT env vars for each node
+// which holds the number of interfaces a node expects to have (with and without mgmt interfaces).
 func (c *CLab) SetClabIntfsEnvVar() {
 	for _, n := range c.Nodes {
 		// Injecting the env var with expected number of links
+		// also adding one interface for the implicit management interface (eth0)
+		clabIntfs := len(n.GetEndpoints())
+
+		// by default the eth0 interface is automatically added by the container runtime
+		// so we add 1 to the number of interfaces to account for the management interface
+		clabIntfsWithMgmt := clabIntfs + 1
+
+		// when network mode is set to none, the eth0 is explicitly added
+		// so we need to substract it from the number of interfaces
+		// in vrnetlab the provisioned interfaces are matched as eth* glob
+		// so all dataplane + management interfaces are counted
+		if n.Config().NetworkMode == "none" {
+			clabIntfsWithMgmt -= 1
+		}
+
 		numIntfs := map[string]string{
-			types.CLAB_ENV_INTFS: fmt.Sprintf("%d", len(n.GetEndpoints())),
+			types.CLAB_ENV_INTFS:           fmt.Sprintf("%d", clabIntfs),
+			types.CLAB_ENV_INTFS_WITH_MGMT: fmt.Sprintf("%d", clabIntfsWithMgmt),
 		}
 		n.Config().Env = utils.MergeStringMaps(n.Config().Env, numIntfs)
 	}
diff --git a/nodes/ceos/ceos.go b/nodes/ceos/ceos.go
index 7d946b7a2..7061a6351 100644
--- a/nodes/ceos/ceos.go
+++ b/nodes/ceos/ceos.go
@@ -288,10 +288,17 @@ func (n *ceos) ceosPostDeploy(_ context.Context) error {
 func (n *ceos) CheckInterfaceName() error {
 	// allow eth and et interfaces
 	// https://regex101.com/r/umQW5Z/2
-	ifRe := regexp.MustCompile(`eth[1-9][\w\.]*$|et[1-9][\w\.]*$`)
+	pattern := `eth[1-9][\w\.]*$|et[1-9][\w\.]*$`
+
+	if n.Config().NetworkMode == "none" {
+		pattern = `eth[0-9][\w\.]*$|et[0-9][\w\.]*$`
+	}
+
+	ifRe := regexp.MustCompile(pattern)
+
 	for _, e := range n.Endpoints {
 		if !ifRe.MatchString(e.GetIfaceName()) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("arista cEOS node %q has an interface named %q which doesn't match the required pattern. Interfaces should be named as ethX or etX, where X consists of alpanumerical characters", n.Cfg.ShortName, e.GetIfaceName())
+			return fmt.Errorf("arista cEOS node %q has an interface named %q which doesn't match the required pattern %s. Interfaces should be named as ethX or etX, where X consists of numerical characters", n.Cfg.ShortName, e.GetIfaceName(), pattern)
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/nodes/checkpoint_cloudguard/checkpoint_cloudguard.go b/nodes/checkpoint_cloudguard/checkpoint_cloudguard.go
index 89fe699af..5976b07f2 100644
--- a/nodes/checkpoint_cloudguard/checkpoint_cloudguard.go
+++ b/nodes/checkpoint_cloudguard/checkpoint_cloudguard.go
@@ -66,5 +66,5 @@ func (n *CheckpointCloudguard) PreDeploy(_ context.Context, params *nodes.PreDep
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *CheckpointCloudguard) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/ipinfusion_ocnos/ipinfusion_ocnos.go b/nodes/ipinfusion_ocnos/ipinfusion_ocnos.go
index b02a30fa8..3ba59ca69 100644
--- a/nodes/ipinfusion_ocnos/ipinfusion_ocnos.go
+++ b/nodes/ipinfusion_ocnos/ipinfusion_ocnos.go
@@ -86,5 +86,5 @@ func (n *IPInfusionOcNOS) SaveConfig(_ context.Context) error {
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *IPInfusionOcNOS) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/node.go b/nodes/node.go
index d6fc74e83..dc5e033d0 100644
--- a/nodes/node.go
+++ b/nodes/node.go
@@ -129,12 +129,20 @@ func WithRuntime(r runtime.ContainerRuntime) NodeOption {
 }
 
 // GenericVMInterfaceCheck checks interface names for generic VM-based nodes.
-// These nodes could only have interfaces named ethX, where X is >0.
-func GenericVMInterfaceCheck(nodeName string, eps []links.Endpoint) error {
-	ifRe := regexp.MustCompile(`eth[1-9][0-9]*$`)
+// These nodes could only have interfaces named ethX, where X is >0
+// unless network mode is set to 'none' in which case any interface name is allowed.
+func GenericVMInterfaceCheck(nodeName, netMode string, eps []links.Endpoint) error {
+	pattern := `eth[1-9][0-9]*$`
+
+	if netMode == "none" {
+		pattern = `.*`
+	}
+
+	ifRe := regexp.MustCompile(pattern)
+
 	for _, e := range eps {
 		if !ifRe.MatchString(e.GetIfaceName()) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("%q interface name %q doesn't match the required pattern. It should be named as ethX, where X is >0", nodeName, e.GetIfaceName())
+			return fmt.Errorf("%q interface name %q doesn't match the required pattern: %s", nodeName, e.GetIfaceName(), pattern)
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/nodes/srl/version.go b/nodes/srl/version.go
index b30f82be1..8a88abdb9 100644
--- a/nodes/srl/version.go
+++ b/nodes/srl/version.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func (n *srl) RunningVersion(ctx context.Context) (*SrlVersion, error) {
 	return n.parseVersionString(execResult.GetStdOutString()), nil
 }
 
-func (n *srl) parseVersionString(s string) *SrlVersion {
+func (*srl) parseVersionString(s string) *SrlVersion {
 	re, _ := regexp.Compile(`v(\d{1,3})\.(\d{1,2})\.(\d{1,3})\-(\d{1,4})\-(\S+)`)
 
 	v := re.FindStringSubmatch(s)
diff --git a/nodes/vr_aoscx/vr-aoscx.go b/nodes/vr_aoscx/vr-aoscx.go
index 80131b43c..55cf8a865 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_aoscx/vr-aoscx.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_aoscx/vr-aoscx.go
@@ -76,5 +76,5 @@ func (n *vrAosCX) PreDeploy(_ context.Context, params *nodes.PreDeployParams) er
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *vrAosCX) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/vr_csr/vr-csr.go b/nodes/vr_csr/vr-csr.go
index f6a00db21..a5174fc23 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_csr/vr-csr.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_csr/vr-csr.go
@@ -98,5 +98,5 @@ func (n *vrCsr) SaveConfig(_ context.Context) error {
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *vrCsr) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/vr_ftdv/vr-ftdv.go b/nodes/vr_ftdv/vr-ftdv.go
index 823782b41..79c04bd79 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_ftdv/vr-ftdv.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_ftdv/vr-ftdv.go
@@ -71,5 +71,5 @@ func (n *vrFtdv) PreDeploy(_ context.Context, params *nodes.PreDeployParams) err
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *vrFtdv) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/vr_ftosv/vr-ftosv.go b/nodes/vr_ftosv/vr-ftosv.go
index 21f586aeb..8323f195d 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_ftosv/vr-ftosv.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_ftosv/vr-ftosv.go
@@ -80,5 +80,5 @@ func (n *vrFtosv) PreDeploy(_ context.Context, params *nodes.PreDeployParams) er
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *vrFtosv) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/vr_n9kv/vr-n9kv.go b/nodes/vr_n9kv/vr-n9kv.go
index a229526d5..6ac7f7b2c 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_n9kv/vr-n9kv.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_n9kv/vr-n9kv.go
@@ -81,5 +81,5 @@ func (n *vrN9kv) PreDeploy(_ context.Context, params *nodes.PreDeployParams) err
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *vrN9kv) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/vr_openbsd/vr-openbsd.go b/nodes/vr_openbsd/vr-openbsd.go
index f3861b791..fa338435a 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_openbsd/vr-openbsd.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_openbsd/vr-openbsd.go
@@ -100,5 +100,5 @@ func (n *vrOpenBSD) SaveConfig(ctx context.Context) error {
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *vrOpenBSD) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/vr_pan/vr-pan.go b/nodes/vr_pan/vr-pan.go
index aab613a5c..a570c714d 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_pan/vr-pan.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_pan/vr-pan.go
@@ -82,5 +82,5 @@ func (n *vrPan) PreDeploy(_ context.Context, params *nodes.PreDeployParams) erro
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *vrPan) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/vr_ros/vr-ros.go b/nodes/vr_ros/vr-ros.go
index 800c7794e..6d54665d9 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_ros/vr-ros.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_ros/vr-ros.go
@@ -78,5 +78,5 @@ func (n *vrRos) PreDeploy(_ context.Context, params *nodes.PreDeployParams) erro
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *vrRos) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/vr_sros/vr-sros.go b/nodes/vr_sros/vr-sros.go
index 77e42727a..231c5c2c6 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_sros/vr-sros.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_sros/vr-sros.go
@@ -62,42 +62,42 @@ type vrSROS struct {
 	sshPubKeys []ssh.PublicKey
 }
 
-func (s *vrSROS) Init(cfg *types.NodeConfig, opts ...nodes.NodeOption) error {
+func (n *vrSROS) Init(cfg *types.NodeConfig, opts ...nodes.NodeOption) error {
 	// Init DefaultNode
-	s.DefaultNode = *nodes.NewDefaultNode(s)
+	n.DefaultNode = *nodes.NewDefaultNode(n)
 	// set virtualization requirement
-	s.HostRequirements.VirtRequired = true
-	s.LicensePolicy = types.LicensePolicyWarn
+	n.HostRequirements.VirtRequired = true
+	n.LicensePolicy = types.LicensePolicyWarn
 	// SR OS requires unbound pubkey authentication mode until this is
 	// gets fixed in later SR OS relase.
-	s.SSHConfig.PubkeyAuthentication = types.PubkeyAuthValueUnbound
+	n.SSHConfig.PubkeyAuthentication = types.PubkeyAuthValueUnbound
 
-	s.Cfg = cfg
+	n.Cfg = cfg
 	for _, o := range opts {
-		o(s)
+		o(n)
 	}
 	// vr-sros type sets the vrnetlab/sros variant (https://github.com/hellt/vrnetlab/sros)
-	if s.Cfg.NodeType == "" {
-		s.Cfg.NodeType = vrsrosDefaultType
+	if n.Cfg.NodeType == "" {
+		n.Cfg.NodeType = vrsrosDefaultType
 	}
 	// env vars are used to set launch.py arguments in vrnetlab container
 	defEnv := map[string]string{
 		"CONNECTION_MODE":    nodes.VrDefConnMode,
-		"DOCKER_NET_V4_ADDR": s.Mgmt.IPv4Subnet,
-		"DOCKER_NET_V6_ADDR": s.Mgmt.IPv6Subnet,
+		"DOCKER_NET_V4_ADDR": n.Mgmt.IPv4Subnet,
+		"DOCKER_NET_V6_ADDR": n.Mgmt.IPv6Subnet,
 	}
-	s.Cfg.Env = utils.MergeStringMaps(defEnv, s.Cfg.Env)
+	n.Cfg.Env = utils.MergeStringMaps(defEnv, n.Cfg.Env)
 
 	// mount tftpboot dir
-	s.Cfg.Binds = append(s.Cfg.Binds, fmt.Sprint(path.Join(s.Cfg.LabDir, "tftpboot"), ":/tftpboot"))
-	if s.Cfg.Env["CONNECTION_MODE"] == "macvtap" {
+	n.Cfg.Binds = append(n.Cfg.Binds, fmt.Sprint(path.Join(n.Cfg.LabDir, "tftpboot"), ":/tftpboot"))
+	if n.Cfg.Env["CONNECTION_MODE"] == "macvtap" {
 		// mount dev dir to enable macvtap
-		s.Cfg.Binds = append(s.Cfg.Binds, "/dev:/dev")
+		n.Cfg.Binds = append(n.Cfg.Binds, "/dev:/dev")
 	}
 
-	s.Cfg.Cmd = fmt.Sprintf("--trace --connection-mode %s --hostname %s --variant \"%s\"", s.Cfg.Env["CONNECTION_MODE"],
-		s.Cfg.ShortName,
-		s.Cfg.NodeType,
+	n.Cfg.Cmd = fmt.Sprintf("--trace --connection-mode %s --hostname %s --variant \"%s\"", n.Cfg.Env["CONNECTION_MODE"],
+		n.Cfg.ShortName,
+		n.Cfg.NodeType,
 	)
 
 	return nil
@@ -169,13 +169,20 @@ func (s *vrSROS) SaveConfig(_ context.Context) error {
 }
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
-func (s *vrSROS) CheckInterfaceName() error {
+func (n *vrSROS) CheckInterfaceName() error {
 	// vsim doesn't seem to support >20 interfaces, yet we allow to set max if number 32 just in case.
 	// https://regex101.com/r/bx6kzM/1
-	ifRe := regexp.MustCompile(`eth([1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[0-2])$`)
-	for _, e := range s.Endpoints {
+	pattern := `eth([1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[0-2])$`
+
+	if n.Config().NetworkMode == "none" {
+		pattern = `eth([0-9]|[12][0-9]|3[0-2])$`
+	}
+
+	ifRe := regexp.MustCompile(pattern)
+
+	for _, e := range n.Endpoints {
 		if !ifRe.MatchString(e.GetIfaceName()) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("nokia SR OS interface name %q doesn't match the required pattern. SR OS interfaces should be named as ethX, where X is from 1 to 32", e.GetIfaceName())
+			return fmt.Errorf("nokia SR OS interface name %q doesn't match the required pattern %s. SR OS interfaces should be named as ethX, where X is <= 32", e.GetIfaceName(), pattern)
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/nodes/vr_veos/vr-veos.go b/nodes/vr_veos/vr-veos.go
index 86df216dc..95aac6005 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_veos/vr-veos.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_veos/vr-veos.go
@@ -100,5 +100,5 @@ func (n *vrVEOS) SaveConfig(_ context.Context) error {
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *vrVEOS) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/vr_vjunosevolved/vr-vjunosevolved.go b/nodes/vr_vjunosevolved/vr-vjunosevolved.go
index f5612905f..3451342eb 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_vjunosevolved/vr-vjunosevolved.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_vjunosevolved/vr-vjunosevolved.go
@@ -98,5 +98,5 @@ func (n *vrVJUNOSEVOLVED) SaveConfig(_ context.Context) error {
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *vrVJUNOSEVOLVED) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/vr_vjunosswitch/vr-vjunosswitch.go b/nodes/vr_vjunosswitch/vr-vjunosswitch.go
index 4c9435182..fa7d16037 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_vjunosswitch/vr-vjunosswitch.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_vjunosswitch/vr-vjunosswitch.go
@@ -98,5 +98,5 @@ func (n *vrVJUNOSSWITCH) SaveConfig(_ context.Context) error {
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *vrVJUNOSSWITCH) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/vr_vmx/vr-vmx.go b/nodes/vr_vmx/vr-vmx.go
index 622b1a7cb..fceeff295 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_vmx/vr-vmx.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_vmx/vr-vmx.go
@@ -93,5 +93,5 @@ func (n *vrVMX) SaveConfig(_ context.Context) error {
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *vrVMX) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/vr_vqfx/vr-vqfx.go b/nodes/vr_vqfx/vr-vqfx.go
index b02de9c1f..6c9d6243f 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_vqfx/vr-vqfx.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_vqfx/vr-vqfx.go
@@ -98,5 +98,5 @@ func (n *vrVQFX) SaveConfig(_ context.Context) error {
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *vrVQFX) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/vr_vsrx/vr-vsrx.go b/nodes/vr_vsrx/vr-vsrx.go
index 8edd507c2..bf0b17874 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_vsrx/vr-vsrx.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_vsrx/vr-vsrx.go
@@ -98,5 +98,5 @@ func (n *vrVSRX) SaveConfig(_ context.Context) error {
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *vrVSRX) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/vr_xrv/vr-xrv.go b/nodes/vr_xrv/vr-xrv.go
index 28acbce08..9dd31aef0 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_xrv/vr-xrv.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_xrv/vr-xrv.go
@@ -98,5 +98,5 @@ func (n *vrXRV) SaveConfig(_ context.Context) error {
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *vrXRV) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/nodes/vr_xrv9k/vr-xrv9k.go b/nodes/vr_xrv9k/vr-xrv9k.go
index 3208bd72b..3ab2326f3 100644
--- a/nodes/vr_xrv9k/vr-xrv9k.go
+++ b/nodes/vr_xrv9k/vr-xrv9k.go
@@ -101,5 +101,5 @@ func (n *vrXRV9K) SaveConfig(_ context.Context) error {
 
 // CheckInterfaceName checks if a name of the interface referenced in the topology file correct.
 func (n *vrXRV9K) CheckInterfaceName() error {
-	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Endpoints)
+	return nodes.GenericVMInterfaceCheck(n.Cfg.ShortName, n.Config().NetworkMode, n.Endpoints)
 }
diff --git a/tests/01-smoke/01-basic-flow.robot b/tests/01-smoke/01-basic-flow.robot
index 8a8317cce..569498a03 100644
--- a/tests/01-smoke/01-basic-flow.robot
+++ b/tests/01-smoke/01-basic-flow.robot
@@ -83,20 +83,20 @@ Exec command with json output and filtering
 
 Ensure CLAB_INTFS env var is set
     [Documentation]
-    ...    This test ensures that the CLAB_INTFS environment variable is set in the container
-    ...    and that it contains the correct number of interfaces.
+    ...    This test ensures that the CLAB_INTFS and CLAB_INTFS_WITH_MGMT environment variables are set in the container
+    ...    and that it contains the correct number of interfaces
     ${output} =    Process.Run Process
-    ...    sudo -E ${CLAB_BIN} --runtime ${runtime} exec -t ${CURDIR}/${lab-file} --label clab-node-name\=l1 --cmd 'ash -c "echo $CLAB_INTFS"'
+    ...    sudo -E ${CLAB_BIN} --runtime ${runtime} exec -t ${CURDIR}/${lab-file} --label clab-node-name\=l1 --cmd 'ash -c "echo $CLAB_INTFS $CLAB_INTFS_WITH_MGMT"'
     ...    shell=True
     Log    ${output.stdout}
     Log    ${output.stderr}
     Should Be Equal As Integers    ${output.rc}    0
     # l1 node has 3 interfaces defined in the lab topology
-    # log outputs to stderr, and thus we check for 3 interfaces there
+    # log outputs to stderr, and thus we check for 3 and 4 interfaces there
     # may be worth to change this to stdout in the future
     # we literally check if the string stdout:\n3 is present in the output, as this is how
     # the result is printed today.
-    Should Contain    ${output.stderr}    stdout:\\n3
+    Should Contain    ${output.stderr}    stdout:\\n3 4
 
 Inspect ${lab-name} lab
     ${rc}    ${output} =    Run And Return Rc And Output
diff --git a/types/constants.go b/types/constants.go
index 093032593..7b28ef20c 100644
--- a/types/constants.go
+++ b/types/constants.go
@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 package types
 
 const (
-	// env var containing the expected number of interfaces injected into every container.
+	// env var containing the expected number of interfaces injected into every container
+	// without added management interface.
+	// two different env vars are injected to support the smooth phasing out
+	// of the old images built with vrnetlab that still use CLAB_INTFS
 	CLAB_ENV_INTFS = "CLAB_INTFS"
+	// env var containing the expected number of interfaces injected into every container
+	// with added management interface.
+	// this env var is used with newer vrnetlab images (>=0.15.0) that support
+	// network-mode:none feature and rely on this env var instead of CLAB_INTFS
+	CLAB_ENV_INTFS_WITH_MGMT = "CLAB_INTFS_WITH_MGMT"
 )
diff --git a/types/types.go b/types/types.go
index b85ca841e..95e6141e0 100644
--- a/types/types.go
+++ b/types/types.go
@@ -143,7 +143,9 @@ type NodeConfig struct {
 	// PortSet define the ports that should be exposed on a container
 	PortSet nat.PortSet `json:"portset,omitempty"`
 	// NetworkMode defines container networking mode.
-	// If set to `host` the host networking will be used for this node, else bridged network
+	// If set to `host` the host networking will be used for this node,
+	// if set to `none` then container runtime doesn't manage the eth0 interface at all
+	// else bridged network
 	NetworkMode string `json:"networkmode,omitempty"`
 	// MgmtNet is the name of the docker network this node is connected to with its first interface
 	MgmtNet string `json:"mgmt-net,omitempty"`
diff --git a/utils/if-wait.go b/utils/if-wait.go
index 6a66e46c6..b975663eb 100644
--- a/utils/if-wait.go
+++ b/utils/if-wait.go
@@ -1,30 +1,9 @@
 package utils
 
+import _ "embed"
+
 // IfWaitScript is used in ENTRYPOINT/CMD of the nodes that need to ensure that all
 // of the clab links/interfaces are available in the container before calling the main process.
-var IfWaitScript string = `#!/bin/sh
-
-INTFS=$(echo $CLAB_INTFS)
-SLEEP=0
-
-int_calc () 
-{
-    index=0
-    for i in $(ls -1v /sys/class/net/ | grep -E '^et|^ens|^eno|^e[0-9]'); do
-      let index=index+1
-    done
-    MYINT=$index
-}
-
-int_calc
-
-echo "Waiting for all $INTFS interfaces to be connected"
-while [ "$MYINT" -lt "$INTFS" ]; do
-  echo "Connected $MYINT interfaces out of $INTFS"
-  sleep 1
-  int_calc
-done
-
-echo "Sleeping $SLEEP seconds before boot"
-sleep $SLEEP
-`
+//
+//go:embed if-wait.sh
+var IfWaitScript string
diff --git a/utils/if-wait.sh b/utils/if-wait.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..c005c9bf2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/if-wait.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+SLEEP=0
+
+int_calc() {
+	# Count the number of interfaces that are up matching the pattern
+	# the pattern is a regex that matches the interface
+	# et - matches et and eth
+	# e[0-9] - matches srlinux e1* interfaces
+	MYINT=$(ls -1 /sys/class/net/ | grep -E '^et|^ens|^eno|^e[0-9]' | wc -l)
+}
+
+int_calc
+
+echo "Waiting for all $CLAB_INTFS_WITH_MGMT interfaces to be connected"
+while [ "$MYINT" -lt "$CLAB_INTFS_WITH_MGMT" ]; do
+	echo "Connected $MYINT interfaces out of $CLAB_INTFS_WITH_MGMT"
+	sleep 1
+	int_calc
+done
+
+echo "Sleeping $SLEEP seconds before boot"
+sleep $SLEEP