Index: sys/netgraph/ng_base.c
===================================================================
--- sys/netgraph/ng_base.c
+++ sys/netgraph/ng_base.c
@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@
 #include <machine/cpu.h>
 #include <vm/uma.h>
 
+#include <sys/socket.h>
+#include <net/if.h>
+#include <net/if_var.h>
+
 #include <net/netisr.h>
 #include <net/vnet.h>
 
@@ -247,6 +251,8 @@
 void	ng_rmnode(node_p node, hook_p dummy1, void *dummy2, int dummy3);
 void	ng_unname(node_p node);
 
+extern void    (*ng_ether_attach_p)(struct ifnet *ifp);
+
 /* Our own netgraph malloc type */
 MALLOC_DEFINE(M_NETGRAPH, "netgraph", "netgraph structures and ctrl messages");
 MALLOC_DEFINE(M_NETGRAPH_MSG, "netgraph_msg", "netgraph name storage");
@@ -581,6 +587,13 @@
 	  &ng_parse_ng_mesg_type,
 	  &ng_parse_ng_mesg_type
 	},
+	{
+          NGM_GENERIC_COOKIE,
+          NGM_ETHER_ATTACH,
+          "attach",
+          &ng_parse_string_type,
+          NULL
+        },
 	{ 0 }
 };
 
@@ -2922,6 +2935,16 @@
 		break;
 	    }
 
+	case NGM_ETHER_ATTACH:
+		{
+			struct ifnet *ifp;
+			ifp = ifunit((char *)msg->data);
+			if (ifp && ng_ether_attach_p != NULL) {
+				ng_ether_attach_p(ifp);
+			}
+			break;
+                }
+
 	case NGM_TEXT_CONFIG:
 	case NGM_TEXT_STATUS:
 		/*
Index: sys/netgraph/ng_message.h
===================================================================
--- sys/netgraph/ng_message.h
+++ sys/netgraph/ng_message.h
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@
 	NGM_ASCII2BINARY= (13|NGM_READONLY|NGM_HASREPLY),
 	/* (optional) Get/set text config. */
 	NGM_TEXT_CONFIG	= 14,
+	NGM_ETHER_ATTACH = 15,
 };
 
 /*
Index: usr.sbin/ngctl/Makefile
===================================================================
--- usr.sbin/ngctl/Makefile
+++ usr.sbin/ngctl/Makefile
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
 PROG=	ngctl
 MAN=	ngctl.8
 SRCS=	main.c mkpeer.c config.c connect.c dot.c name.c show.c list.c \
-	msg.c debug.c shutdown.c rmhook.c status.c types.c write.c
+	msg.c debug.c shutdown.c rmhook.c status.c types.c write.c \
+	etherattach.c
 WARNS?=	3
 
 LIBADD=	netgraph
Index: usr.sbin/ngctl/etherattach.c
===================================================================
--- /dev/null
+++ usr.sbin/ngctl/etherattach.c
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+/*
+ * etherattach.c
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2021 Rubicon Communications, LLC (Netgate)
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHORS AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND
+ * ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+ * IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+ * ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+ * FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+ * DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
+ * OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
+ * HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
+ * LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
+ * OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+ * SUCH DAMAGE.
+ *
+ * $FreeBSD$
+ */
+
+#include <err.h>
+#include <netgraph.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+#include "ngctl.h"
+
+static int EtherAttachCmd(int ac, char **av);
+
+const struct ngcmd etherattach_cmd = {
+	EtherAttachCmd,
+	"etherattach <ifname>",
+	"Attach an ng_ether interface to the \"ifname\" interface",
+	"The etherattach command re-attaches the ng_ether node, if it's "
+	"previously been disconnected with the \"detach\" msg.",
+	{ NULL }
+};
+
+static int
+EtherAttachCmd(int ac, char **av)
+{
+	struct ngm_name name;
+
+	switch (ac) {
+	case 2:
+		snprintf(name.name, sizeof(name.name), "%s", av[1]);
+		break;
+	default:
+		return (CMDRTN_USAGE);
+	}
+
+	if (NgSendMsg(csock, ".", NGM_GENERIC_COOKIE,
+	    NGM_ETHER_ATTACH, &name, sizeof(name)) < 0) {
+		warn("send msg");
+		return (CMDRTN_ERROR);
+	}
+	return (CMDRTN_OK);
+}
Index: usr.sbin/ngctl/main.c
===================================================================
--- usr.sbin/ngctl/main.c
+++ usr.sbin/ngctl/main.c
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@
 	&connect_cmd,
 	&debug_cmd,
 	&dot_cmd,
+	&etherattach_cmd,
 	&help_cmd,
 	&list_cmd,
 	&mkpeer_cmd,
Index: usr.sbin/ngctl/ngctl.h
===================================================================
--- usr.sbin/ngctl/ngctl.h
+++ usr.sbin/ngctl/ngctl.h
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@
 extern const struct ngcmd connect_cmd;
 extern const struct ngcmd debug_cmd;
 extern const struct ngcmd dot_cmd;
+extern const struct ngcmd etherattach_cmd;
 extern const struct ngcmd help_cmd;
 extern const struct ngcmd list_cmd;
 extern const struct ngcmd mkpeer_cmd;