diff --git a/lib/1.2/dml-builtins.dml b/lib/1.2/dml-builtins.dml
index c7766e97b..44db49cb3 100644
--- a/lib/1.2/dml-builtins.dml
+++ b/lib/1.2/dml-builtins.dml
@@ -206,6 +206,22 @@ template device {
 
     parameter simics_api_version auto;
 
+    // see documentation in DML 1.4
+    parameter _api_6_or_older = $simics_api_version == "6"
+        || $simics_api_version == "5" || $simics_api_version == "4.8";
+    parameter _compat_proxy_port_ifaces default $_api_6_or_older;
+    parameter _compat_proxy_port_attrs default $_api_6_or_older;
+
+    // Compatibility proxies are not part of new API versions; thus, the only
+    // allowed override is from 'true' to 'false' within an old API
+    // version.
+    if ($_compat_proxy_port_ifaces && !$_api_6_or_older) {
+        error;
+    }
+    #if ($_compat_proxy_port_attrs && !$_api_6_or_older) {
+        error;
+    }
+
     // automatic parameters
     parameter obj                       auto;
     parameter logobj                    = $obj;
diff --git a/lib/1.4/dml-builtins.dml b/lib/1.4/dml-builtins.dml
index 806b85e05..d2b7f2129 100644
--- a/lib/1.4/dml-builtins.dml
+++ b/lib/1.4/dml-builtins.dml
@@ -528,6 +528,25 @@ The `device` template contains the following parameters:
   this device, as specified by the `--simics-api` command-line argument;
   e.g. `"6"` for the Simics 6 API.
 
+* `_compat_proxy_port_ifaces`: Version 5 and earlier of Simics relied on
+  interface ports (as registered by the `SIM_register_port_interface` API
+  function) for exposing the interfaces of ports and banks. In newer versions
+  of Simics, interfaces are instead exposed on separate configuration objects.
+  When this parameter is set to `true`, such ports are registered in addition
+  to the port objects, for compatibility with scripts written for Simics 5.
+  For arrays with thousands of ports, this can add a significant compile-time
+  overhead. The default is `true` if `simics_api_version` parameter is `"6"` or
+  older. Note that proxy interface ports are not created for all banks and
+  ports; e.g., banks inside groups or subdevices were not allowed in Simics 5;
+  therefore there's no old scripts that need the proxies for compatibility.
+
+* `_compat_proxy_port_attrs`: In Simics 5, configuration attributes for
+  `connect`, `attribute` and `register` objects inside banks and ports were
+  register on the device object, named like
+  <code><em>bankname</em>_<em>attrname</em></code>. This parameter controls, in
+  a similar to the `_compat_proxy_port_ifaces` parameter, whether such proxy
+  attribute should be created for compatibility. The default is `true` if the
+  `simics_api_version` parameter is `"6"` or older.
 */
 template device {
     is object;
@@ -539,6 +558,22 @@ template device {
     param objtype = "device";
 
     param simics_api_version auto;
+    param _api_5_or_older = simics_api_version == "5"
+        || simics_api_version == "4.8";
+    param _api_6_or_older = simics_api_version == "6" || _api_5_or_older;
+
+    param _compat_proxy_port_ifaces default _api_6_or_older;
+    param _compat_proxy_port_attrs default _api_6_or_older;
+
+    // Compatibility proxies are not part of new API versions; thus, the only
+    // allowed override is from 'true' to 'false' within an old API
+    // version.
+    #if (_compat_proxy_port_ifaces && !_api_6_or_older) {
+        error;
+    }
+    #if (_compat_proxy_port_attrs && !_api_6_or_older) {
+        error;
+    }
 
     // automatic parameters
     param obj                       auto;
@@ -551,8 +586,7 @@ template device {
     param be_bitorder             default _be_bitorder;
     param log_group                 = undefined;
 
-    param use_io_memory             default simics_api_version == "6"
-        || simics_api_version == "5" || simics_api_version == "4.8";
+    param use_io_memory             default _api_6_or_older;
     // this was available in DML 1.2; defensively reserved in 1.4
     param banks                     = undefined;
     // this carried semantics in DML 1.2; deprecated in 1.4
@@ -1437,8 +1471,7 @@ template port is object {
     param objtype = "port";
     // limitations for ports are not recognized
     param limitations = undefined;
-    param obj = (simics_api_version == "5" || simics_api_version == "4.8")
-        #? dev.obj #: _port_obj();
+    param obj = dev._api_5_or_older #? dev.obj #: _port_obj();
 
     session conf_object_t *_cached_port_obj;
     shared method _port_obj() -> (conf_object_t *) {
@@ -1768,8 +1801,7 @@ template bank is (object, shown_desc) {
     // compatibility: referencing 'obj' in a bank method must evaluate to
     // dev.obj in code that can compile on both 5 and 6
     // TODO: we should probably make obj an immutable session variable
-    param obj = (simics_api_version == "5" || simics_api_version == "4.8")
-        #? dev.obj #: _bank_obj();
+    param obj = dev._api_5_or_older #? dev.obj #: _bank_obj();
     param partial : bool;
     param overlapping : bool;
     param _le_byte_order : bool;
diff --git a/py/dml/c_backend.py b/py/dml/c_backend.py
index 44be699a7..3d6a00873 100644
--- a/py/dml/c_backend.py
+++ b/py/dml/c_backend.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 from . import objects, logging, crep, output, ctree, serialize, structure
 from . import traits
 import dml.globals
-from .structure import get_attr_name, port_class_ident, port_should_get_proxies
+from .structure import get_attr_name, port_class_ident, need_port_proxy_attrs
 from .logging import *
 from .messages import *
 from .output import *
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ def check_attribute(node, port, prefix):
             report(WNDOC(node, node.logname()))
     attrname = get_attr_name(prefix, node)
     register_attribute(node.site, port, attrname)
-    if port and port_should_get_proxies(port):
+    if port and need_port_proxy_attrs(port):
         register_attribute(node.site, None, "%s_%s" % (port.name, attrname))
 
 # dimsizes, loopvars, prefix are relative to port.
@@ -580,32 +580,37 @@ def generate_attribute_common(initcode, node, port, dimsizes, prefix,
 
     register_attribute(node.site, port, attrname)
     if port:
-        if port.dimensions == 0 and port.objtype in {'port', 'bank'}:
-            register_attribute(node.site, None, "%s_%s" % (port.name, attrname))
-            initcode.out(
-                '_register_port_attr(class, %s, offsetof(%s, %s), %s,'
-                % (port_class_ident(port),
-                   crep.structtype(dml.globals.device),
-                   crep.cref_portobj(port, ()),
-                   'true' if port.objtype == "bank" else 'false')
-                + ' "%s", "%s", %s, %s, %s, "%s", %s);\n'
-                % (port.name, attrname, getter, setter,
-                   attr_flag, attr_type, doc.read()))
-        elif port.dimensions == 1 and port.objtype in {'port', 'bank'}:
-            # Generate an accessor attribute for legacy reasons
-            register_attribute(node.site, None, "%s_%s" % (port.name, attrname))
-            member = crep.cref_portobj(
-                port, (mkLit(port.site, '0', TInt(32, False)),))
-            (dimsize,) = port.dimsizes
-            initcode.out(
-                '_register_port_array_attr(class, %s, offsetof(%s, %s),'
-                % (port_class_ident(port),
-                   crep.structtype(dml.globals.device),
-                   member)
-                + ' %d, %s, "%s", "%s", %s, %s, %s, "%s",'
-                % (dimsize, 'true' if port.objtype == "bank" else 'false',
-                   port.name, attrname, getter, setter, attr_flag, attr_type)
-                + ' %s);\n' % (doc.read(),))
+        if need_port_proxy_attrs(port):
+            if port.dimensions == 0:
+                register_attribute(
+                    node.site, None, "%s_%s" % (port.name, attrname))
+                initcode.out(
+                    '_register_port_attr(class, %s, offsetof(%s, %s), %s,'
+                    % (port_class_ident(port),
+                       crep.structtype(dml.globals.device),
+                       crep.cref_portobj(port, ()),
+                       'true' if port.objtype == "bank" else 'false')
+                    + ' "%s", "%s", %s, %s, %s, "%s", %s);\n'
+                    % (port.name, attrname, getter, setter,
+                       attr_flag, attr_type, doc.read()))
+            else:
+                assert port.dimensions == 1
+                # Generate an accessor attribute for legacy reasons
+                register_attribute(
+                    node.site, None, "%s_%s" % (port.name, attrname))
+                member = crep.cref_portobj(
+                    port, (mkLit(port.site, '0', TInt(32, False)),))
+                (dimsize,) = port.dimsizes
+                initcode.out(
+                    '_register_port_array_attr(class, %s, offsetof(%s, %s),'
+                    % (port_class_ident(port),
+                       crep.structtype(dml.globals.device),
+                       member)
+                    + ' %d, %s, "%s", "%s", %s, %s, %s, "%s",'
+                    % (dimsize, 'true' if port.objtype == "bank" else 'false',
+                       port.name, attrname, getter, setter, attr_flag,
+                       attr_type)
+                    + ' %s);\n' % (doc.read(),))
         else:
             initcode.out(
                 '_register_port_attr_no_aux(%s,'
@@ -613,7 +618,6 @@ def generate_attribute_common(initcode, node, port, dimsizes, prefix,
                 % (port_class_ident(port),
                    attrname, getter, setter,
                    attr_flag, attr_type, doc.read()))
-
     else:
         initcode.out('SIM_register_typed_attribute(class, "'+attrname+'",'+
                      '\n                             '+
@@ -882,36 +886,37 @@ def generate_implement(code, device, impl):
         # Legacy interface ports are only added for ports and banks that were
         # available in Simics 5, i.e. zero or one dimensional direct
         # descendants of the device object
-        if (port.local_dimensions() == 0 and port.parent.parent is None
-            and port.objtype != 'subdevice'):
-            code.out("static const %s = %s;\n" % (
-                ifacetype.declaration('port_iface'),
-                interface_block(device, ifacestruct, methods, ())))
-            code.out('SIM_register_port_interface'
-                     '(class, "%s", &port_iface, "%s", %s);\n'
-                     % (impl.name, crep.cname(port), desc))
-        elif (port.local_dimensions() == 1 and port.parent.parent is None
-              and port.objtype != 'subdevice'):
-            [arrlen] = port.arraylens()
-            code.out("static const %s%s = %s;\n" %
-                     (ifacetype.declaration("ifaces"),
-                      "[%s]" % (arrlen,),
-                      "{%s\n}" % ",\n".join(
-                          "%s" % interface_block(device, ifacestruct,
-                                                 methods, (i, ))
-                          for i in range(arrlen))))
-            code.out("interface_array_t iface_vect = VNULL;\n")
-            idxvar = "i0"
-            code.out("for (int %s = 0; %s < %d; %s++)\n" %
-                     (idxvar, idxvar, arrlen, idxvar),
-                     postindent = 1)
-            access = "[%s]" % idxvar
-            code.out("VADD(iface_vect, &ifaces%s);\n" % access,
-                     postindent = -1)
-            code.out('VT_register_port_array_interface'
-                     '(class, "%s", &iface_vect, "%s", %s);\n'
-                     % (impl.name, crep.cname(port), desc))
-            code.out('VFREE(iface_vect);\n')
+        if (port.parent is dml.globals.device
+            and port.objtype in {'port', 'bank'}
+            and param_bool(dml.globals.device, '_compat_proxy_port_ifaces')):
+            if port.local_dimensions() == 0:
+                code.out("static const %s = %s;\n" % (
+                    ifacetype.declaration('port_iface'),
+                    interface_block(device, ifacestruct, methods, ())))
+                code.out('SIM_register_port_interface'
+                         '(class, "%s", &port_iface, "%s", %s);\n'
+                         % (impl.name, crep.cname(port), desc))
+            elif port.local_dimensions() == 1:
+                [arrlen] = port.arraylens()
+                code.out("static const %s%s = %s;\n" %
+                         (ifacetype.declaration("ifaces"),
+                          "[%s]" % (arrlen,),
+                          "{%s\n}" % ",\n".join(
+                              "%s" % interface_block(device, ifacestruct,
+                                                     methods, (i, ))
+                              for i in range(arrlen))))
+                code.out("interface_array_t iface_vect = VNULL;\n")
+                idxvar = "i0"
+                code.out("for (int %s = 0; %s < %d; %s++)\n" %
+                         (idxvar, idxvar, arrlen, idxvar),
+                         postindent = 1)
+                access = "[%s]" % idxvar
+                code.out("VADD(iface_vect, &ifaces%s);\n" % access,
+                         postindent = -1)
+                code.out('VT_register_port_array_interface'
+                         '(class, "%s", &iface_vect, "%s", %s);\n'
+                         % (impl.name, crep.cname(port), desc))
+                code.out('VFREE(iface_vect);\n')
     code.out("}\n", preindent = -1)
 
 def port_prefix(port):
diff --git a/py/dml/structure.py b/py/dml/structure.py
index 3236bc1d3..77533ba84 100644
--- a/py/dml/structure.py
+++ b/py/dml/structure.py
@@ -2598,11 +2598,12 @@ def mkexpr(self, indices):
         self.cached = mkLit(self.site, lit, TPtr(TPtr(TNamed('conf_class_t'))))
         return self.cached
 
-def port_should_get_proxies(port):
+def need_port_proxy_attrs(port):
     assert port.objtype in {'port', 'bank', 'subdevice'}
     return (port.objtype in {'port', 'bank'}
             and port.dimensions <= 1
-            and port.parent is dml.globals.device)
+            and port.parent is dml.globals.device
+            and attr_bool(dml.globals.device, '_compat_proxy_port_attrs'))
 
 class ConfAttrParentObjectProxyInfoParamExpr(objects.ParamExpr):
     '''The _parent_obj_proxy_info parameter of a attribute, register, or
@@ -2622,7 +2623,7 @@ def mkexpr(self, indices):
             return self.cached
         object_parent = self.node.object_parent
         if (object_parent is not dml.globals.device
-            and port_should_get_proxies(object_parent)):
+            and need_port_proxy_attrs(object_parent)):
             is_bank = 'true' if object_parent.objtype == 'bank' else 'false'
             is_array = 'true' if object_parent.dimensions == 1 else 'false'
             indices = ((mkLit(self.site, '0', TInt(32, False)),)