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AM2432: PTP protocol test configuration

Part Number: AM2432
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: AM2434

Hi Expert,

I would like to know how to test PTP(Precision Time Protocol) operation. This feature is essential for our product using AM2432 since there is no RTC in AM2432. As a first step, I plan to test PTP with the hsr_prp_demo example in SDK 08.02.00.31 on top of the evaluation board since this example seems to include PTP. In my understanding, this example is a PTP client and so, for PTP operation test, another device providing a grand master clock is required on the network. Can we use Linux machine for the grand master clock? Is there any guidance on it?

I would appreciate it if you share your knowledge and experience about how to set up PTP test environment, test its operation, and any recommendations.

Regards,

Moonil

  • Hi Moonil,

    I have assigned thread to PTP expert. You can follow below till expert replies. Hope it helps.

    PTP stack is required to run master clock and synchronize with the slave running on EVM.

    1. Check for hardware timestamping support,
      • In Ubuntu PC terminal, enter the command as follows:,
        ~]# ethtool -T eth3
        Time stamping parameters for eth3:
        Capabilities:
               hardware-transmit     (SOF_TIMESTAMPING_TX_HARDWARE)
               software-transmit     (SOF_TIMESTAMPING_TX_SOFTWARE)
               hardware-receive      (SOF_TIMESTAMPING_RX_HARDWARE)
               software-receive      (SOF_TIMESTAMPING_RX_SOFTWARE)
               software-system-clock (SOF_TIMESTAMPING_SOFTWARE)
               hardware-raw-clock    (SOF_TIMESTAMPING_RAW_HARDWARE)
        PTP Hardware Clock: 0
        Hardware Transmit Timestamp Modes:
               off                   (HWTSTAMP_TX_OFF)
               on                    (HWTSTAMP_TX_ON)
        Hardware Receive Filter Modes:
               none                  (HWTSTAMP_FILTER_NONE)
               all                   (HWTSTAMP_FILTER_ALL)
        
        where eth3 is the interface you want to check.
      • For software time stamping support, the parameters list should include:
        SOF_TIMESTAMPING_SOFTWARE 
        
        SOF_TIMESTAMPING_TX_SOFTWARE 
        
        SOF_TIMESTAMPING_RX_SOFTWARE 
        
      • For hardware time stamping support, the parameters list should include:
        SOF_TIMESTAMPING_RAW_HARDWARE 
        
        SOF_TIMESTAMPING_TX_HARDWARE 
        
        SOF_TIMESTAMPING_RX_HARDWARE 
        
    2. Install PTP stack in the Ubuntu PC as follows:
      sudo apt install linuxptp
      
    3. Start PTP master:

      sudo ptp4l -P -2 -S -i eth3 -m -q -p -l 7 /dev/ptp0
      

      Replace -S with -H if your NIC supports hardware timestamping.

    4. Optional: PTP packets can be monitored using Wireshark from PC by setting ptp in Wireshark's display filter. The timestamp sent from the J721E/J7200 EVM should be updated to current time, i.e. responseOriginTimestamp in TI EVM's Path_Delay_Resp_Follow_Up message. The value from this field can be converted to a human-readable date using epochconverter.com or other tools.

    Regards,

    Prasad

  • Hi Moonil,

    PTP is not supported in hsr_prp_demo as of 8.3 release. It will be supported in future release.

    Regards

    Nilabh A.

  • Hi Prasad,

    Thanks for your kind explanation about how to set up the grand master clock on Linux.

    Hi Nilabh,

    Please check the prefined 'PTP_TESTING' of hsr_prp_demo and the example's command line menu and log. I can find them as below in the example as below.

    Even though I didn't look into the relevant code in the example and icss_timesync folder in detail, PTP seems to be already supported in SDK 08.02.00.31 used for our product. Please correct me if my understanding is wrong, 

    Could you please check again if there is a way we can run PTP slave on AM2434 EVM with SDK 08.02.00.31?

    Regards,

    Moonil

  • Hi Prasad and Nilabh,

    Could you reply to my question above? I would like to confirm with you whether or not PTP is supported in  SDK 08.02.00.31. if not, could you please share your team's release plan on PTP slave?

    By the way, there are APIs for PTP in SDK as below. Can we use these APIs?

     

    I would appreciate it if you also share your experience and knowledge about a way we can utilize or port PTP slave on our product using AM2432.

    I am looking forward to your reply.

    Regards,

    Moonil

  • Hi Moonil,

    Apologies for  for delay in response. PTP slave is not officially supported as I mentioned previously. The plan for the same is still work in progress.

    I would appreciate it if you also share your experience and knowledge about a way we can utilize or port PTP slave on our product using AM2432.

    As for way to  utilize or port the slave I will get back once we have an effort estimate from internal team. 

    Regards

    Nilabh A.

  • On our end we have basics functionality working for PTP working but not yet fully functional.

  • Hi Nilabh A.

    Can I ask you again about those APIs for PTP/1558 v2 of the officially released TI SDK since PTP feature is essentially required for our product and its development effort need to be estimated correctly asap?

    Do you mean these APIs are not working even though they are released and documented within the official SDK? and no plan yet?

    Could you please confirm these with your team again? once you give a final TI confirmation, we will decide whether or not searching other PTP solutions.

    Best,

    Moonil

  • Hi Moonil,

    Thanks for your patience. The Official support for HSR+PTP will be available in 8.4 release.

    Regards

    Nilabh A.

  • Hi Nilabh,

    Thank you for the information. can I ask when 8.4 including PTP is released? 

    Regards,

    Moonil

  • Hi Moonil,

    It will probably by mid or last week week of September.

    BR

    Nilabh