[RFC v3 0/6] introduce PTP protocol library and software relay
Rajesh Kumar
rajesh3.kumar at intel.com
Mon May 4 11:17:16 CEST 2026
This series introduces a new DPDK library (lib/ptp) for IEEE 1588-2019
PTP protocol packet processing and a companion example application
(ptp_tap_relay_sw) that demonstrates its usage.
Motivation
----------
Several DPDK applications need to classify and manipulate PTP packets
(e.g. ptpclient, ptp_tap_relay, custom Transparent Clocks). Today each
application re-implements its own PTP header parsing and correctionField
handling. A shared library avoids duplication and provides a tested,
standards-compliant foundation.
Library: lib/ptp
----------------
The library provides:
- PTP header structures (IEEE 1588-2019 common header, timestamp,
port identity)
- Packet classification: rte_ptp_classify() detects PTP over L2
(EtherType 0x88F7), VLAN-tagged L2 (TPIDs 0x8100/0x88A8, single
or double), UDP/IPv4, UDP/IPv6 (ports 319/320), and VLAN-tagged
UDP variants
- Header access: rte_ptp_hdr_get() returns a pointer to the PTP
header inside an mbuf
- Inline helpers: correctionField manipulation (48.16 fixed-point),
message type extraction, two-step flag check, timestamp conversion
- Debug: rte_ptp_msg_type_str() for human-readable message names
Example: ptp_tap_relay_sw
-------------------------
A minimal PTP Transparent Clock relay between a DPDK-bound physical NIC
and a kernel TAP interface using software timestamps only. No patched
kernel modules, custom TAP PMD, or hardware timestamp support is
required.
The relay:
1. Receives packets on the physical NIC via DPDK
2. Parses packets using rte_ptp_hdr_get()
3. For event messages, records software timestamps
(clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC)) at ingress and egress
4. Adds residence time to correctionField via rte_ptp_add_correction()
(IEEE 1588-2019 10.2 Transparent Clock)
5. Forwards bidirectionally: PHY <-> TAP
Unit Tests: app/test
--------------------
A comprehensive test suite (ptp_autotest) covers all library APIs,
including VLAN/QinQ/IPv4/IPv6 transports, correctionField helpers,
flags, and negative tests. This v3 also adds coverage for IPv4 options
(IHL > 5).
v3:
- Reused RTE_ETHER_TYPE_1588 via RTE_PTP_ETHERTYPE alias
- Updated version field comment to minorVersionPTP|versionPTP
- Fixed prog guide rte_ptp_hdr_get() signature (non-const mbuf)
- Added ALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API to ptp_tap_relay_sw Makefile
- Updated relay example to parse once (rte_ptp_hdr_get + msg_type)
- Updated relay sample app limitations wording to match capabilities
- Added hdr_get NULL checks in correction tests
- Added IPv4 options classification test (IHL > 5)
- Made correction counter update style consistent via pointer arg
v2:
- Fixed flag bit positions for host-order representation after
rte_be_to_cpu_16(): TWO_STEP (1<<9), UNICAST (1<<10),
LI_61 (1<<0), LI_59 (1<<1)
- Fixed QinQ classification: outer 0x88A8 now enters VLAN parser
- Fixed signed left-shift UB in rte_ptp_add_correction()
- Fixed promiscuous enable failure handling in relay port_init()
- Replaced deprecated master/slave terminology with IEEE terms
- Added and documented IHL validation for IPv4 PTP-over-UDP
- Changed rte_ptp_is_event() parameter to int with negative guard
- Changed rte_ptp_hdr_get() parameter to non-const mbuf
- Added programmer's guide note about avoiding double-parse
Rajesh Kumar (6):
ptp: introduce PTP protocol library
doc: add PTP library programmer's guide
examples/ptp_tap_relay_sw: add software PTP relay example
doc: add PTP software relay sample app guide
app/test: add PTP library unit tests
examples/ptpclient: use shared PTP library definitions
MAINTAINERS | 8 +
app/test/meson.build | 1 +
app/test/test_ptp.c | 1106 +++++++++++++++++
doc/api/doxy-api-index.md | 1 +
doc/api/doxy-api.conf.in | 1 +
doc/guides/prog_guide/index.rst | 1 +
doc/guides/prog_guide/ptp_lib.rst | 205 +++
doc/guides/rel_notes/release_26_07.rst | 13 +
doc/guides/sample_app_ug/index.rst | 1 +
doc/guides/sample_app_ug/ptp_tap_relay_sw.rst | 212 ++++
examples/meson.build | 1 +
examples/ptp_tap_relay_sw/Makefile | 43 +
examples/ptp_tap_relay_sw/meson.build | 14 +
examples/ptp_tap_relay_sw/ptp_tap_relay_sw.c | 433 +++++++
examples/ptpclient/meson.build | 1 +
examples/ptpclient/ptpclient.c | 188 ++-
lib/meson.build | 1 +
lib/ptp/meson.build | 6 +
lib/ptp/rte_ptp.c | 185 +++
lib/ptp/rte_ptp.h | 339 +++++
20 files changed, 2644 insertions(+), 116 deletions(-)
create mode 100644 app/test/test_ptp.c
create mode 100644 doc/guides/prog_guide/ptp_lib.rst
create mode 100644 doc/guides/sample_app_ug/ptp_tap_relay_sw.rst
create mode 100644 examples/ptp_tap_relay_sw/Makefile
create mode 100644 examples/ptp_tap_relay_sw/meson.build
create mode 100644 examples/ptp_tap_relay_sw/ptp_tap_relay_sw.c
create mode 100644 lib/ptp/meson.build
create mode 100644 lib/ptp/rte_ptp.c
create mode 100644 lib/ptp/rte_ptp.h
base-commit: 7baf81674a011ab8a2fe329566b6d43d7377244c
--
2.53.0
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