Which Intel NICs support hardware timestamps (hardstamps)

[idata]

I am trying to build a precise packet capturing solution and therefore need hardware support. Some resources on the Internet tell that the authors are using Intel hardware with hardstamp support, but I cannot find a list of devices or data sheets that indicate support.

[st4]

Hi Darneas,

Intel network adapter such as I340 and I350 supports IEEE 1588 (hardwawre time stamping), You may refer to product briefes below ,look for IEEE 1588 protocol under the ethernet feature

1) I340 server adapter http://www.intel.ph/content/dam/doc/product-brief/ethernet-i340-server-adapter-brief.pdf http://www.intel.ph/content/dam/doc/product-brief/ethernet-i340-server-adapter-brief.pdf

2) I350 server adapter http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ethernet-controllers/ethernet-i350-server-adapter-brief.html?... Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I350: Product Brief

Hope these information helps.

rdgs,

wb

[idata]

Hey wb,

thank you for the quick reply. I have a few follow-up questions:

Is it also possible to have these hardware timestamps for non-PTP packets using the given adapters?

Because I am looking for a solution that does both synchronization via IEEE1588 and precise timestamping for other incoming packet.

Regards,

Darneas

[st4]

Hi Darneas,

You may refer to Question # 6, FAQ about IEEE 1588 at http://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/faqs/ieee1588-faq.pdf http://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/faqs/ieee1588-faq.pdf. As stated "Some Ethernet NICs that support PTP only time stamp PTP packets and not all Ethernet traffic"

Hope this helps.

rgds,

wb

[idata]

Hey wb,

thanks for your effort. I have already found this FAQ, but tried to get concrete model names.

Knowing that some NICs support stamping Ethernet packets doesn't help, because I need actual model names. Otherwise I have to purchase each model and test. Shouldn't there be a resource by Intel to find out, which NIC supports that?

Regards

Darneas

[st4]

Hi Darneas,

The I340 and I350 Server adapter (Please refer to product brief) supports IEEE 1588.

1) I340 series server adapter http://www.intel.ph/content/dam/doc/product-brief/ethernet-i340-server-adapter-brief.pdf http://www.intel.ph/content/dam/doc/product-brief/ethernet-i340-server-adapter-brief.pdf

-Copper connection

I340-T4 server adapter Model : E1G44HT

-Fiber connection

I340-F4 server adapter Model: E1G44HF

2) I350 series server adapter

http://www.intel.ph/content/www/ph/en/ethernet-controllers/ethernet-i350-server-adapter-brief.html Intel® Ethernet I350 Server Adapter: Product Brief

Copper connection:

I350T2 (Dual Port)

I350T4 (Quad port)

• Fiber connection:

I350F2 (Dual Port)

I350F4 (Quad port)

Hope this helps.

rgds,

wb

[CARL_W_Intel]

The Intel(r) Ethernet Server Adapter I210-T1 also supports IEEE-1588 as well. (Technically, it also supports AVB - audio video bridging).

The datasheet for the silicon on the card outlines the capabilities of the silicon (The Intel(r) Ethernet Controller I210 http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/embedded/products/networking/i210-ethernet-controller-datashe... Intel® Ethernet Controller I210: Datasheet).

[idata]

Actually I now got a confirmation from this post: http://networkengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/23402/how-do-hardware-timestamps-hardstamps-wo... How do hardware timestamps (hardstamps) work - Network Engineering Stack Exchange

You were all correct with the I340 and I350 support timestamping for PTP. But only the I340 series supports timestamping of all Ethernet traffic.

We already have the I350 at out lab and when I tried to use the hardstamping, it only worked for PTP traffic, so I can at least confirm the information on I350.