synce4l - Man Page

Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE) controller application

Synopsis

synce4l -f [file] [-l <num>] [-m] [-q] [-v] [-h]

Description

synce4l is an implementation of the Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE) protocol according to ITU-T Rec. G.8264. The design goal is to provide logic to supported hardware by processing Ethernet Synchronization Messaging Channel (ESMC) and control Ethernet Equipment Clock (EEC) on Network Card Interface (NIC).

Application can operate in two mutually exclusive modes: line or external.

External input mode

If `synce4l` is configured to run in external input mode then EEC needs to have external 1PPS source attached (GPS or other generator). In this scenario `synce4l` always broadcasts clock quality level (QL) defined in configuration file. Additionally, for external input mode incoming SyncE frames do not participate in best source selection algorithm for EEC.

Line input mode

In line input mode incoming SyncE frames are processed and best clock source is extracted from the link having the best quality level. `synce4l` configures such "best quality" port as a source to recover clock for EEC. The recovered QL is broadcasted to all other interfaces then. An external clock source cannot be used in this mode.

Options

-f [file]

read configuration from 'file' (config file takes precedence over command line arguments)

-l [num]

set the logging level to 'num' (0: least detailed, 7: most detailed)

-m

print messages to stdout

-q

do not print messages to the syslog

-v

print synce4l version and exit

-h

print this message and exit

Configuration File

Configuration file contains three sections:

Global section

This section starts with `[global]` keyword. It sets the logging options.

Available options:

logging_level

Minimum log level required to appear in a log.

Defaults to 6, valid values are 0 - 7

message_tag

Tag reported in a log.

use_syslog

Set to 1 if `syslog` should be used.

Defaults to 1, valid values are 0 or 1

verbose

Set to 1 to log extra information.

Defaults to 0, valid values are 0 or 1

Device section

This section specifies the configuration of a one logical device e.g. 'synce1'. The name is defined by the user. The name has no impact for any functionality except traces. The name must be enclosed in extra angle bracket when defining new device section e.g. [<synce1>]. All ports defined by port sections after the device section will create one SyncE device (until next device section).

Available options:

input_mode

Set to "line" to enable line input mode, set "external" for external input mode.

Defaults to "line", valid values are "line" or "external"

external_input_QL

Quality Level (QL) for "external input" mode.

Valid values specified in ITU-T Recommendations

external_input_ext_QL

Extended Quality Level for "external input" mode.

Valid values specified in ITU-T Recommendations

extended_tlv

Set to 1 to enable extended QL.

Defaults to 0, valid values are 0 or 1

network_option

Network option according to T-REC-G.8264. All devices in SyncE domain should have the same option configured.

Defaults to 1, valid values are 1 or 2

recover_time

Seconds indicating the minimum time to recover from the QL-failed state on the port.

Defaults to 60, valid values are 10 - 720

get_eec_state_cmd

Defines a shell command which will be executed by synce4l to acquire current state of a SyncE EEC on the device. Separated command must be provided by the user for each device confgured for frequency synchronization. The command shall output current state of EEC to stdout, expected values are defined (also by the user) with following configuration items: eec_holdover_value, eec_locked_ho_value, eec_locked_value, eec_freerun_value, eec_invalid_value.

eec_holdover_value

Defines a string value expected on stdout stream when EEC is in HOLDOVER state.

eec_locked_ho_value

Defines a string value expected on stdout stream when EEC is in LOCKED HOLDOVER state.

eec_locked_value

Defines a string value expected on stdout stream when EEC is in LOCKED state.

eec_freerun_value

Defines a string value expected on stdout stream when EEC is in FREERUN state.

eec_invalid_value

Defines a string value expected on stdout stream when EEC is in INVALID state.

Port section

Any other section not starting with `<` (e.g. [eth0]) is the port section. Multiple port sections are allowed. Each port participates in SyncE communication.

Available options:

tx_heartbeat_msec

Interval between consecutive SyncE frame transmissions (1000ms recommended).

Defaults to 1000, valid values are 100 - 3000

rx_heartbeat_msec

Interval between consecutive SyncE socket polls (frame receive).

Defaults to 50, valid values are 10 - 500

recover_clock_enable_cmd

A shell command which enables PHY port pointed by this Port section as a source of frequency for the SyncE EEC on this device (required only in "internal input" mode).

recover_clock_disable_cmd

A shell command which disables PHY port pointed by this Port section as a source of frequency for the SyncE EEC on this device (required only in "internal input" mode).

allowed_qls

List of integers containing allowed SSM QLs separated by comma (`,`), other received ones would be discarded. If parameter is not provided, all QLs will be accepted.

allowed_ext_qls

List of integers containing allowed extended SSM QLs separated by comma (`,`), other received ones would be discarded. If parameter is not provided, all QLs will be accepted.

Bugs

No known bugs.

Author

Arkadiusz Kubalewski <arkadiusz.kubalewski@intel.com>

Michal Michalik <michal.michalik@intel.com>

Referenced By

The man page synce4l.conf(5) is an alias of synce4l(8).

27 Oct 2022 1.0 synce4l man page