In this section
This section describes the different time stamp formats supported by SmartNICs with Napatech Link-Capture™ Software. The formats have different start
times. Configuration of the SmartNICs with respect to time stamp formats is described in
Specifying the Time Stamp Format.
Native UNIX format
Native UNIX format is
based on a 10 ns unit with a 64-bit unit counter. The start time is January 1st 1970. This
is the default format for the SmartNICs.
Native UNIX ns format
Native UNIX ns format is
based on a 1 ns unit with a 64-bit unit counter. The start time is January 1st
1970.
Note: Native UNIX ns format does not apply to NT40A01 running on the 4 × 10/1 Gbit/s
SLB image.
PCAP-μs format
PCAP-μs format is based on a 1000 ns (1 μs) unit with a 32-bit unit counter in MSBs of the
time stamp descriptor field, and a 32-bit second counter in LSBs of the time stamp
descriptor field. The start time is January 1st 1970.
Note: PCAP-μs format can
only be used if PCAP packet descriptor is selected for all SmartNICs in the system.
PCAP-ns format
PCAP-ns format is based on a 1 ns unit with a 32-bit unit counter in MSBs of the time stamp
descriptor field, and a 32-bit second counter in LSBs of the time stamp descriptor
field
, so the time resolution is 1 ns. The start time is January 1st 1970.
Note: PCAP-ns format can only be used if PCAP packet descriptor is selected for all
SmartNICs in the system.
Format limitations
The internal SmartNIC time, time offset and time stamp format are global settings for the
SmartNIC, so all received frames use the same time source and format.
PCAP-ns or PCAP-μs format can only be used if the PCAP packet descriptor is selected for
all SmartNICs in the system (see DN-1128).