Checking Configuration

ESXi Host

• Use lspci in the ESXi host to confirm that VFs are configured. For example:

  lspci | grep Solarflare
  0000:81:00.0 Network controller: Solarflare SFC9220 [vmnic4]
  0000:81:00.1 Network controller: Solarflare SFC9220 [vmnic5]

  and:

  lspci | grep "81:00"
  0000:81:00.0 Network controller: Solarflare SFC9220 [vmnic4]
  0000:81:00.1 Network controller: Solarflare SFC9220 [vmnic5]
  0000:81:00.2 Network controller:   [PF_0.129.0_VF_0]
  0000:81:00.3 Network controller:   [PF_0.129.0_VF_1]

  and:

  lspci | grep _VF_
  0000:81:00.2 Network controller:   [PF_0.129.0_VF_0]
  0000:81:00.3 Network controller:   [PF_0.129.0_VF_1]

• Check network topology (vswitch and port group) for VM connectivity. In the following example, there are two VMs: vm-ptp and vm-ptp2. Each VM has its own VF from the physical adapter in the host:
  
  
  Note: A VF does not use a port-group for sending/receiving traffic. The port-group is used only to apply networking properties such as VLAN ID.

Local Master

Check the /var/lib/sfptpd/topology file:

• The ptp grandmaster will identify the upstream PTP master clock.
• The state is ptp-slave.
• The offsets for GM to adapter and adapter to system are recorded.

  ====================
  state: ptp-slave
  interface: ens224 (ens224)
  timestamping: hw
  ====================
  
              grandmaster
         0050:c2ff:fede:95b7/1
                   |
                   |
               9.000 ns
                   |
                   |
                   v
             phc0(ens224)
          000c:29ff:fed2:7455
                   |
                   |
               -4.438 ns
                   |
                   |
                   v
                system

• Check Local Master VM SRIOV adapter configuration:
  
  

Freerun VMs

Check /var/lib/sfptpd/topology file:

• The state is freerun
• The adapter clock is identified
• The offset of the guest OS system clock from adapter clock is recorded.

  ====================
  state: freerun
  ====================
  
             phc0(ens224)
          000c:29ff:fed2:7455
                   |
                   |
               -2.562 ns
                   |
                   |
                   v
                system
                system

• Check VM SRIOV adapter configuration:
  
  

Tcpdump

The standard Linux tcpdump can be used in the Linux guest to confirm that PTP traffic is being received by the VF:

# tcpdump -i <sfptpd VF interface> dst port 319 or dst port 320

(PTP only uses ports 319 and 320.)