In co-operation with Freescale, IXXAT offers an adapted version of its IEEE 1588 protocol software in version 1 and 2 for the MPC8360-MDS-PB and MPC8360-RDK Evaluation board and the Zoom PowerQUICC Development Kit with MPC8360. The software is included as object code in the scope of supply of the starter kit and thus enables a quick and easy introduction to the IEEE 1588 technology.

The MPC8360E is the first Freescale processor to implement hardware support for the IEEE1588 protocol. Both time stamping and implementation of an adjustable real-time clock in hardware enable a synchronization accuracy in the nanosecond range. In the endurance test of the V2 stack, the platform reached a synchronization accuracy of +/- 30 nanoseconds maximum deviation back-to-back with a synchronization interval of 62.5 milliseconds and a standard deviation of 8 nanoseconds.
The IEEE1588 stack from IXXAT is synchronized in an average of approx. 20 synchronization intervals (i.e. < 2 seconds).



Fig. 1: Start of the synchronization process

Over the complete test period a synchronization accuracy of +/- 30 nanoseconds was maintained.



Fig. 2: 4 hours synchronization offset


The following synchronization distribution was observed:


Fig. 3: Synchronization distribution


The IXXAT IEEE1588 stack offers a large number of configuration possibilities and completely implements the IEEE1588 standard. The stack has a management API, via which a management device can be implemented. Configuration for a boundary clock  or transparent clock at V2 with any number of Ethernet interfaces is also possible.

The board, included in the scope of supply, as well as the industrial standard Linux operating system and the U-Boot firmware are optimised, good value components specially developed for evaluation. Circuit diagrams and layout files are also included in the package to enable a safe start on a tested basis.

Further information about the Evaluation Kits can be found on the following webpages:

Freescale MPC8360EA-MDS-PB Evaluation Kit

Zoom PowerQUICC Development Kit with MPC8360 (MPC8360-RDK) 


The latest version of the IEEE 1588 object code for the Freescale MPC8360 Evaluation Kits can be found in the following. Access data is required for the download, which you can request here: access data