STRUCT ICE_PTP_TX(9)

💖 struct ice_ptp_tx(9) — the Kernel API Manual, but make it a group chat 💖

okay bestie, gather round, because today we're looking at struct ice_ptp_tx from the Kernel API Manual — it's the Tracking structure for all Tx timestamp requests on a port ✨ literally the little bookkeeper that keeps tabs on every single Tx timestamp ask your port has going on. no cap, it's giving main character energy for the ice driver's timestamping. 🎀

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

struct ice_ptp_tx {
    spinlock_t lock;
    struct ice_tx_tstamp *tstamps;
    unsigned long *in_use;
    unsigned long *stale;
    u8 block;
    u8 offset;
    u8 len;
    u8 init : 1;
    u8 calibrating : 1;
    u8 has_ready_bitmap : 1;
    s8 last_ll_ts_idx_read;
 };

like, that's the whole vibe right there 🦋

🧚 MEMBERS 🧚

• lock — the lock that stops everyone from touching the fields of this struct at the same time. one at a time, besties, we're not animals 💅
• tstamps — an array of size len where the outstanding requests get stored. it's the lil holding pen 🫶
• in_use — a bitmap of size len showing which slots are currently in use. occupied vibes only 🔥
• stale — a bitmap of size len marking the slots that have stale timestamps. lowkey expired, highkey still hanging around 💀
• block — tells you which memory block (quad or port) the timestamps are captured in. important lore 📍
• offset — the offset into the timestamp block that gets you the real index. the secret little doorway 🚪✨
• len — the length of the tstamps and in_use fields. the size of the whole situation.
• init — if true, the tracker is initialized. we're up and running, periodt ✅
• calibrating — if true, the PHY is out here calibrating the Tx offset. during this window, timestamps are temporarily disabled 😭 so like… hold that thought, bestie, the PHY is busy.
• has_ready_bitmap — if true, the hardware has a valid Tx timestamp ready bitmap register 👑 if false, it falls back to verifying new timestamp values against a previously cached copy. plan B is plan B, iykyk 🙈
• last_ll_ts_idx_read — the index of the last LL TS read by the FW. the receipts of where we last left off 🧾

real talk: calibrating means timestamps are temporarily disabled while the PHY does its thing — not a bug, just the plot 🎬

🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

kernel file ./drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_ptp.h and its friends:

• struct ice_tx_tstamp(9)
• enum ice_tx_tstamp_work(9)
• struct ice_ptp_port(9)
• struct ice_ptp_pin_desc(9)
• struct ice_ptp(9)

go read them, they're all linked up like the friend group 🫶✨

and that's the whole page, bestie 💖 this one came straight out of ./drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice with an October 2026 date on it — so when you're citing your sources for the group project, that's the vibe check you need. mwah, slay, go timestamp something responsibly. 💅🎀🦋