Evaluation of the Time-Aware Priority Queueing Discipline with Regard to Time-Sensitive Networking in Particular IEEE 802.1Qbv

Abstract

Within the evolvement of Industry 4.0, the need for flexible real-time communication technologies emerges. Time-Sensitive Networking enables deterministic communication in IEEE 802 networks. The Time-Sensitive Networking Working Group published a set of standards whose implementation is in progress. IEEE 802.1Qbv standard introduces the concept of Time-Aware Shaping (TAS). TAS enables determinism by dividing traffic in different preconfigured time-slots configured in a Gate-Control-Lists (GCL). Intel recently released a time-aware scheduler based on the IEEE 802.1Qbv standard. This paper investigates Intel’s implementation. In order to test the scheduler a testbed is created. The scheduler is configured to filter and group different types of incoming packets in queues. The packets are transmitted in accordance to the configured GCL. Ingress and Egress traffic of the scheduler are analyzed in accordance to the configured time-slots. The results show, that packets which are arriving outside of their respective time-slot are buffered and transmitted in the beginning of their time-slots. It shows that no traffic interfered with the incorrect time-slots.