IEEE 1588-2008
Precision clock synchronization protocol for networked measurement and control systems

Standard No.

IEEE 1588-2008

Release Date

2008

Published By

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Status

Be replaced

Replace By

IEEE 1588/INT 1-10-2009

Latest

IEEE 1588-2019

Scope

This standard defines a protocol enabling precise synchronization of clocks in measurement and control systems implemented with technologies such as network communication, local computing, and distributed objects. The protocol is applicable to systems communicating by local area networks supporting multicast messaging including, but not limited to, Ethernet. The protocol enables heterogeneous systems that include clocks of various inherent precision, resolution, and stability to synchronize to a grandmaster clock. The protocol supports system-wide synchronization accuracy in the sub-microsecond range with minimal network and local clock computing resources. The default behavior of the protocol allows simple systems to be installed and operated without requiring the administrative attention of users. The standard includes mappings to User Datagram Protocol (UDP)/Internet Protocol (IP), DeviceNet, and a layer-2 Ethernet implementation. It includes formal mechanisms for message extensions, higher sampling rates, correction for asymmetry, a clock type to reduce error accumulation in large topologies, and specifications on how to incorporate the resulting additional data into the synchronization protocol. The standard permits synchronization accuracies better than 1 ns. The protocol has features to address applications where redundancy and security are a requirement. The standard defines conformance and management capability. There is provision to support unicast as well as multicast messaging. The standard includes an annex on recommended practices. Annexes defining communication-medium-specific implementation details for additional network implementations are expected to be provided in future versions of this standard.

IEEE 1588-2008 Referenced Document

• IEC 61158-3-2:2007 Industrial communication networks - Fieldbus specifications - Part 3-2: Data-link layer service definition - Type 2 elements
• IEC 61158-4-2:2007 Industrial communication networks - Fieldbus specifications - Part 4-2: Data-link layer protocol specification - Type 2 elements (Edition 1.0)
• IEC 61158-5-10:2007 Industrial communication networks - Fieldbus specifications - Part 5-10: Application layer service definition - Type 10 elements
• IEC 61158-5-2:2007 Industrial communication networks - Fieldbus specifications - Part 5-2: Application layer service definition - Type 2 elements
• IEC 61158-6-10:2007 Industrial communication networks - Fieldbus specifications - Part 6-10: Application layer protocol specification - Type 10 elements
• IEC 61158-6-2:2007 Industrial communication networks - Fieldbus specifications - Part 6-2: Application layer protocol specification - Type 2 elements
• IEC 61784-1:2007 Industrial communication networks - Profiles - Part 1: Fieldbus profiles
• IEC 61784-2:2007 Industrial communication networks - Profiles - Part 2: Additional fieldbus profiles for real-time networks based on ISO/IEC 8802-3

IEEE 1588-2008 history

• 1970 IEEE 1588-2019 IEEE Standard for a Precision Clock Synchronization Protocol for Networked Measurement and Control Systems
• 2009 IEEE 1588/INT 1-10-2009 IEEE Standards Interpretations for IEEE Std 1588 ™-2008 IEEE Standard for a Precision Clock Synchronization Protocol for Networked Measurement and Control Systems
• 2008 IEEE 1588-2008 Precision clock synchronization protocol for networked measurement and control systems
• 2004 IEEE 1588-2004 Precision clock synchronization protocol for networked measurement and control systems
• 2002 IEEE 1588-2002 Precision clock synchronization protocol for networked measurement and control systems