Symmetricom 1000 User Manual

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Chapter 1 Overview of the TimeProvider
NTP Operation
26
 TimeProvider User’s Guide
097-58001-02 Revision G – April 2008
FFOFF Calculations
FFOFF is a measure of the frequency deviation of the input signal against the 
system reference, expressed as a ratio. The TimeProvider automatically calculates 
FFOFF for each enabled input from the 600 most recent 1-second phase updates. 
You can use the automatic FFOFF calculations to qualify each input with 
user-defined qualification thresholds. If an input exceeds the threshold and the 
alarm level is set to Minor or higher, then the input reference automatically switches 
to the next-best input.
The TimeProvider stores historical FFOFF measurements for each enabled input 
every 60 seconds. You can retrieve FFOFF data for the prior 24 hours, depending 
on the number of faults that have occurred.
NTP Operation
The Network Timing Protocol (NTP) function is implemented in the IMC card or 
IMC/TPIU card. You can activate the NTP feature by issuing a unique key 
generated by Symmetricom, based on the serial number of the IMC card or the 
IMC/TPIU card, or you can order the TimeProvider with the NTP option factory- 
installed and activated. Once activated, the NTP function cannot be deactivated.
NTP operates in all three operating modes of the TimeProvider. In the Subtending 
mode, the NTP server is supported when the system reference is a signal other 
than GPS. The NTP data is transmitted by the Ethernet port on the shelf, and meets 
the following standards and specifications:
NTP V3
MD5 Authentication (RFC 1321)
NTP Leap Second correction based on GPS
NTP supports a 10baseT connection under a 40% loading condition, and can 
handle up to 100 requests per second (RPS) on average
Typical unencrypted response time from the TimeProvider on an unloaded 
network is < 10 ms
Typical encrypted (MD5) response time from the TimeProvider on an unloaded 
network is < 50 ms
The client time accuracy is typically 2 ms between the internal NTP clocks of two 
machines on the same 10 Mb/s Ethernet LAN with a 40% loading condition
Note: NTP over a LAN topology depends on network congestion, and 
can be up to 50 ms accuracy.