GPS World

Tag: NTP

  • Orolia partners with Meta to improve timing network

    Orolia partners with Meta to improve timing network

    The open-source collaboration features Orolia Atomic Reference Time Cards powered by its Spectratime micro-atomic clock

    Logo: OroliaOrolia is providing Atomic Reference Time (ART) Cards to support Meta’s implementation of high-precision timing protocols within its distributed timing infrastructure. The architecture of Orolia ART Cards is powered by the company’s Spectratime mRO-50 mini rubidium atomic-clock technology.

    The Spectratime mRO-50. (Photo: Orolia)
    The Spectratime mRO-50. (Photo: Orolia)

    “We are honored to have this opportunity to collaborate with Meta’s incredibly talented team of engineers to develop a unique open-source solution using our mRO-50 technology,” said Jean-Yves Courtois, Orolia CEO. “We look forward to a continuing partnership with Meta and other global network leaders working to advance solutions to ensure ongoing timing accuracy and resilience.”

    Orolia developed the ART Card solution in collaboration with the Meta engineering team to fulfill a new specification that Meta published for the Time Appliances Project Initiative of the Open Compute Project. This new collaborative community is focused on designing from scratch new hardware and software to efficiently support the critical timing accuracy and resilience demands on computer network infrastructure. This project is fully open-sourced and available on Orolia’s GitHub.

    Meta logoIn 2020, Meta began converting its data-center servers to a new time-distribution service based on network time protocol (NTP) and precision time protocol (PTP). The new service, built in-house and later open-sourced, was more scalable and improved the accuracy of timekeeping within the Meta infrastructure from 10 milliseconds to 100 microseconds. Orolia ART Cards will further increase the accuracy, resiliency and adoption of Meta’s new timing platform.

    Developed with long-term support in mind, Orolia’s ART Cards deliver management, disciplining and monitoring functions that can be integrated into any computer with a PCIe port and bring accurate and resilient timing for the most demanding applications such as NTP/PTP time reference, time stamping and latency calculation.

  • ADVA offers embedded timing for third-party hardware

    ADVA offers embedded timing for third-party hardware

    ADVA has introduced its OSA 5400 SyncModule embedded timing solution, designed to enable technology suppliers to integrate precise synchronization into their hardware. Its M.2 form factor can add crucial timing capabilities to switches, routers, open compute servers and other IT devices.

    The OSA 5400 SyncModule provides GNSS, precision time protocol (PTP) and network time protocol (NTP) engines as well as comprehensive PTP and GNSS monitoring and assurance functionality. According to ADVA, the module can enable assured sub-microsecond timing in public and private networks as well as critical infrastructure.

    “Our OSA 5400 SyncModule brings something completely new and very valuable to the market,” said Gil Biran, general manager, Oscilloquartz, ADVA. “For the first time, third-party technology manufacturers will be able to embed the most advanced synchronization capabilities into their designs and easily control them with our Ensemble Sync Director or their own management system.”

    Featuring multiple interface options for easy integration, the OSA 5400 SyncModule comes with an open API. It can also be managed by ADVA’s proven Ensemble Sync Director management system.

    Image: ADVA
    Image: ADVA
  • Chronos Technology now owned by its employees

    Chronos Technology now owned by its employees

    Vit_Mar/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
    Vit_Mar/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

    Chronos Technology Ltd., a UK-based resilient synchronization and timing company, has transitioned to employee ownership through the Chronos Technology Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) Ltd.

    Charles Curry who established Chronos Technology in September 1986 and was co-owner alongside his wife, Angela Curry, had been deliberating succession planning and their exit from the business. Various options such as a third-party sale or a management buyout were considered but quickly dismissed.

    “I am aware of business owners who had exited through third-party sales and had not enjoyed the experience of working under new management for the agreed handover period,” Curry said. “New owners generally change the dynamic of the business, often introducing new staff and work practice without giving opportunity to existing staff and process, and we did not want this for Chronos.”

    “Over the years we have established a work ethic that puts the customer first,” Curry continued. “The EOT protects the loyal Chronos family and ensures the customer-facing continuity of the business and, most importantly, safeguards jobs. Going forward, in the hands of the employees, the company will benefit from increased customer engagement and the commitment to a team approach to steer the business on the next phase of its journey.”

    Chronos Technology specializes in resilient synchronization and timing systems, smart technologies, GNSS and cybersecurity solutions for critical national infrastructure, with industry experience gathered over 35 years in specialist technologies such as GNSS, PTP, NTP and SyncE.

    The company provides GPS coverage solutions in hangars, manufacturing areas and underground, as well as smart technology solutions and GNSS jamming detection and location solutions for law enforcement. Customers include telecom, finance, energy, data centers, broadcast, aerospace, defence and security, enterprise/IT, emergency services, transport and manufacturing.

  • Microsemi publishes application note on NTP Reflector

    Microsemi publishes application note on NTP Reflector

    Microsemi has published a new application note on its Security Hardened SyncServer NTP Reflector.

    The NTP (Network Time Protocol) Reflector is a fast, accurate NTP server. It features denial of service resilience, monitoring and notification functions.

    Characteristics include 100 percent hardware NTP time-stamping for accuracy and high performance; NTP packet monitoring for DoS detection; bandwidth limiting and packet filtering for CPU protection; and alarming if NTP loading is above expected levels.

    To help users better understand the advantages of Microsemi’s NTP Reflector and packet limiting/monitoring technology, the company explains the underlying technology and its security benefits in the new application note, available for download.

    Key Characteristics

    • 100 percent hardware NTP timestamping for accuracy and high performance
    • NTP Packet monitoring for DoS detection
    • Bandwidth limiting and packet filtering for CPU protection
    • Alarming if NTP loading is above expected levels.

    The NTP Reflector is one of the many differentiating features of Microsemi’s new SyncServer S600 series network time servers.

    The reflector is a real-time, hardware-based NTP packet identification and time-stamping engine uniquely designed to protect the SyncServer CPU from excessive network traffic denial of service  attacks and notify the operator if NTP traffic is above expected levels.

    The innovative technology enables extremely high-bandwidth, high-accuracy, high-reliability and security-hardened NTP operations.

  • TRAK Microwave becomes Smiths Interconnect as part of brand transition

    Smiths Interconnect, a division of Smiths Group plc, is unifying its technology brands, including TRAK Microwave, maker of GPS clocks, GPS antennas and network time protocol (NTP) servers.

    Other brands pulled under the Smiths Interconnect umbrella include EMC Technology, Hypertac, IDI, Lorch, Millitech, RF Labs, Sabritec and TECOM.

    TRAK_SmithsAccording to Smiths Group, the brand transition supports a recent strategic reorganization focused on creating a more agile structure that can better anticipate and respond to customers’ evolving needs.

    Individually, the technology brands represent state-of-the-art solutions across the connectors, microwave components and microwave subsystems markets. Providing a strong umbrella brand that supports the breadth of these products and technologies will make Smiths Interconnect a more comprehensive solutions provider, improving the customer experience by streamlining access and interactions across multiple applications.

    “Over time, interactions among our brands have increased across many of our markets,” said Roland Carter, president of Smiths Interconnect. “Aligning all this activity under the Smiths Interconnect name will make us a more streamlined partner, enhancing our customers’ access to the combined strength of our products, expertise and application knowledge.”

    8835 GPS Clock by TRAK Microwave.
    8835 GPS Clock by TRAK Microwave.

    The individual technology brands will continue to be visible in association with the Smiths Interconnect brand during the transition period.

    Smiths Interconnect is a provider of technically differentiated electronic components, subsystems, microwave and radio frequency products that connect, protect and control critical applications in the commercial aviation, defense, space, medical, rail, semiconductor test, wireless telecommunications and industrial markets. It is part of Smiths Group, a global advanced technology company for markets in threat and contraband detection, energy, medical devices, communications and engineered components. Smiths Group employs 22,000 people in more than 50 countries.