In this section
This section describes how to configure the time synchronization connectors and how to prioritize time synchronization time and frequency references.
- NT400D11
- NT200A02
- NT100A01
- NT50B01
- NT40A11
Time synchronization connectors
The usage and mode of the connector(s) can be specified as:
- No usage ('None')
- Input connector in NT-TS time synchronization mode ('NttsIn')Note: Only one NttsIn connector can be specified.Note: NttsIn cannot be specified for the Ext1 port.
- Input connector in PPS time synchronization mode ('PpsIn')
- Output connector with an NT-TS signal generated if the SmartNIC is working as time synchronization master ('NttsOut')
- Output connector with a PPS signal generated from the SmartNIC clock ('PpsOut')
- Repeat connector repeating the signal received on the Ext1 port ('RepeatExt1' – only applies to the internal time synchronization connectors, and only if TimeSyncConnectorExt1 is set to 'PpsIn')
- Repeat connector repeating the signal received on internal time synchronization connector 1 ('RepeatInt1' – only applies to the Ext1 port and to internal time synchronization connector 2, and only if TimeSyncConnectorInt1 is set to 'PpsIn' or, for internal time synchronization connector 2, 'NttsIn')
- Repeat connector repeating the signal received on internal time synchronization connector 2 ('RepeatInt2' – only applies to the Ext1 port and to internal time synchronization connector 1, and only if TimeSyncConnectorInt2 is set to 'PpsIn' or, for internal time synchronization connector 1, 'NttsIn')
Time synchronization time reference priority list
The TimeSyncReferencePriority parameter specifies a priority list for the clock references when more than one reference is used. The reference with the highest priority is listed first. The list defines the failover and fallback sequence in case of failure and reconnection.
The references that can be included in the list are:
- One of the time synchronization connectors ('Ext1', 'Int1' or 'Int2')
- PTP slave mode ('PTP')
- OS time ('OSTime') or the free-running SmartNIC clock ('FreeRun')
Zero or one time synchronization connector must be specified in the list.
Zero or one PTP slave mode must be specified.
Either OS time or the free-running SmartNIC clock must be specified in the list at the last position, since these references cannot fail.
Time synchronization frequency reference priority
The TimeSyncFrequencyReferencePriority parameter specifies a priority list for the base frequency reference for the time stamp clock.
The references that can be included in the list are:
- SyncE ('SyncE')
- The free-running SmartNIC clock ('FreeRun')
The free-running SmartNIC clock must be specified in the list at the last position, since this reference cannot fail.
If SyncE is not supported by the network, configure SmartNICs to permanently use the local oscillator by using the value FreeRun.
Illustration of time synchronization priority and failover
This figure shows how the time stamp clock of a SmartNIC is controlled by a base frequency and a time reference.
ntservice.ini code lines
The syntax for the ntservice.ini code lines configuring the time synchronization connectors, prioritizing time synchronization clock references and specifying the time synchronization frequency reference is:
'TimeSyncConnectorExt1' '=' ( 'None' | 'PpsIn' | 'NttsOut' | 'PpsOut' | 'RepeatInt1' | 'RepeatInt2' ) 'TimeSyncConnectorInt1' '=' ( 'None' | 'NttsIn' | 'PpsIn' | 'NttsOut' | 'PpsOut' | 'RepeatInt1' | 'RepeatInt2' ) 'TimeSyncConnectorInt2' '=' ( 'None' | 'NttsIn' | 'PpsIn' | 'NttsOut' | 'PpsOut' | 'RepeatInt1' | 'RepeatInt2' ) 'TimeSyncReferencePriority' '=' [ ( ( 'Ext1' | 'Int1' | 'Int2' ) | 'PTP' ) ',' ] [ ( 'PTP' | ( 'Ext1' | 'Int1' | 'Int2' ) ) ',' ] ( 'OSTime' | 'FreeRun' ) 'TimeSyncFrequencyReferencePriority' '=' [ SyncE ',' ] 'FreeRun'
Example:
TimeSyncConnectorInt1=NttsIn TimeSyncConnectorExt1=PpsOut TimeSyncReferencePriority=Int1,FreeRun TimeSyncFrequencyReferencePriority=SyncE,FreeRun
Default values
This table shows the default values.
Parameter | Default Value |
---|---|
TimeSyncConnectorExt1 | PpsIn |
TimeSyncConnectorInt1 | None |
TimeSyncConnector-Int2 | None |
TimeSyncReferencePriority | Ext1,FreeRun |
TimeSyncFrequencyReferencePriority | FreeRun |