Time Synchronization Signals on SMA/MCX Connectors

Time-Stamping and Time Synchronization

Platform
Intel® PAC
Napatech SmartNIC
Content Type
User Guide
Capture Software Version
Link™ Capture Software 12.10

Limitation

This section does not apply to the following SmartNICs.
  • NT400D11
  • NT50B01
  • NT40A11
  • The Intel® Programmable Acceleration Card with Intel® Arria® 10 GX FPGA

In this section

This section describes the 3 different time synchronization signals supported over the external SMA and/or internal MCX time synchronization connectors/ports by the NT SmartNICs. Configuration of the SmartNICs with respect to time synchronization signals is described in Configuring the Time Synchronization Connectors and the Time Synchronization Time and Frequency Reference Priorities.

NT-TS signal

The NT time synchronization (NT-TS) signal is used for connecting NT SmartNICs. The NT-TS signal contains an NT-TS protocol, and carries PPS and embedded time information. The NT-TS signal enables absolute time synchronization between NT equipment.
Note: NT-TS time synchronization between two or more NT SmartNICs requires that the time stamp format is the same.
Note: NT SmartNICs only support the NT-TS signal on the internal time synchronization connectors.

PPS/TTL signal

The PPS at TTL (transistor-transistor logic) levels (PPS/TTL) signal is used for connecting a 3rd-party equipment PPS output to the input time synchronization connector of an NT SmartNIC. The NT SmartNIC time synchronization input interface is specified in the relevant Hardware Installation Guide. NT SmartNICs can also generate a PPS/TTL output signal.