RuggedCom RS416 - Manual (Page 31)

Time Synchronization
31
RuggedCom ® RuggedServer™ RS416 Family Installation Guide rev118
4 Time Synchronization
The RS416 is able to derive and provide time synchronization via Ethernet using the
Precision Time Protocol (PTP - IEEE1588v2) and NTP (Network Time Protocol).
With the IRIG-B module is installed, the RS416 is also able to synchronize to received
IRIG-B time signal and to distribute it via BNC and via serial ports equipped with IRIG-B
signals. Please refer to the data sheet for ordering options.
Table 10, below, lists all the external sources that may be used by the RS416 for time
synchronization.
Synchronization Source
Without IRIG
Module
With IRIG
Module
NTP  
IEEE 1588 v2  
IRIG-B PWM 
Table 10: RS416 Time Synchronization Sources
Table 11, below, summarizes the time synchronization services that the RS416 is able to
provide.
Synchronization Service
Without IRIG
Module
With IRIG
Module
NTP  
IEEE 1588 v2  
IRIG-B PWM 
Table 11: RS416 Time Synchronization Services
NTP (Network Time Protocol) is the standard for synchronizing the clocks of computer
systems throughout the Internet and is suitable for systems that require accuracies on
the order of 1 ms.
IRIG-B (Inter Range Instrumentation Group, mod B) time synchronization is an
established, inter-device time synchronization mechanism which provides accuracy on
the order of 1ms to 1µs.
IEEE 1588 is designed to fill a niche not well served by either NTP or IRIG-B. IEEE1588
is designed for local systems requiring accuracies on the order of 100 nanoseconds.
IEEE 1588 is also designed for applications that cannot bear the cost of a GPS receiver
at each node or for which GPS signals are inaccessible. Every Ethernet port on the
RS416 supports IEEE1588.
4.1 IRIG-B Ports
The IRIG-B output ports described in sections 3.3 and 3.5 derive their time from the
IRIG-B module, which occupies one slot in lieu of a two-port Ethernet module. The IRIG-
B module has one dedicated input and one dedicated output. These ports operate in
IRIG-B PWM mode (IRIG-B006 or IRIG-B007) only.