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EKOSync 1588 User Manual rev 3.10
Network Time Protocol / Simple Network Time Protocol
Network Time Protocol (NTP) has been the traditional way to synchronization time over
Ethernet networks. NTP allows time synchronization up to 100 milliseconds. The IEEE 1588 PTP
is required to achieve tighter synchronization.
There is NTP led on front panel. When the NTP is enable, the led is ON. To enable the NTP
server of the PTP/NTP Time Server check the Enable checkbox in the NTP configuration page.
PTP is basically a faster version of NTP. IEEE 1588 is designed for local systems requiring
very high accuracies beyond those attainable using NTP, which is sufficient to transfer data
across networks at speeds of up to 10 Mbps. As data rates have increased, the need for
synchronised transmission and reception have increased with it. At speeds of 1 Gbps and above,
PTP is necessary.
With the new software update the local time in accordance with timezone and DST
configuration is sent through NTP protocol. Please note that NTP only sends local time.
SNTP
A less complex implementation of NTP, using the same protocol but without requiring the
storage of state over extended periods of time, is known as the Simple Network Time Protocol
(SNTP). It is used in some embedded devices and in applications where high accuracy timing is
not required.
NTP / SNTP in the EKOSync 1588
The EKOSync 1588 can act as an NTP or SNTP server, and is intended to be an NTP time server.
The EKOSync 1588 synchronizes to GPS to provide accurate timing signals, and NTP time signals
are published through the clock Ethernet port. Please note that NTP/SNTP only sends local time.
