Following a review of synchronisation across its network, a leading pan-European Business Broadband Provider, offering innovative, high-speed broadband access solutions to companies of all sizes, needed to be able to measure network performance.

The Broadband Provider offers a wide range of Internet speeds, ADSL or SDSL access with service level guarantees and provides managed networks and hosting services to a diversity of sectors, including public sector, manufacturing, professional services, retail, logistics, construction, leisure, and travel.

Chronos’ solution was to supply two SyncServer S200 GPS NTP (Network Time Protocol) Servers to upgrade the Provider’s timing platform for time of day synchronisation. The S200s, manufactured by Symmetricom Inc of San Jose, USA, provide accurate NTP solutions for network critical services which include network log file accuracy, accurate time stamped billing records, network time stamping for performance measurement and customers’ clock provisioning. Two new servers have been deployed in separate locations to provide a geographically resilient configuration ensuring accurate and reliable timing distribution.

The Broadband Provider now owns its own network time servers which are derived from stratum 1 level clocks and traceable to GPS. In the event of losing the GPS signal, the S200 equipment reverts to stratum 2 mode using NTP, thereby enhancing the distribution of time within its network.

The Symmetricom SyncServer S200 is a precise and versatile NTP network time server that synchronizes clocks on computers and servers for large or expanding networks and is optimized for the ever-demanding high-bandwidth next-generation networks (NGNs).

Accurate Timing

The Stratum 1 level SyncServer S200 derives its time directly from the atomic clocks aboard the GPS satellite system. By using the integrated, 12-channel GPS receiver, every visible satellite can be tracked and used to maintain extremely accurate and reliable time. If the GPS reference signal is ever lost, the S200 can automatically revert to a Stratum 2 mode and retrieve time from other user-designated time servers. Another option is that the S200 can be upgraded to an internal Rubidium atomic oscillator that keeps the S200 accurate to 25 microseconds per day.

Flexible High Level Performance

The numerous design features of the Symmetricom SyncServer S200 include scalability and security, high availability and throughput of three independent 10/100Base-T Ethernet ports with IPv6 support, and an easy-to-use intuitive Web interface with various set-up wizards, all needed to support a Next Generation Network. The Stratum 1 level S200 derives its time directly from the atomic clocks aboard the GPS satellite system, providing perfect timing. The S200 is based on extensive design experience.

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