The document discusses network time servers and synchronization. It describes how most electronic clocks in devices are inaccurate and drift over time, causing issues for file systems, billing, security, and more. It recommends using a dedicated time server running NTP behind a firewall to provide the most accurate and secure synchronization for a local network. It also discusses Meinberg as a leading manufacturer of NTP servers and their LANTIME M1000 time and frequency synchronization platform.

1. Lets talk about
Time Servers

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Al Mamaaas Joined hands with World number one global technology
leaders, which developing and manufacturing time and frequency
synchronization systems for modern industrial applications worldwide.

3. Network Time Protocol
Network Time Protocol (NTP) is a networking protocol for clock
synchronization between computer systems over packet-switched, variable- latency data
networks. In operation since before 1985, NTP is one of the oldest internet protocols in
current use. NTP was designed by David L. Mills of the University of Delaware. NTP is
intended to synchronizes all participating computers to within a few milliseconds of
Coordinated Universal Time Coordinate (UTC). It uses the intersection algorithm, a
modified version of Marzullo's algorithm, to select accurate time servers and is designed
to mitigate the effects of variable network latency. NTP can usually maintain time to
within tens of milliseconds over the public Internet, and can achieve better than one
millisecond accuracy in local area networks under ideal conditions.
Asymmetric routes and network congestion can cause errors of 100 ms or more The
protocol is usually described in terms of a client-server model, but can as easily be used
in peer-to-peer relationships where both peers consider the other to be a potential time
source. Implementations send and receive timestamps using the User Datagram
Protocol (UDP) on port number 123.They can also use broadcasting or multicasting ,
where clients passively listen to time updates after an initial round-trip calibrating
exchange. NTP supplies a warning of any impending leap second adjustment, but no
information about local time zones or daylight saving time is transmitted.

4. Why a Time Server?
The Problem...
Electronic clocks in most servers, workstations and networking devices keep
inaccurate time. Most of these clocks are set by hand to within a minute or two of
actual time and are rarely checked after that. Many of these clocks are maintained
by a battery-backed, clock-calendar device that may drift as much as a second per
day. Having any sort of meaningful time synchronization is almost impossible if such
clocks are allowed to run on their own. In modern computer networks time
synchronization is critical and here's why:
To reduce confusion in shared file systems, it is crucial for the modification times to be
consistent, regardless of what machine the file systems are on.
• Billing services and similar applications must know the time accurately.
• Some financial services require highly accurate timekeeping by law.
• Sorting email and other network communications can be difficult if timestamps are
incorrect.
• Tracking security breaches, network usage, or problems affecting a large number of
components can be nearly impossible if timestamps in logs are inaccurate. Time is
often the critical factor that allows an event on one network node to be mapped to a
corresponding event on another.

5. Problems...
Some companies solve the problem of synchronizing their networks by using
NTP to go out on the Internet to get time from a Public Internet Time
Server. But, this approach is prone to problems:
 To access an Internet Time Server using NTP, a problem arises because the
time source is beyond the firewall. This means there must be a "hole" left
open in the firewall (specifically UDP port 123) to allow packets containing
the time information through. This security hole is the main problem with
getting time from the Internet.
 Time accuracy degrades when using an Internet Time Server because of
asymmetrical latency (delays between when the time packets leave the time
source and when they arrive at your network).
 External agencies (e.g. universities) who provide Public Domain Time Servers
are not obliged to continue service or guarantee availability and accuracy.

6. The Best Solution...
• The safest and most reliable method for synchronizing all the clocks on
your network is with a dedicated time server running NTP or SNTP:
Installing a network time server behind your firewall and insulating it from
the Internet provides the best security.
• You avoid the extra work of reconfiguring firewalls and routers that may
be required to allow the devices on your LAN access to a Public Internet
Time Server.
• Because of minimal latency, a network time server on your LAN can
reliably keep all the servers, workstations and network devices
synchronized to within 1/2 to 2 milliseconds of each other.

7. Who Needs Time Synchronization?
Time synchronization is a matter of course everywhere in our daily life.Here are
some examples.
1. Air Traffic 2. Research Vessels 3. Oil Production
4. Satellite Communication 5. Observatories 6. Power Substations
7. Power Plants 8. Toll Charging Systems 9. Wind Energy Plants
10. Public Infrastructure Call Data Records 11. Production Flow
12. Banks, Cash Terminals,Stock Exchange Data Centers
13. Lottery 14. Traffic Management 15. Operation Coordination
16. Event Management 17. Wall Clocks 18. Lighting Control
19. Railway Time Table 20. Radio Broadcasting 21. Mobile Communication
22. Call Data Records 23. Outside Broadcast Van 24. 23. Emergency

8. Best NTP Server Manufacturer
Meinberg : A Global Leader in the field of NTP servers.
https://www.meinbergglobal.com
Meinberg products are comprised of high quality components and modules, acting as
flexible functional blocks that can be combined and configured to address the most
varied and complex customer requirements. This adaptable, innovative approach to
product management is well-established in LANTIME NTP Time Servers, and today adds
impact to Meinberg recently launched Intelligent Modular Synchronization (IMS)
product line. IMS solutions are focused on the growing field of synchronization
technologies, offering a range of high performance timing solutions for networks of any
size and industry. Meinberg also offers a broad spectrum of proven GPS receivers,
WWVB, DCF77 (PZF) and MSF radio clocks, bus-level timing cards and associated
accessories.
All Meinberg products are developed and manufactured in plant located in Bad
Pyrmont, Germany. Meinberg advanced production facilities, machinery and test
systems guarantee a consistently high level of quality, supported by highly specialized
personnel in Meinberg sales, production, test and shipping departments. At Meinberg,
engineers are involved not only in initial product concepts, but also product
development, production and after-sales support. Customers have access to Meinberg’s
deep expertise at every step, with research, development, design, production, sales and
support available from one proven source.

9. IMS - LANTIME M1000: Time and Frequency Synchronization
Platform in 1U Rackmount-Enclosure
LANTIME is a set of equipment composed of a reference clock GPS180, a single-
board computer SBCELX800 500MHz with integrated network card , and a power
supply unit, all installed in a metal desktop case and ready to operate. The
interfaces provided by LANTIME are accessible via connectors in the rear panel of
the case.

10. Details of the components
In order to avoid a service interruption several LANTIME NTP servers The implemented
NTPD distributes the reference time from the GPS180 receiver cyclic in the network
Information on the NTPD is monitored on the LC-Display or can be inquired via the
network. The installation of LANTIME is very easy for the system/network
administrator .The network address, the netmask and the default gateway have to be
configured from the front panel of LANTIME. The network address or the equivalent
name of LANTIME has to be shown to all NTP clients in the TCP/IP network. As well as
NTP the Linux system also supports a number of further network protocols :
HTTP(S),FTP,SSH and Telnet .Because of this remote configuration or status requests
can come from any WEB browser . This access via the network can be deactivated.
Changes in the receiver status, errors or other important events are logged either on
the local Linux system or on an external SYSLOG-Server. In addition messages can be
sent to a data center via SNMP traps or automatically generated e-mails where they
can be recorded . Further more all alarm messages can be displayed by the large
display VP100/20/NET that is accessed via network connection can be installed in the
same network to obtain redundancy.

11. Network Timeserver with GPS
synchronized time base
The LANTIME (Local Area Network Time Server) provides a high precision time
Base to a TCP/IP network (Stratum-1-Server). The NTP (Network Time Protocol)
is used to synchronize all NTP clients with the reference. The several LANTIME
variants differ from each other by the time reference and output configuration.
AGNSS receiver (GPS,GLONASS,Galileo or BeiDou), along wave receiver
(like DCF77,MSForWWVB) or an IRIG time code receiver can be integrated as an
internal reference as well as a combination of these references (hybridsystem).
External references are also possible.
The LANTIME system is a set of equipment composed of a internal receiver , a
single-board computer and a power supply, all installed in a metal 19 inch modular
chassis and ready to operate. A simplified LINUX operating system is installed on
the single-board computers flashdisk . Eight push buttons and a display can be used
to configure and monitor the timeserver. After the network connection has been
established the timeserver can also be configured and monitored

12. Mounting the GPS Antenna
The GPS satellites are not stationary, but circle round the globe with a period of about
12hours.They can only be received if no building is in the line-of-sight from the antenna to
the satellite, so the antenna/ downconverter unit must be installed in a location that has as
clear a view of the sky as possible.The best reception is achieved when the antenna has a
free view of 8◦angular elevation above the horizon. If this is not possible, the antenna
should be installed with the clearest free view to the equator, because the satellite orbits
are located between latitudes55◦ Northand55◦ South. If this is not possible , you may
experience difficulty receiving the four satellites necessary to complete the receiver’s
position solution.
The antenna/converter unit can be mounted on a wall, or on a pole upto
60 mm in diameter. A 50cm plastic tube, two wall-mount brackets, and
clamps for pole mounting are included. A standard RG58 coaxial cable should be
used to connect the antenna/downconverter unit to the receiver. The maximum length
of cable between antenna and receiver depends on the attenuation factor of the coaxial
cable.

13. Upto four GPS 180 receivers can be run with one antenna/down converter unit
by using an optional antenna splitter. The total length of an antenna line from
antenna to receiver must not be longer than the max. length shown in the
table below . The position of the splitter in the antenna line does not matter.
The optional delivered MBGS-PRO protection kit can also be used for outdoor installation
(degree of protection:IP55). However, we recommend an indoor installation, as close as
possible to the wall where the antenna cable is entering , to minimize the risk of over
voltage damage , E.g. :- Lightning.
Example:
Type of cable : DiameterØ [mm] : Attenuation at 100MHz[dB]/100m : maxlenght [m]
RG58/CU 5mm 17 300(1)
RG213 10.5mm 7 700(1)
(1)This specifications are made for antenna/converter units produced after January,2005
The values are typically ones; the exact ones are to find out from the datasheet of the
used cable.

14. Technical Specifications M1000
Housing: Metaldesktopcase,Schroff282T
Front panel: 1U/84HP(43mmhigh/442mmwide)
Input Fuse: Electronic Protection Rating: IP20
Power Consumption: 50Wmax Physical
Dimensions:445 mm wide x 44mm high x 290 mm deep

15. ACM - Active Cooling Module
The Active Cooling Module allows the installation of the M1000 safely within the
temperature specification.

16. Why do I need a time server
when I can get time from the internet?
Time information is available from the internet, but this means allowing data
to travel through your firewall, increasing the potential risk of hackers or
viruses obtaining access into your network. Also, there are few or no
guarantees that the information being provided is accurate or reliable.

17. How does GPS work?
All GPS satellites have atomic clocks, which provide time data that is
broadcast on a high frequency. The user’s receiver picks up information from
at least four satellites simultaneously, which then measures the time delay for
the signal to reach the receiver. This data is then converted into very precise
position and time information.

18. Can I use my GPS antenna
inside?
No, To receive GPS information, the antenna must be located outside.
It will not work inside buildings. The best location for your antenna is
as high as possible (e.g. on a roof or mast) with the antenna in clear
view of the sky and away from any sources of possible high frequency
electrical interference.

19. How do you fit the EMP/lightning
filter?
The EMP/Lightning filter is always inserted in the coaxial cable between the
GPS Antenna and GPS Receiver. The gas capsule is fitted in the unprotected
area. A connection is required between the mounting point and a suitable
earth point. Ensure the contact surface of the mounting point is conductive.

20. Do I need a separate power
feed for the antenna?
No, the antenna is powered by the receiver module via the feeder
cable.

21. What I do if I am having GPS
synchronisation problems?
If after following the checklist below you still have synchronisation problems, please do
not hesitate to contact us.
1. Check antenna is plugged into the receiving equipment.
2. Check antenna alignment – High Performance Antenna should be mounted vertically
with the white bullet dome facing the sky.
3. Check that there are no high frequency electrical interference sources near to the
antenna.
4. Check antenna integrity, i.e. no water ingress, lightning strikes or perished cable.
5. Check receiver equipment against known working system or antenna
6. Allow sufficient time for synchronisation to occur – this could take minimum of 30
minutes for a cold-start or 5-10 minutes for a warm start.
7. Ensure maximum sky coverage available for antenna by mounting on a roof or
similar.
8. Check the maximum length of cable has not been exceeded or that the minimum
cable length has been adhered to.
9. Use the manual to understand what the indicators on the equipment mean. Usually
these indicators are useful for locating faults.

22. Applications…
As technology develops, the need to provide accurate, stable, and reliable
sources of time and frequency is becoming ever more critical.
Applications for time & frequency solutions can be as diverse as the generation
of time and date for public information systems and calculating the exact
position in space by laser ranging require highly reliable and precise master
clock or frequency standard equipment.
See relevant industry application below to see how your company can benefit
from working with us.
1. Military, Defense and Aerospace.
2. Rail & Metro Transportation.
3. Airports & Air Traffic Control.
4. Energy & Utilities.
5. Telecommunications.
6. Enterprise Network Synchronisation & High Frequency Trading.
7. Scientific, Media & Broadcast.
8. Security.

23. MILITARY, DEFENSE & AEROSPACE
APPLICATIONS
• Secure Communications
• Submarines & Surface Fleet
• Range Timing
• Radar Event Tagging
• Command & Control
• Security
• Satellite Ground Stations
• Space Centre Launch Systems
Military communications have to be highly secure and extremely reliable. Very
specialised time codes are necessary to ensure data stability and to provide
adequate protection from attempts to intercept data.
Secure communications systems also require an accurate and stable frequency
reference to ensure that either spread-spectrum or frequency-hopping radio
systems e.g. Have Quick remain locked when used in anti-jam mode. Precise time
and frequency standards are required to meet these exacting communication
requirement

24. At Al Mamaas, we have unrivalled expertise in delivering ruggedized,
high precision systems to naval applications, in particular the Royal
Naval Submarine Fleet and US Navy. High-end precision time & frequency
systems are essential to interface accurately with all on-board systems to
ensure smooth delivery of mission critical tasks.
The ground segments of space systems use precise time to trigger mission-
critical events, including launch, booster rocket firing and re-entry. Time is also
used to tag telemetry data for subsequent analysis.
Similarly, Military and Aerospace test ranges use time for telemetry data
tagging. The profusion of differing types of telemetry equipment and the wide
use of legacy systems in this industry means that most ranges use time in a
multiplicity of formats, or time codes.
The security services also use accurate time, in the form of timecodes, to tag
intercepted voice and data traffic. Known colloquially as XR3 and 2137 these
time codes are similar in form to the IRIG and NASA codes but differ in speed
and code.

25. TELECOMMUNICATIONS
APPLICATIONS
• Network Synchronisation
• Primary Reference clocks
• Mobile Network Base Stations
• Speaking Clock Systems
Time synchronisation is essential in the telecommunications industry to
ensure messages are transmitted and received accurately. Deviations from
complete synchronicity will result in unintelligible messages. A signal
transmitted over long distances is likely to experience slippage or even loss of
data.
This will in turn produce poor quality telephone, fax and video messages. As
the telecommunications industry uses ever more advanced technology to
create higher speeds of data transfer, increasingly higher accuracy in time
synchronisation is crucial to the successful implementation of that technology.

26. The increasing volume of international communication traffic has
caused additional problems, not just with the synchronisation of
individual networks, but with the issues associated with inter-network
synchronisation.
Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) ensures that all users are adequately
synchronised but when a user wishes to communicate with someone on a
different network there are no guarantees that frame slips will not occur.
Generally, this is not a major issue in low levels of network traffic but when
large volumes of data are being communicated between networks the
consequences can be disastrous.

27. ENERGY & UTILITIES APPLICATIONS
• Power Stations
• Electricity Sub-Stations
• Fault Location
• Line Frequency Control
• Energy Management
• Command & Control
• Public Information Systems
• Production platforms
• Off-shore Platforms
• Oil and Gas Refineries
• Water Distribution Systems
• Chemical Plants

28. The provision of accurate time & frequency solutions for Energy & Utilities is
extremely important to enable precision event time stamping to provide an
historical chronological audit trail, which may be vital for safety information
records. Also, it is crucial to have an accurate and reliable source for
time measurement for calculating billing amounts.
Our precision time and frequency standards can also monitor the frequency
of AC power distribution grid. This allows the load on the generation or
distribution network to be accurately measured so that the capacity can be
increase or decreased as required, in order to fulfill current electricity
demand.
Precise time can also be used as a low cost solution to the location of faults
on long distance power lines. Traditionally this task was carried out by visual
inspection of overhead power cables, either from the ground or using
helicopters. Using time tagging to measure the ‘reflection’ of a signal sent
down a suspect line can pinpoint faults to within a few meters.

29. The provision of accurate time is crucial for oil, gas and water industries. A
trusted time source provides accurate, synchronised time to production and
distribution networks to enable reliable time-stamping sequences to occur
during operation.
Accurate and reliable timing plays a vital role in industrial production and
distribution planning and control. It enables the effective execution of
controlled start-ups, shutdowns, pipeline closures, and so on.

30. SECURITY APPLICATIONS
• Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
• Digital Video Recorders (DVR)
• Access Control Systems
• Network Synchronisation
• Legally Traceable Time Stamp
The ability to synchronise security equipment is becoming ever more
important. This is not only for ensuring consistency, but also for evidential
purposes.
Digital images captured from CCTV must have legally traceable time and
accurate time and date stamps to be admissible as evidence in court
proceedings.
Many existing systems rely on internal PC clocks which drift over a period of
time, becoming increasingly inaccurate.
Other systems use time information available from the Internet, but this allows
data to travel through a firewall, increasing the potential risk of hackers or viruses
obtaining access into the network. Also, there are few or no guarantees that the
information being provided is accurate or reliable.

31. ENTERPRISE NETWORK
SYNCHRONISATION Application
• LAN & WAN Synchronisation
• Computer-Based Data Loggers
• Financial Transaction Logging
• Data Centre Synchronisation
• High Frequency Trading (HFT)
Accurate and reliable time is becoming an essential part of modern network
applications. Network Time Protocol (NTP) is an elegant solution to the question
of distributing time over an Ethernet.
The IEEE 1588 Precise Time Protocol (PTP) is increasingly being used to provide
ultra- precise synchronisation on packet-based networks.
Synchronised computer clocks on a network time server mean that automated
functions, e.g. backups, occur at the designated time and that files are stamped
with accurate and reliable time data. Some networks rely on external time
sources for their time requirement, but this may leave the network at risk of a
security breach.

32. • Financial Institutions (e.g. Banks and Stock exchanges) synchronise their
computers to ensure that the exact time of all transactions is logged.
Auditors can then ensure that stock is bought and sold at the price that
was correct at the point of transaction. As this is accepted as
• ‘legal time’ there can be no argument over the correct price
• of stock exchanged between the buyer and the vendor.
• Data Centres act as remote data storage facilities for financial institutions:
time and frequency is required to synchronise systems and enable the fast
transfer of data between organisations on the network.
• Press agencies accurately synchronise computers to ensure that news is
released at the exact moment that an embargo is lifted.
• Emergency service providers have statutory obligations for the timeliness
of their response. Through synchronisation of their computers, and voice
recorders, a chronological audit trail can be established. The audit trail can
be examined to identify the weaknesses, so that remedial action for future
activities is planned.

33. RAIL & METRO TRANSPORTATION
APPLICATIONS
• Railway Network Timing
• Railway Signalling Systems
• Track to Train Radio Systems
• Station Clock Systems
• Mass Transit and Rapid Transit
• LRT (Light Rail Transport)
• Metro / Underground Rail Applications
Our master clocks and time and frequency standards are highly accurate time
sources, which synchronise information networks and distribute precision
timing to all network devices.

34. Accurate and reliable timing plays a vital role in providing event time
stamping to provide an historical chronological audit trail, which may be vital
for safety information records. Track to train communications can also benefit
from precise time – message transmission and reception must be precisely
synchronised.
Our master clocks also distribute precise time to station clock systems,
ensuring interior rail terminal passenger information displays and exterior
platform clocks are providing accurate, synchronised time. Station
Management Systems also require an accurate and reliable time source, e.g.
CCTV, computer networks, pre-set announcements and even auto-control of
heating and air conditioning systems.

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Al Mamaas Trading FZCO.
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Tel:- +9714 2949970, +97142949971
E-mail:- info@almamaas.com