Networked VGA Grid User Guide
You are here: Setup > Configuring date and time > Using networked time servers

Configure synchronized time (NTP, PTP v1 and RDATE)

By default the Networked VGA Grid uses the network time protocol server (NTP server) protocol and a time server from National Research Council Canada. You can continue to use this time server or configure a new server that is more appropriate for your network and location. Your system administrator can provide the correct time synchronization server settings.

To set the time synchronization method:

  1. Login to the Admin panel as admin. See Connect to the Admin panel.
  1. Select the Date and Time link in the Configuration menu; the date and time configuration page opens.
  2. Click the Enable time synchronization radio button if it is not already selected.
  3. Choose one of the following choices from the Protocols drop down:

Synchronized Time Options

LabelDescription/Options
NTPNetwork Time Protocol (NTP) is used for clock synchronization over the internet. There are many publicly available NTP servers you can use, or your company may have its own NTP server. For more information about NTP and to find NTP servers, refer to http://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Servers/WebHome.
RDATERDATE is a tool for querying the current time from the network. It is generally considered obsolete and has been replaced by NTP. It's offered here for backwards compatibility with older timekeeping systems.
PTP v1The Precision Time Protocol (PTP) is used for clock synchronization over the internet. It has clock accuracy in the sub-microsecond range, making it more granular than NTP.
  1. Tailor the synchronization protocol with the required parameters as described below.
  2.  If NTP is selected:
    1. Enter the IP address or server name for the NTP server in the Server IP Address field.

NTP uses UDP packets and port 123. If the system is behind a firewall and accessing an external NTP server, UDP packets must be permitted on port 123.

  1. If RDATE is selected:
    1. Enter the IP address or server name for the RDATE server in the Server IP Address field.
    2. Select an update interval from the drop down box.
  2. If PTP v1 is selected:
    1. Select the multicast address of PTP v1 server from the PTP domain drop-down.
    PTP DomainDescription
    DefaultPTP at multicast address 224.0.1.129
    Alternative 1PTP at multicast address 224.0.1.130
    Alternative 2PTP at multicast address 224.0.1.131
    Alternative 3PTP at multicast address 224.0.1.132

PTP uses UDP packets and ports 319 and 320 . If the system is behind a firewall and accessing an external PTP server, UDP packets must be permitted on ports 319 and 320.

  1. Click Apply.