Network Time Protocol (NTP)

Mark* Control System

GE Power & Water Technical
Training

*Trademark of the General Electric Company.

Objectives
Learn the basics of NTP and how it is used to synchronize
time in the system components
Learn how the NTP settings are configured in the
ToolboxST application

Reference:GHT-200021 – How to Configure Time Synchronization in

the ToolboxST Application
Slide 2
Time Synchronization Configuration
System Editor - Top Level
Time Synchronization property
Configuration Options:
• Low Accuracy (no timecard)
• High Accuracy (timecard
reference)
• Site Broadcast Time
Reference
• Site Unicast Time Reference

Slide 3
Time Synchronization Options
Disable NTP Broadcasts
If set to True, disables NTP
broadcasts from the
WorkstationST(s) designated as
the primary (and secondary) time
source(s)

Slide 4
Time Synchronization Options
NTP Client Mode
If set to Disabled, sets the method
for acquiring time by all native
devices and all WorkstationSTs
not configured as either a primary
or secondary time source

Slide 5
WorkstationST Override
Configuration Manual Override
overrides the system NTP settings,
and uses local WorkstationST
component settings
Fields:
Configuration Option
Disable NTP Broadcasts
Site Time Reference Option

Slide 6
Timecard Configuration
If a timecard is used by this
WorkstationST, information about
the timecard must be configured
with NTP

Slide 7
Controller Component Override
Disabled – The controller does not
perform any time synchronization
Broadcast – The client listens for NTP
broadcasts on the network
Unicast – The client uses the
specified servers to obtain the time

Slide 8
View NTP (Time Sync) Detail

Right-click Time Synchronization System under the Status

tab of the WorkstationST component editor
Select View NTP (Time Sync) Detail
Slide 9
NTP Status Viewer

Stratum – Declaration of the quality of the time provided

by the time source; lower stratum numbers indicate a
higher accuracy to a global time standard
Jitter – Measure of time reference stability – the lower
the number, the more stable the time reference is; jitter
values less than one indicate a stable time source
Slide 10