GHT-200021 How To Configure Time Synchronization in The ToolboxST Application

GHT-200021
How to Configure Time Synchronization in the ToolboxST*

Application
To keep the information obtained from the devices within a system coordinated, it is critical that the devices are synchronized
in time. The time synchronization function can be provided by a WorkstationST* computer or a network time server
configured to act as the primary time source. Network time servers acquire time from the Global Positioning System (GPS).
A WorkstationST computer configured as the designated primary time source can be configured to get its time from its
internal clock, the GPS system (using a time card), or from an external time reference that exists at the customer site for the
system. When using a site time reference, a designated WorkstationST computer synchronizes its time with the time source
and then synchronizes all other components in need of synchronization with the WorkstationST time.
Basic Network Time Protocol (NTP) System Topology
Synchronizing Time Using a WorkstationST Computer
Using a WorkstationST Computer as Primary/Secondary Time Source
To synchronize time using a WorkstationST computer
1. From the Windows Start menu, select All Programs, GE ControlST*, ToolboxST, and ToolboxST to display
the System Editor.
This document is distributed for informational purposes only. It is furnished to its customer solely to assist in the installation, testing,
operation, and/or maintenance of the equipment described. This document shall not be reproduced nor shall its contents be
disclosed to any third party without the written approval of GE Energy.
From the Tree View,
highlight the System
item. The Time
Synchronization
properties display in the
Property Editor.
2. From the Property Editor Time Synchronization section, configure the properties as described below.
Configured System Time Reference Acquisition Method has two options when using a WorstationST computer as a
time source (without using a site time reference):
• Native Time Reference is used when the WorkstationST computer does not have a time card. The
WorkstationST computer will use its internal clock.
• Native Time Reference, PC Time Card Option is for a WorkstationST computer that has a time card. Not
using this option for a WorkstationST computer with a time card results in the WorkstationST computer using its
internal clock. This option also requires that you configure the time card in the designated WorkstationST computer.
Failure to configure the time card will prevent the time server from running on the WorkstationST computer.
Designated Primary Time Source is used to select the WorkstationST computer that will be the primary time source.
Only a WorkstationST computer defined in the system is available to be a time source.
Designated Secondary Time Source (Optional) is used to select the WorkstationST computer that will become the
time source if the primary time source fails. Specifying a secondary time source is optional, but recommended. Only a
WorkstationST computer defined in the system is available to be a time source.
Disable Time Source NTP Broadcasts disables time broadcasts from the WorkstationST(s) computer(s) designated as
the Primary (and Secondary) time source(s).
NTP Client Mode is the method by which the clients (components that need to synchronize time) receive the time
messages. There are three options:
• Unicast has the client request the time from the time source. This is recommended since it guarantees that the client
is getting the time from the correct time source.
• Broadcast is when the client listens for time messages on the network. If there is more than one time source
broadcasting the time messages on the network, the client could be getting time from different time sources, and be
susceptible to invalid time.
• Disabled is when the clients do not request or listen for time messages. The clients are not being time
synchronized.
Note When a system is first created, the NTP Client Mode default mode is disabled. This needs to be changed
after the WorkstationST computer or time servers have been created and configured to be the time source.
Note The configuration at the system level drives the NTP settings for all the components in the system.
Changing a system level NTP setting causes all system components to update, build, and download.
2 • How to Configure Time Synchronization in the ToolboxST* Application GHT-200021

Configuring a Time Card in a WorkstationST Computer
If the Native Time Reference, PC Time Card Option is selected as the Configured System Time Reference Acquisition
Method, you must configure the time card for the WorkstationST computer.
To configure a time card in a WorkstationST computer
From the System Editor Tree View,

double-click the WorkstationST
(EWS1) item.
From the General tab Tree View,

highlight the Time Card item.
From the Property Editor,

highlight the Time Card property
and select the Time Card to
install from the drop-down list.
The Time Code property displays
in the Property Editor.
Highlight the Time Code property and

select the Time Code to use from the
drop-down list.
GHT-200021 How to Configure Time Synchronization in the ToolboxST* Application • 3

Synchronizing Time Using a Network Time Server
A network time server can also be used to synchronize time. The network time server is used in place of a WorkstationST
computer as the Designated Primary Time Source.
Using a Network Time Server as Primary/Secondary Time Source
To synchronize time using a network time server
From the System Editor,

highlight the System item.
From the Property Editor,

highlight Configured System
Time Reference Acquisition
Method property and select
Native Time Reference from
the drop-down list. Highlight
Designated Primary Time
Source and select Time
Server1 from the drop-down
list.
Note The Designated Secondary Time Source can be either a WorkstationST computer or another Time Server.
Note Refer to the procedure To synchronize time using a WorkstationST computer for information on
configuring the remaining Time Synchronization properties.
Synchronizing Time Using a Site Time Reference

Some customers require the entire facility to be time synched from a central source (site time reference). The site time
reference can either broadcast the time over the network (broadcast) or accept requests from clients for the time (unicast).
When using a site time reference rather than a WorkstationST time source, the WorkstationST computer synchronizes its
time with the site time reference rather than using its own internal clock. The WorkstationST computer still acts as the time
source for the clients in the control system and can be configured for unicast or broadcast mode.
Note Broadcast mode is not recommended for the NTP Client Mode because the clients will listen to any time
source broadcasting time on the network. The clients are therefore susceptible to invalid time references from
misconfigured or misoperating time sources on the network.

Using a Site Time Source
Synchronize Time Using a Site Broadcast Time Reference

To synchronize time using a site broadcast time reference

From the Property Editor, highlight

Configured System Time
Reference Acquisition Method
and select Site Broadcast Time
Reference from the drop-down list.
Highlight Designated Primary
Time Source property and select
WorkstationST (EWS1) to use as
the Primary Time Source from the
drop-down list.
Tip When using a Site Broadcast Time Reference, configure the NTP Client Mode as unicast. This prevents client
components from receiving broadcast time references over the network from a time source other than the Designated Primary
and Secondary Time Sources.

Synchronize Time Using a Site Unicast Time Reference
When configuring a site unicast time reference, two additional Time Synchronization properties display in the Property
Editor. Site Time Source #1 and #2 provide a primary and secondary location for the WorkstationST computer to request
time.
To synchronize time using a site unicast time reference

From the Property Editor, highlight

Configured System Time
Reference Acquisition Method
and select Site Broadcast Time
Reference from the drop-down list.
Highlight Designated Primary
Time Source property and select
WorkstationST (EWS1) to use as
the Primary Time Source from the
drop-down list.
Configure the two new Time Synchronization properties as follows:
Site Time Source #1 is the host name or IP address of the primary site time reference. This time source must be accessible
to the Designated Primary and Secondary Time Source WorkstationST computer.
Site Time Source #2 is the host name or IP address of the secondary site time reference. This time source must be
accessible to the Designated Primary and Secondary Time Source WorkstationST computer.

Overriding Time Synchronization Settings for a Component
When a component has a special time synchronization requirement, the time synchronization properties can be overridden.
This is done in the component’s Property Editor.
To override time synchronization settings for a component
From the System Editor Tree View,

double-click the component (H1)
item. The Component Editor
displays.
From the General tab Tree View,

highlight the General item.
From the Property Editor General

section, expand the NTP Configuration
property, select Configuration Manual
Override, and select True from the drop-
down list.
Change the Mode, Primary Server, and Secondary Server properties to the values required by the component.
Checking a Component’s Time Synchronization Status

When necessary, you can check the time synchronization of individual components. This can be done from the ToolboxST
Component InfoView or from the WorkstationST Monitor.
Checking Time Synchronization Status in the ToolboxST Application

To check a component’s time synchronization in the ToolboxST application
From the System Editor Summary View, click the Online button to take the system online.

From the Summary
View double-click a
component. The
Status for component
tab displays in the
Component InfoView.
From the Status for

component tab double-click
the NTP Diagnostics item.
The NTP Status Viewer
dialog box displays.
The banner and the

task bar display time
synchronization
information.
Note To display the NTP status of another component, close the NTP Status Viewer currently open and select
another component.
Note Each data field has a tool tip that describes the field and gives an analysis of the current state.
Checking Time Synchronization Status Using The WorkstationST Monitor

To check a component’s time synchronization using the WorkstationST Monitor
Right-click the WorkstationST icon in the taskbar notification area and select Open Detail View. The
WorkstationST Status of Features dialog box displays.

Right-click the Time Synchronization System Feature
and select View NTP (Time Sync) Detail. The NTP
Status Viewer - Local Host displays.
The banner, tool tip,

and the task bar
display time
synchronization
information.
The NTP status for another component can be displayed from this dialog box.
To display the NTP status for another component
From the File menu, select

Specify Remote Host. The
Specify Remote Host dialog
box displays.

Enter the host name or
IP address of the
component. Click OK.
The NTP Status Viewer

re-initializes (this may
take a minute) and
displays the time
synchronization status of
the component.
Tip More than one NTP Status Viewer can be opened to display different components. To do this, right-click the
WorkstationST icon in the taskbar notification area, right-click the Time Synchronization System item, and select View
NTPC (Time Sync) Detail to open additional windows which can be pointed to various remote hosts.
For further assistance or technical information, contact the nearest

GE Sales or Service Office, or an authorized GE Sales Representative.
g © 2009, General Electric Company, All rights reserved.

* Trademark of General Electric Company.
Issued: 090210

GHT-200021 How To Configure Time Synchronization in The ToolboxST Application

Diunggah oleh

Informasi Dokumen

Judul Asli

Hak Cipta

Format Tersedia

Bagikan dokumen Ini

Bagikan atau Tanam Dokumen

Opsi Berbagi

Apakah menurut Anda dokumen ini bermanfaat?

Apakah konten ini tidak pantas?

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

GHT-200021 How To Configure Time Synchronization in The ToolboxST Application

Diunggah oleh

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

GHT-200021

How to Configure Time Synchronization in the ToolboxST*

Basic Network Time Protocol (NTP) System Topology

Synchronizing Time Using a WorkstationST Computer

Using a WorkstationST Computer as Primary/Secondary Time Source

To synchronize time using a WorkstationST computer

2 • How to Configure Time Synchronization in the ToolboxST* Application GHT-200021

To configure a time card in a WorkstationST computer

From the System Editor Tree View,

From the General tab Tree View,

From the Property Editor,

Highlight the Time Code property and