Clock Synchronization

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Clock Synchronization

It is critical that each component in an Athena range has their clocks synchronized. This is particularly true to ensure the Range Clock appears the same for each athlete on each firing line, and within Orion.

Network Manager

The Network Manger synchronizes its clocks, by default, with the Internet pool npt.ubuntu.com. This setting may be modified using the timesyncd service.

It runs an NTP server to allow local devices to synchronize with it.

Targets, Monitors, and Displays

The Athena Targets, Monitors, and Displays synchronize their system clocks with the Network Manager.  As a fallback they synchronize with the Internet server pools, 0.us.pool.ntp.org and 1.us.pool.ntp.org. This setting may be modified using the timesyncd service.

The following linux command may be used to check the clock synchronization between any EST Unit (Target, Monitor, or Display) and the Network Manager. It must be run from a terminal or shell prompt. Expected timer differences will be about .1s or less.
ntpdate -q [hostname of Network Manager]

Orion

It is important that the Windows computer running Orion is also synchronized using NTP, which it is by default. If not, Orion will not be able to communicate with the Targets, Monitors, and Displays.

The following Windows command may be used to check the clock synchronization between your Windows computer and the Network Manger. It must be run from Windows Power Shell. Expected time differences will be about .1s or less.
w32tm /stripchart /computer:[hostname of Network Manager] /dataonly /samples:3

Checking Time Synchronization

The clocks on each device may be checked for synchronization within Orion. In the Range Manager tab, check the columns Monitor Ping, Target Ping, and Display Ping.


See Also

Internet Access

EXTERNAL: Amazon Web Services' Using Device Time to Validate AWS IoT Server Certificates