Definition of an active stratum-1 server in a coordinated timing network

• US 7,783,736 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2007
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hack, Michel H. T., Dahlen, Dennis J., Crabtree, Donald, Sevigny, Denise M., Carlson, Scott M., Dhondy, Noshir R., Smith, Ronald M. Sr., Wierbowski, Judith A., Whitney, David E., Elko, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jacobs; Lashonda T
• Application Number:
  US11/876,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20080183896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/203, 709/219, 370/395.62
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/12 Synchronisation of different clock signals provided by a plurality of clock generators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/14 Time supervision arrangements, e.g. real time clock
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0641 Change of the master or reference, e.g. take-over or failure of the master
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0661 using timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols

Abstract

A timing network is provided that includes a plurality of servers. The servers of the network obtain information used to maintain the servers in time synchronization, thus ensuring the integrity of the servers.

Claims

1. A computer program product for facilitating management of a coordinated timing network, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processor and storing instructions for execution by the processor for performing a method comprising;

defining a server of the coordinated timing network as an active stratum-1 server of the coordinated timing network, wherein the active stratum-1 server is the exclusive active provider of primary reference time for the coordinated timing network and is capable of providing timing network data for the coordinated timing network, said defining comprising specifying in a control block accessible to servers of the coordinated timing network that the server is the active stratum-1 server.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the defining comprises indicating to the active stratum-1 server that it is the active stratum-1 server.

3. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the indicating comprises issuing a modify stratum-1 configuration command to the active stratum-1 server specifying that it is the active stratum-1 server.

4. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises providing an indication by the active stratum-1 server that it is the active stratum-1 server, in response to the active stratum-1 server receiving the indication.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the control block is a stratum-1 configuration information block providing information relating to the configuration of the coordinated timing network, and wherein the information comprises an indication of a type of configuration of the coordinated timing network, the type of configuration being one of a plurality of types of configurations including a null configuration, a single server configuration, a dual server configuration and a triad configuration.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the stratum-1 configuration information block further indicates whether the active stratum-1 server is the only server of the coordinated timing network.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving by the active stratum-1 server a request for the timing network data; and

providing by the active stratum-1 server the timing network data, in response to the request.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the timing network data comprises configuration information of the coordinated timing network, primary reference time information, time zone information, leap second change scheduling and clock time information.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the providing comprises providing the timing network data to a server coupled to the active stratum-1 server, and wherein the server uses at least a portion of the timing network data to ensure the server is adhering to the configuration and is synchronized to a coordinated server time timing network specified synchronization threshold that meets high-speed computing requirements.

10. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the active stratum-1 server is in network communications with one or more other servers via a Coordinated Timing Network configured to maintain time synchronization, the active stratum-1 server sending Server Time Protocol messages by way of said Coordinated Timing Network.

11. A computer system for facilitating management of a coordinated timing network, the computer system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor in communications with the memory, wherein the computer system is capable of performing a method, said method comprising;

defining a server of the coordinated timing network as an active stratum-1 server of the coordinated timing network, wherein the active stratum-1 server is the exclusive active provider of primary reference time for the coordinated timing network and is capable of providing timing network data for the coordinated timing network, said defining comprising specifying in a control block accessible to servers of the coordinated timing network that the server is the active stratum-1 server.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the active stratum-1 server obtains an indication that it is the active stratum-1 server.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein a modify stratum-1 configuration command is issued to the active stratum-1 server specifying that it is the active stratum-1 server.

14. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises providing an indication by the active stratum-1 server that it is the active stratum-1 server, in response to the active stratum-1 server receiving the indication.

15. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the control block is a stratum-1 configuration information block providing information relating to the configuration of the coordinated timing network, and wherein the information comprises an indication of a type of configuration of the coordinated timing network, the type of configuration being one of a plurality of types of configurations including a null configuration, a single server configuration, a dual server configuration and a triad configuration.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the stratum-1 configuration information block further indicates whether the active stratum-1 server is the only server of the coordinated timing network.

17. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving by the active stratum-1 server a request for the timing network data; and

providing by the active stratum-1 server the timing network data, in response to the request.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the timing network data comprises configuration information of the coordinated timing network, primary reference time information, time zone information, leap second change scheduling and clock time information.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the timing network data is provided to a server coupled to the active stratum-1 server, and wherein the server uses at least a portion of the timing network data to ensure the server is adhering to the configuration and is synchronized to a coordinated server time timing network specified synchronization threshold that meets high-speed computing requirements.

20. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the active stratum-1 server is in network communications with one or more other servers via a Coordinated Timing Network configured to maintain time synchronization, the active stratum-1 server sending Server Time Protocol messages by way of said Coordinated Timing Network.

21. A method to facilitate management of a coordinated timing network, said method comprising:

selecting a server of the coordinated timing network to be an active stratum-1 server for the coordinated timing network; and

defining the server as the active stratum-1 server of the coordinated timing network, wherein the active stratum-1 server is the exclusive active provider of primary reference time for the coordinated timing network and is capable of providing timing network data for the coordinated timing network, said defining comprising specifying in a control block accessible to servers of the coordinated timing network that the server is the active stratum-1 server.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the defining comprises indicating to the active stratum-1 server that it is the active stratum-1 server, and wherein the indicating comprises issuing a modify stratum-1 configuration command to the active stratum-1 server specifying that it is the active stratum-1 server.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving by the active stratum-1 server a request for the timing network data; and

providing by the active stratum-1 server the timing network data, in response to the request, wherein the timing network data comprises configuration information of the coordinated timing network, primary reference time information, time zone information, leap second change scheduling and clock time information.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the providing comprises providing the timing network data to a server coupled to the active stratum-1 server, and wherein the server uses at least a portion of the timing network data to ensure the server is adhering to the configuration and is synchronized to a coordinated server time timing network specified synchronization threshold that meets high-speed computing requirements.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the active stratum-1 server is in network communications with one or more other servers via a Coordinated Timing Network configured to maintain time synchronization, the active stratum-1 server sending Server Time Protocol messages by way of said Coordinated Timing Network.