Symmetricom Inc., a leader in precise time and frequency technologies that accelerate the deployment and enable the management of next generation networks, announced the SyncSwitch TC100 Transparent Clock, an IEEE 1588 Precise Time Protocol (PTP) enabled Ethernet switch that minimizes time transfer errors due to packet queuing delays common in Ethernet switches. The SyncSwitch employs IEEE 1588 PTP transparency technology, removing errors related to packet delay, facilitating extremely accurate time synchronization between the Grandmaster and the slaves. It is the first Ethernet switch available in a 1RU rack-and-stack chassis with AC power for seamless integration into existing networks for government, military, aerospace, and test and measurement applications.
"The SyncSwitch TC100 is an essential network element in the deployment of IEEE 1588 PTP enabled devices in real world networks, particularly on LANs using multicast IEEE 1588 PTP traffic," said Paul Skoog, product marketing manager at Symmetricom. "The unique IEEE 1588 PTP transparency technology in the SyncSwitch enables the slaves to accurately synchronize to the master while optimizing time transfer accuracy and maintaining the flow of the network traffic and timing packets as efficiently as possible. Additionally, the 1RU chassis and AC power make it uniquely compatible with existing networks."
IEEE 1588 PTP packets traversing the network between a Grandmaster and slaves often coexist on the same network as data traffic. Even minor traffic congestion in a switch randomly delays packets and drastically degrades the time accuracy achievable by the slave. Timing adjustments that improve slave sync accuracy to the master are made by the SyncSwitch and performed in real time, switching all traffic at line speed.
