International Business Machines Corporation

Tepha, Inc.

Donald Crabtree

Li Feng Zhang

Jonathan D Bradbury

David P Martin

Simon F Williams

Scott M Carlson

Denise M Sevigny

Dennis J Dahlen

Ronald Morton Smith, Sr

Judith A Wierbowski

Michel H T Hack

Noshir R Dhondy

John Scott Houston

David E Whitney

David Arlen Elko

Stephen P Cherniak

Beth A Glendening

Judith Wierbowski

Scott Carlson

Dennis Dahlen

Denise Sevigny

Noshir Dhondy

Stephen Robert Guendert

Paul Wojciak

David Elko

Sr Smith Ronald

Peter Kenneth Szwed

Richard K Errickson

Georgette L Kurdt

Michel Henri Théodore Hack

Trevor E Carlson

William M Sakal

Michael H T Hack

Michael Ht Hack

David Whitney

Coordinated timing networks are dynamically merged into a single coordinated timing network. This merge occurs without taking down any of the servers. Each server of the merged coordinated timing network has the same coordinated timing network identifier (CTN ID), and the merged coordinated timing network has one selected primary time server. Optionally, the merged coordinated timing network may include a backup time server and an arbiter.

Non-disruptively merging coordinated timing networks

Embodiments include method, systems and computer program products for timing synchronization. Aspects include sending to a remote system a first base packet, the first base packet is sent at a first send event time and then recording the first send event time in a memory. Aspects also include sending to the remote system a second base packet, wherein the payload comprises instructions for the remote computing system and receiving a first remote packet, wherein a payload comprises a first received time indicating a time the first base packet was received. Aspects then include recording the first received time and recording a second received time, wherein the second received time indicates a time the first remote packet was received by the base system. Aspects include receiving a second remote packet, wherein a payload comprises a second sent time indicating a time the first remote packet was sent.

Timing synchronization

A time server of a server time protocol (STP) facility of a coordinated timing network (CTN) receives a primary-reference-time (PRT) update, with the primary-reference-time update having been determined with reference to a time source, which includes a precision-time-protocol (PTP) source. The time server sets a primary reference time correction steering rate for the coordinated timing network based on receiving the primary-reference-time update, and broadcasts to one or more other servers of the coordinated timing network a PRT-correction-steering information block (PCSIB). The PRT-correction-steering information block includes a precision-time-protocol identifier for the time source used in determining the primary-reference-time update, and the primary-reference-time correction steering rate set by the time server.

Facilitating precision time protocol use in a coordinated timing network

A time server of a coordinated timing network (CTN) receives a command, including a primary-reference-time (PRT) source identifier identifying a time source in use for the server time protocol (STP) facility as a precision-time-protocol (PTP) time server. The time server obtains the primary-reference-time source identifier from the command, and distributes the primary-reference-time source identifier obtained from the command to one or more other servers of the coordinated timing network to facilitate processing within the coordinated timing network.

Setting primary reference time of server time protocol facility of a coordinated timing network to a precision-time-protocol source

A coordinated timing network is dynamically split into a plurality of coordinated timing networks. This split occurs without taking down any of the servers. Each coordinated timing network has its own coordinated timing network identifier (CTN ID), and its own primary time server. Optionally, each coordinated timing network includes a backup time server and an arbiter.

Non-disruptively splitting a coordinated timing network

An enhanced console assisted recovery capability provides an efficient technique for communicating the failure of a primary time server to the backup time server in order to provide fast failure recovery of a synchronized timing network with the intent of avoiding a complete network outage. The primary time server efficiently notifies the backup time server that the primary time server is about to become unavailable. The backup time server can then begin an immediate takeover of time serving to the synchronized network.

Enhanced console assisted recovery for a coordinated timing network

A protocol for communicating with the timing facility used in a data processing network to provide synchronization is provided via the execution of a machine instruction that accepts a plurality of commands. The interaction is provided through the use of message request blocks and their associated message response blocks. In this way timing parameters may be determined, modified and communicated. This makes it much easier for multiple servers or nodes in a data processing network to exist as a coordinated timing network and to thus more cooperatively operate on the larger yet identical data files.

Channel subsystem server time protocol commands

A stratum-1 configuration for a timing network is defined. The stratum-1 configuration includes a single active stratum-1 server usable in ensuring that the servers in the network use the same primary reference time to synchronize their clocks. The servers in the network are synchronizing to the same root primary reference time and synchronization accuracy is not dependent on the quality of an external time source or of the existence of an external time source at the stratum-1 server.

Employing configuration information to determine the role of a server in a coordinated timing network

Server time protocol (STP) messages and methods of exchange thereof are provided for facilitating synchronization of processing units of a timing network. The STP messages include exchange time parameters (XTP) commands and responses, and STP control (STC) commands and responses. XTP message exchange processing includes: generating an XTP message command at a first processing unit including a command transmit timestamp field set by the first processing unit and a command receive timestamp field which is unset by the first processing unit; transmitting the XTP message command to a second processing unit; setting the command receive timestamp field in the XTP command with the time the XTP command is received at the second processing unit; and generating an XTP message response at the second processing unit, the message response including the command transmit timestamp set by the first processing unit and the command receive timestamp set by the second processing unit.

Server time protocol messages and methods

Communication and processing within a timing network that supports servers having different capabilities are facilitated. Individual servers of the network are dynamically updated without disrupting the operational characteristics of the timing network. New capabilities are not utilized between two servers until it is known that both servers are capable of supporting the new features. One server communicates to another server at an acceptable level of the another server.

Coordinated timing network having servers of different capabilities

Growing community of inventors

Port Ewen, NY, United States of America

Donald Crabtree