Next Steps in Network Time Synchronization For Navy Shipboard Applications

摘要

Next generation Navy platform designs are evolving towards generalized multipurpose infrastructures based on open standards and commercial products. These platforms will support a wide range of new and expanding applications in a more flexible and dynamic manner than in previous designs. This new paradigm creates significant network time synchronization challenges. The Navy has been deploying the Network Time Protocol (NTP) in shipboard computing infrastructures to meet the current network time synchronization requirements. Additionally, a new standard, IEEE 1588 or the Precision Time Protocol (PTP), has emerged. It holds the promise of more precise synchronization through the use of hardware assists. New international standardization efforts intend to leverage NTP and PTP for a next generation of time synchronization protocols. This paper examines the emerging work in the International Standards communities in the area of precise network time synchronization. Additionally, it looks at preliminary evaluations of NTP and PTP in the types of products commonly used in Navy shipboard applications. Finally, this paper proposes potential focus areas for Navy standardization and experimentation efforts.