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Configuring NTP over Anycast (BGP)

To configure NTP over Anycast, using BGP (Border Gateway Protocol):

  1. Confirm that your existing network infrastructure is Anycast capable, and uses BGP. Determine the network specifics, such as your Autonomous System (AS) number, Neighbor’s address and Neighbor’s AS number.
  2. In the SecureSync Web UI, navigate to MANAGEMENT > Network > NTP Setup.
  3. In the Actions Panel, click NTP over Anycast.
  4. In the NTP Anycast window, select the General tab.
  5. On the General tab, select your desired IP Version. This selection automatically communicates with the BGP tab and displays the neighbor address field based on your needs.
  6. Select the port to associate the Anycast service with (depending on the option card configuration of your unit, there may be only ETH0 available). If you desire IPv6 functionality, you must also select the IPv6 port address since there may be multiple IPv6 addresses on a single port.
  7. In the NTP Anycast window, navigate to the BGP tab.
  8. On the BGP tab, check Enable.
  9. Input your AS number.
  10. Input the neighbor's address.
  11. Input the neighbor's AS number.
  12. Click Submit.
  13. Select the port address to associate the Anycast service with (because there may be multiple addresses on a single port), and click Submit. If no addresses appear, an IP address must be added to the port (see Network Ports).
  14. Next, specify the maximum TFOM Setting (Time Figure of Merit), and the Holdover Timeout value. These two parameters determine SecureSync's accuracy "tolerance window": A small window will cause SecureSync to deliver a more accurate time window, but also will cause it to quickly withdraw from the Anycast server pool, i.e. declare itself an invalid reference. (For more information about TFOM, see Configuring the Oscillator.)
    Navigate to Management > Disciplining, and click the GEAR icon in the top-right corner of the Status panel.
  15. Set the value Maximum TFOM for Sync to 4 (this will make SecureSync to go out of sync if the phase error is greater than 1μs).
  16. Set the value for Holdover Timeout to 10 s, to allow SecureSync to exit holdover quickly.
  17. Leave the Phase Error Limit at 0, and do not check any of the checkboxes (or, for more information, see Configuring the Oscillator).