TimeProvider® 4100 Grandmaster Version 2.4 Firmware Offers Embedded BlueSky™ Firewall Technology to Detect Security Threats
May 22 2024 - 7:00AM
Critical infrastructure such as public utilities, transportation
and mobile networks depend on time to synchronize their networks.
The primary source of time comes from national timing systems like
Global Position Satellite (GPS), but GPS signals are susceptible to
jamming and spoofing attacks. To continue to provide critical
infrastructure operators with a secure timing solution, Microchip
Technology
(Nasdaq: MCHP) today announces the
release of
version 2.4 of the TimeProvider® 4100
grandmaster firmware with an embedded BlueSky™ firewall
function to detect potential threats and validate GNSS before using
the signal as a time reference.
“Security is of utmost importance to operators; it is critical
to make sure that the time reference used by a grandmaster is a
valid signal and can be trusted,” said Randy Brudzinski, vice
president of Microchip’s frequency and time systems business unit.
“The TimeProvider 4100 grandmaster, with its embedded BlueSky GPS
firewall, offers our customers a cost-effective solution that
provides highly effective protection against spoofing, jamming and
other threats that could compromise the validity of the GNSS
signal.”
The TimeProvider 4100 series v2.4 also implements IEEE® 1588
power profiles, which enables gateway capabilities between PTP
telecom and power profiles. With this device, utility companies can
connect the communication and substation networks to support the
convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Operational
Technology (OT) networks as operators continue to modernize.
The growth of emerging private networks continues to increase in
a variety of locations like factories, stadiums and mines. These
private networks can now be synchronized with the TimeProvider 4100
series v2.4 equipped with the Time Sensitive Network (TSN) profile
802.1.AS. This functionality provides private networks with a more
accurate and autonomous time system to coordinate private network
Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Depending on their unique deployment requirements, operators
need grandmasters that can scale to support very few clients up to
many clients. The TP4100 v2.4 can serve 2,000 Precise Time Protocol
(PTP) clients, providing the capability to synchronize a large
number of base stations with precise time without having to deploy
multiple grandmasters.
As existing legacy communication signal deployments age, there
is a need to migrate these installations to a modern and modular
architecture. The TimeProvider 4100 series v2.4 provides a new
operation mode that includes the filtering of legacy input signals
and provides the ability to serve as a Synchronization Supply Unit
(SSU), enabling the migration of large SSU environments to a
TimeProvider server architecture. This presents a combination of
new protocols such as PTP, NTP, SyncE and legacy signals at a large
scale, allowing operators to ensure legacy services remain, while
affording the capability to provide modern synchronization signals
to support the newer network architectures.
Resiliency is necessary for synchronization solutions serving
critical infrastructures. A failure can lead to degradation or a
complete loss of service, thereby affecting customer satisfaction.
Software redundancy contributes to the resiliency of the
TimeProvider 4100 series because it enables two grandmasters to be
synchronized in an Active/Standby model so network clients can be
served by the Standby unit if the Active unit encounters a
disruption. Another important and valuable feature of the
TimeProvider 4100 series v2.4 is the additional model for
redundancy, allowing two units to operate in Active/Active mode,
providing flexibility depending on the customer’s preference.
Customers employing the Active/Active mode can benefit from the two
grandmasters designed to operate at all times, as compared to the
Active/Standby configuration where one device is not used while
remaining in the standby mode.
The TimeProvider 4100 series v2.4 is integrated with the
TimePictra® Synchronization Management System to provide users a
complete view of their synchronization operation and health across
their network.
Pricing and Availability
The TimeProvider 4100 v2.4 grandmaster is now available for
purchase. For additional information and to purchase, contact a
Microchip sales representative or an authorized
distributor.
Performance levels may differ depending on usage, system
configuration, and other influencing factors.
Resources
High-res images available through Flickr or editorial contact
(feel free to publish):
- Application image:
www.flickr.com/photos/microchiptechnology/53662329147/sizes/l
- Video link: https://youtu.be/md7fV6pgGI4
About Microchip
Technology:Microchip Technology Inc. is a
leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control
solutions. Its easy-to-use development tools and comprehensive
product portfolio enable customers to create optimal designs which
reduce risk while lowering total system cost and time to market.
The company’s solutions serve approximately 125,000 customers
across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defense,
communications and computing markets. Headquartered in Chandler,
Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with
dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the
Microchip website at www.microchip.com.
Note: The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo are
registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the
U.S.A. and other countries. TimeProvider and TimePictra are
registered trademark of Microchip Technology Inc. in the U.S.A
Bluesky is a trademark of Microchip Technology Inc. In the U.S.A.
and all other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are
the property of their respective companies.
Editorial Contact: |
Reader Inquiries: |
Kim
Dutton |
1-888-624-7435 |
480-792-4386 |
|
kim.dutton@microchip.com |
|
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