[time-nuts] OT: NTP server questions

[Ralph Smith]

If you are rolling your own I would advise a Soekris net4501 (US $173 new) over any netbook for several reasons: cheaper, more rugged, better solution overall.

It all comes down to requirements, budget, and who the user is (which drives the first two). If I were doing a system for myself, it's hard to beat what I have with a net4501 ($175) , a Thunderbolt ($120) , a TAPR Clock Block ($62), and a pulse stretcher (TAPR FatPPS $44). I have a 12V power supply (yes it's a switcher, but I can live with that) to drive the +12, +5, and -12 required by the Thunderbolt. Whole thing is powered by 12V, and is very portable. Also extremely accurate. All for about $400 US. Some assembly required.

If you don't need that level of accuracy you can get very reasonable solution with a net4501 and a Garmin GPS18xLVC. Power the GPS from a 5V pin off of the Soekris. Total cost less than $250.

Under other situations a commercial box is more appropriate. If I were asked to specify a system that I would not be responsible to administer I would recommend a commercial box such as the Symmetricom.

Ralph

On Nov 30, 2010, at 1:39 AM, Chris Albertson wrote:

> What do you need to do?  What precision is required and how many clients will
> you be serving.   For most "normal" uses you don't need a special purpose
> server system.  A $600 notebook PC and any GPS unit with a serial
> connection and a copy of Linux or BSD.
> 
> On Mon, Nov 29, 2010 at 11:36 AM, Robert Darlington
> <rdarlington at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi guys,
>> 
>> I'm looking to buy an NTP server for a field deployable server system.  I
>> currently have a Symmetricom SyncServer S250 which does more than I need.  I
>> am considering buying an S200 (same as the S250 but without the ability to
>> connect to an external frequency standard).  My gut feeling is I don't need
>> a rubidium oscillator or even an OCXO internally since we'd be going from a
>> power on to being used state in under an hour, outside of any kind of
>> temperature controlled environment.  Are there any manufacturers out there
>> besides Symmetricom that I should be looking at for something like this?
>> The unit we're considering buying is about $4k new and is inside of our
>> budget.
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> Bob
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> =====
> Chris Albertson
> Redondo Beach, California
> 
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