TimePictra Next-Gen Sync Management System

TimePictra Next-Gen Sync Management System

Product Information

Ensuring Control and Visibility of the Entire Synchronisation Network

As timing and synchronisation grow in importance in critical infrastructure networks, centralised management of this vital function has become essential to network operations. Microchip’s TimePictra is a modular web-based synchronisation management system that scales and evolves with operational requirements.

With a multi-tier architecture – server, client, and database – TimePictra provides the scalability and performance to meet growing network services and business needs. The secure web browser client provides easy access and eliminates the complexity of client installation and VPN access. The Java application server, in conjunction with the database, provides comprehensive business logic to support the management of network functions.

Synchronisation Management is Essential

Applications such as 4G/5G mobile networks, smart grid energy station control, and high-frequency trading have increased the requirements for accurate and precise timing. At the same time, next-generation networks rely on packet protocols for the distribution of timing over synchronous or asynchronous physical media. As a result, centralised visibility and management of network timing has become essential in ensuring reliable network performance and the successful delivery of services.

Attractive Entry

Network operators that have not previously managed their synchronisation network can obtain ownership of this critical function without making a major investment in new hardware, database platforms, or software capabilities. TimePictra Release 10 is platform independent and can run on a Linux PC server or a server as a virtualisation instance. TimePictra supports the free, open-source MySQL database as well as the industry-leading Oracle 11g solution, and the user client is a standard Firefox, Chrome, or Internet Explorer browser.

Full FCAPS Plus Advanced Features

TimePictra is comprised of basic software and software options. The basic software comes with comprehensive support for the standard FCAPS 1 FCAPS = Fault Management, Configuration Management, Accounting (Inventory) Management, Performance Management, and Security Management capabilities. It also includes a geographical topology map, a navigation tree with domain hierarchy, and dashboard reporting of alarms, inventory, user login, and license installation information.

In addition to these standard FCAPS capabilities, advanced feature options are available. Each option is enabled by a software license key with no additional installation required. The modular architecture allows network operators to deploy TimePictra to meet current needs while simplifying future upgrades to meet future business requirements. Options include capabilities that enhance security, performance monitoring, the reporting function, as well as an option for creating management groups to simplify policy administration in large networks, and the ability to customise the dashboard for each user.

End-to-End Visibility of IEEE 1588 PTP

With next-generation networks increasingly standardising on the IEEE 1588-2008 Precision Time Protocol (PTP), TimePictra allows network operators not only to manage the PTP Grandmaster clocks in the network, but also to monitor the health and performance of PTP client clocks distributed throughout the network – including clients not supplied by Microchip. It can add or delete client clocks and monitor their status based on sync flow detection. An alarm is created if a clock disappears from the network. When used with Microchip grandmaster, optical boundary clocks, enhanced PRTCs, TimePictra monitors your timing network to ensure it is secure, redundant, protected and meeting the right timing margins that cutting edge networks demand.

Network Operations Integration

Many network operators integrate synchronisation management systems with their operating systems for centralised management of multi-vendor, diverse equipment environments. TimePictra enables integration of its northbound interface using SNMP for alarm integration and TeMIP northbound for alarm and topology integration.

Key Benefits

  • Low resource deployment
  • Intuitive multi-window GUI for easy management
  • Scalable architecture for future expansion
  • PTP client performance monitoring

The Chronos difference

Contact the Chronos team to discuss how TimePictra can monitor your timing network to ensure it is secure, redundant, protected and meeting the tight timing margins that cutting edge networks demand.

 

Key Features

  • Web-based multi-tier software architecture
  • Comprehensive FCAPS management functions
  • Network SLA monitoring and reporting
  • Fully integrated with BlueSky GNSS Firewall technology for a protected and secure network
  • Secure and hardened software
  • Geographical, topology and domain navigation
  • User customisable dashboard
  • High availability option for geographical or cluster protection
  • PTP client management (up to 100,000 PTP clients)
  • Multiple northbound interfaces
  • Operates on standalone or as a virtualised server