Configuring the Network Time Service

The Network Time Protocol Client

The Ethernet communication module includes a network time protocol (NTP) client. After you enable the network time service, you can configure the it by:

identifying two external NTP servers—a primary server, and a secondary server—the Ethernet communication module uses to synchronize its internal time setting
specifying the time zone location of the module
enabling the automatic adjustment of the module internal time setting for daylight saving time changes

The Ethernet communication module sends its internal time setting to the PLC controller over the shared backplane. The PLC manages an internal clock to maintain this time, and uses the time setting to time-stamp system events and I/O data.

NOTE: The network time service is available only when you first perform the following tasks:

upgrade the firmware in the TSX ETC 101 Ethernet communication module to version 2.01 or higher
select the TSX ETC 101.2 Ethernet communication module for your project using Unity Pro version 7.0 or higher

NOTE: Unity Pro is the former name of Control Expert for version 13.1 or earlier.

Operation of the network time service can be monitored and diagnosed in:

You can configure the network time service only in the following page:

To display this page:

Step	Description
1	Select the Services node in the navigation tree located on the left side of the Device Editor. The Services page opens.
2	In the Services page, set the Network Time Service field to Enabled. The Network Time Service node appears in the navigation tree.
3	Select the Network Time Service node in the navigation tree.

Viewing and Configuring Network Time Service Settings

The following settings can be viewed and edited in this page:

Property	Description
NTP Server Configuration:
Primary NTP Server IP Address	The IP address of the NTP server, from which the Ethernet communication module first requests a time setting.
Secondary NTP Server IP Address	The IP address of the back-up NTP server, from which the Ethernet communication module requests a time setting, after not receiving a response from the primary NTP server.
Polling Period	The frequency (1...120 seconds) the Ethernet communication module uses for requesting a time setting from the NTP server. Default = 18 seconds.
Time Zone:
Time Zone Setting	The time zone associated with the Ethernet communication module, selected from a list that includes time zones around the globe. Default = Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) + 0 minutes.
Timezone Offset	The number of minutes (–1439...+1439) used to adjust the Time Zone Setting. Default = 0 minutes.
Daylight Saving:
Automatically adjust clock for daylight saving	Enabled: turns ON the automatic clock adjustment for daylight savings. Disabled: turns OFF the automatic clock adjustment for daylight savings. Default = Disabled. If automatic adjustment of the clock for daylight savings is enabled, use the next two fields to configure daylight saving adjustments.
Start Daylight Saving	Month	Select the month daylight savings begins. Default = March.
	Day of Week	Select the day of the week daylight savings begins. Default = Sunday.
	Week#	Select the week of the month that daylight savings begins. Default = 1 (first week of the month).
End Daylight Saving	Month	Select the month daylight savings ends. Default = November.
	Day of Week	Select the day of the week daylight savings ends. Default = Sunday.
	Week#	Select the week of the month that daylight savings ends. Default = 1 (first week of the month).