Chapter 2. CPU Features & Specifications50 PACSystems* RX7i, RX3i and RSTi-EP CPU Reference Manual GFK-2222ADConfigure Time SynchronizationIn order for industrial data time-stamping and Field Agent diagnostic information to operate reliably, itis important for the Field Agent to have an accurate time source. The Field Agent has two methods ofsynchronizing time – either by using a Network Time Protocol (NTP) server or by pulling time from a webpage hosted by an HTTPS web server with its own reliable time source. Either method can be configuredin the Web Console under Technician Console, Time Sync Configuration.Figure 12: Technician Console, Time Sync ConfigurationUsing NTP Time SynchronizationBy default, time synchronization is configured to use the time.windows.com NTP Server. If a valid networkpath to the Internet exists, time will be synchronized when the Field Agent boots and continuously whilerunning. The current date and time on the Field Agent is displayed above the Save button on the TimeSync Configuration page when the page loads, and can be updated by pressing the Save button orreloading the page.To change the NTP server to use for time synchronization enter the new NTP server URL in the NTP Servertextbox and press the Save button. If the new server was successfully configured, a success statementwill be displayed and the updated time will be displayed. If the time and date was more than 20 minutesout of date prior to time synchronization occurring after pressing the Save button, the Web Consolesession may end and an error message may be presented indicating that the session’s timeout had beenreached. Log back into the Web Console to verify the time was updated as expected.Using HTTPS Time SynchronizationTime synchronization can also be configured to use an HTTPS web server's time by pulling it from theheader of the web page it serves. To configure HTTPS time synchronization, select the HTTPS Server radiobutton on the Time Sync Configuration page, enter a valid HTTPS URL, and press the Save button. If anetwork proxy is in use, this time synchronization method will only work with HTTPS URLs that do notrequire a network proxy in order to reach them.If the new HTTPS URL was successfully configured after pressing the Save button, a success statementwill be displayed and the updated time will be displayed. If the time and date was more than 20 minutesout of date prior to time synchronization occurring after pressing the Save button, the Web Consolesession may end and an error message may be presented indicating that the session’s timeout had beenreached. Log back into the Web Console to verify the time was updated as expected.
