APX-TS300 High-Performance Network Time Server

APX-TS300 High-Performance Network Time Server

Modular High-Performance GNSS Network Time Server

The APX-TS300 High-Performance Network Time Server is a modular network timing platform designed to provide precise and scalable time synchronization for telecommunications, data centers, financial systems, industrial networks, power systems, transportation, healthcare, and other timing-critical applications.

The system supports NTPv1/v2/v3/v4, SNTP, and optional IEEE 1588v2 PTP, allowing it to provide network time synchronization and timestamp services across a wide range of computer systems, control systems, enterprise applications, and database environments.

Its modular PCIe-based architecture supports flexible expansion of network and timing interfaces, while multiple reference inputs and timing outputs allow the system to be configured for different synchronization architectures.

Key Features

High-Performance NTP Time Service

The APX-TS300 provides high-capacity network timing services for large-scale distributed systems.

• Supports NTPv1 / v2 / v3 / v4
  
• Supports SNTP
  
• Unicast, multicast and broadcast operation
  
• Supports Autokey
  
• Supports IPv4 and IPv6
  
• ≥139,000 NTP requests per second
  
• Supports more than 5,000,000 timing clients
  
• Typical LAN NTP synchronization accuracy of 0.1–2 ms
  
• Complex network NTP synchronization accuracy down to the millisecond range, depending on network conditions
  

The system can operate as a Stratum 1 network time server and can also be configured as a secondary network time server.

GNSS-Based Precision Timing

The APX-TS300 supports GNSS reference inputs, including GPS and BeiDou configurations.

Depending on system configuration, the reference source can operate in:

• GPS-only mode
  
• BeiDou-only mode
  
• GPS + BeiDou combined mode
  

With GNSS reference input, the system provides synchronization accuracy of less than 100 ns under specified conditions.

The hardware 1PPS output provides a UTC timing deviation of less than 30 ns RMS.

Modular PCIe Architecture

The APX-TS300 uses a modular PCIe-based architecture for flexible interface expansion.

The platform provides five PCIe expansion slots, with each slot configurable for:

• 4 × Gigabit Ethernet ports
  
• or 2 × 10 Gigabit optical interfaces
  

This allows the system to support different combinations of copper and optical network interfaces according to project requirements.

The platform can be expanded to support configurations of up to:

• 22 Gigabit Ethernet ports
  
• or 10 optical network ports
  
• or a mixed copper/optical configuration
  

This modular architecture is designed for projects requiring scalable network timing capacity and flexible interface deployment.

NTP and PTP Support

The network interfaces are configured for NTP by default and can be configured through software to support IEEE 1588v2 PTP.

This allows the APX-TS300 to be used in both conventional NTP network synchronization systems and higher-precision PTP-based timing architectures.

Optional PTP input and output functions can be configured according to application requirements.

Multiple Timing Reference Sources

The APX-TS300 supports multiple timing reference sources and automatic reference-source switching based on configured priority.

Supported or optional reference sources include:

• GPS
  
• BeiDou
  
• 1PPS + TOD
  
• IRIG-B
  
• CDMA / 4G timing reference
  
• PTP
  

The multi-reference architecture provides flexibility when integrating the system into different timing infrastructures.

High-Stability Internal Timing Reference

The system can be equipped with an optional internal high-stability timing reference.

Available options include:

• OCXO
  
• Rubidium frequency reference
  

According to the specified configuration, the internal reference can provide holdover performance when the external satellite reference is temporarily unavailable.

Network Redundancy

The APX-TS300 supports network redundancy and high-availability functions, including:

• Network port bonding
  
• Network disaster recovery
  
• Load balancing
  
• Heartbeat detection
  
• Shared virtual IP address
  
• Dual-server hot standby
  

These functions allow the system to be integrated into network architectures requiring high service availability.

Precision Timing Outputs

The APX-TS300 supports multiple timing and frequency outputs depending on configuration.

Available outputs include:

• 1PPS
  
• TOD
  
• IRIG-B
  
• 10 MHz frequency signals
  
• PTP
  
• Dry-contact alarm
  

1PPS Output

• UTC timing deviation:<30 ns="" rms="">
  
• TTL level
  
• Positive edge
  
• 100 ms pulse width
  

TOD Output

• RS232 level
  
• 9600 baud
  
• 8-N-1
  
• NMEA0183-compatible TOD input/output configurations
  

Optional IRIG-B

The system can be configured with IRIG-B timing interfaces.

• RS422 input option
  
• IRIG-B output option
  
• DC output configurations
  
• Compatible with specified IRIG-B timing requirements
  

Optional 10 MHz Output

10 MHz timing/frequency outputs can be configured for systems requiring an external frequency reference.

Network Management

The APX-TS300 provides comprehensive management and monitoring interfaces.

Supported management protocols include:

• SNMPv1/v2/v2c/v3
  
• MIB II / RFC1213
  
• SSH
  
• Telnet
  
• FTP
  
• Console management
  
• SNMP Trap
  
• SYSLOG
  
• Email alarms
  

The Web management interface provides access to system configuration, network settings, NTP settings, reference-source configuration, and system status.

The system can also provide downloadable configuration files and MIB files for network management integration.

Timing Monitoring

The APX-TS300 supports centralized monitoring of the timing system.

Monitoring functions include:

• NTP service status
  
• GNSS reference status
  
• GPS / BeiDou lock status
  
• Network status
  
• Server synchronization status
  
• Time offset
  
• Stratum information
  
• NTP client access
  
• Client time offset
  
• Reference-source status
  
• Threshold alarms
  
• Reference lock-loss alarms
  
• Status-change alarms
  
• Server cluster service-quality monitoring
  

The monitoring system can also support server cluster monitoring and selection based on configured service conditions.

Hardware Interfaces

Standard Interfaces

• 1 × GNSS antenna input
  
• 2 × 10/100/1000M RJ45 Ethernet ports
  
• 1 × RS232 console interface
  
• 1 × 1PPS output
  
• 4 × USB interfaces
  
• 1 × VGA interface
  

Optional Expansion

• Up to 5 PCIe expansion slots
  
• 4 × Gigabit Ethernet per slot
  
• or 2 × 10G SFP+ optical interfaces per slot
  
• External timing reference input
  
• PTP
  
• 10 MHz
  
• IRIG-B
  
• Dry-contact alarm
  
• External battery/DC input
  

Front Panel

The front panel includes a touchscreen interface for displaying and configuring key system parameters.

The display can provide information including:

• Current time
  
• Reference-source lock status
  
• Satellite count
  
• Position information
  
• Network interface IP addresses
  
• System operating status
  
• Satellite priority
  
• Network configuration
  

Three-color status indicators provide visual information regarding:

• GNSS lock status
  
• Internal timing reference status
  
• NTP service communication
  
• System alarms
  

Physical & Environmental Specifications

Applications

The APX-TS300 is suitable for large-scale and high-performance timing networks, including:

• Telecommunications
  
• 5G and Mobile Networks
  
• Data Centers
  
• Financial Networks
  
• Power & Utilities
  
• Industrial Automation
  
• Transportation
  
• Healthcare Networks
  
• Oil & Gas
  
• Enterprise IT Infrastructure
  
• Database Clusters
  
• Distributed Control Systems
  
• Critical Infrastructure
  
• Large-Scale Network Synchronization
  

OEM & Custom Configuration

The modular architecture of the APX-TS300 supports project-specific configurations.

Depending on application requirements, the system can be configured with different combinations of:

• Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
  
• 10 Gigabit optical interfaces
  
• GNSS reference sources
  
• OCXO or Rubidium references
  
• PTP functions
  
• IRIG-B
  
• 10 MHz outputs
  
• External reference inputs
  
• Network redundancy functions
  
• DC power and battery interfaces
  

APEX can support project-based configuration and OEM customization for specific network timing and synchronization requirements.