Open-sourcing a more precise time appliance (engineering.fb.com)

Article summary

Facebook engineers have built and open-sourced an Open Compute Time Appliance, a device that provides precise timekeeping for modern timing infrastructure. The appliance uses a combination of a GNSS receiver and a miniaturized atomic clock to achieve high accuracy and stability. This technology is important for advanced infrastructure management and faster performance of distributed databases. The design and software of the Time Appliance are available on the Open Compute Project GitHub repository.

Main themes

• precise timekeeping
• distributed databases
• infrastructure management
• GNSS and atomic clocks
• holdover capabilities
• security and robustness

What commenters say

• The need for precise timekeeping in data centers is driven by the requirements of distributed databases and transaction processing.
• The use of a miniature atomic clock in addition to a GNSS receiver provides better precision and stability during holdover periods.
• Some commenters question the need for such high precision timekeeping, suggesting that it may be unnecessary for many applications.
• Others argue that the benefits of precise timekeeping, such as faster transaction processing and improved infrastructure management, outweigh the costs and complexity of implementing this technology.
• The importance of holdover capabilities in case of GNSS signal loss is highlighted, particularly in applications where rapid response to outages is crucial.
• The potential for GPS jamming and spoofing attacks is also discussed, emphasizing the need for robust and secure timekeeping systems.
• Some commenters suggest that alternative approaches, such as using oven-controlled crystal oscillators, could provide similar benefits at lower cost and complexity.