System and method for multiple backplane time synchronization
A system and method for synchronizing multiple backplanes within an information handling system are disclosed. An information handling system includes a first controller that may be operable to generate a time command at a predetermined time interval. A backplane including a second controller is communicatively coupled to the first controller. The second controller may be operable to receive the time command from the first controller and calculate a skew for the time command based at least on a location of the backplane. The second controller may further be operable to adjust a time domain of the backplane based on the calculated skew for the time command to synchronize the backplane.
1. An information handling system configured to provide time synchronization in a backplane, the information handling system comprising:
a controller configured to generate a time command at a predetermined time interval;
a multiplexer communicatively coupled to the controller; and
a backplane communicatively coupled to the controller, the backplane including a backplane controller configured to:
receive the time command from the controller;
calculate a skew for the time command based at least on a location of the backplane and a delay caused by a multiplexer, the multiplexer communicatively coupled between the backplane and the controller; and
adjust a time domain for the backplane based on the skew for the time command.
2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a baseboard management controller or a random access card controller.
3. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the backplane controller comprises a storage enclosure processor controller.
4. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the backplane controller is further configured to calculate the skew for the time command based at least on one of a setup delay, a toggle delay, and synchronization delay.
5. The information handling system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the backplane controller configured to:
receive the time command from the controller at a first time;
calculate the skew for the time command based at least on the location of the backplane and the first time; and
adjust the time domain for the backplane based on the skew for the time command; and
a second backplane communicatively coupled to the controller, the second backplane including a second backplane controller configured to:
receive the time command from the controller at a second time;
calculate a second skew for the time command based at least on a location of the second backplane and the second time; and
adjust a second time domain for the second backplane based on the second skew for the time command such that the time domain and the second time domain are synchronized.
6. The information handling system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of backplanes organized in at least one logical group.
7. The information handling system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second backplane communicatively coupled to the backplane.
8. The information handling system of claim 7 , wherein the backplane controller is configured to:
determine a delay time based at least on the delay time caused by the backplane; and
provide a new time command to the second backplane based at least on the delay time caused by the backplane.
9. A backplane comprising a controller including:
a processor;
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; and
processing instructions encoded in the memory, the processing instructions, when executed by the processor, operable to perform operations comprising:
receiving a time command;
calculating a skew for the time command based at least on a location of the backplane and a transmittal delay caused by a multiplexer communicatively coupled between the backplane and the controller; and
adjusting a time domain for the backplane based on the calculated skew for the time command to synchronize the backplane.
10. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the processing instructions are further operable to perform operations comprising calculating the skew for the time command based at least on a broadcast time for the time command.
11. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the processing instructions are further operable to perform operations comprising calculating the skew for the time command based at least on one of a setup delay, a toggle delay, and synchronization delay.
12. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the controller comprises a storage enclosure processor controller.
13. A method for providing time synchronization in a backplane, the method comprising:
receiving a time command from a controller at a backplane controller, the backplane controller associated with a backplane;
calculating a skew for the time command based at least on a location of the backplane and a transmittal delay caused by a multiplexer communicatively coupled between the controller and the backplane; and
adjusting a time domain for the backplane based on the calculated skew for the time command to synchronize the backplane.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the controller comprises a baseboard management controller or a random access card controller.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the backplane controller comprises a storage enclosure processor controller.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein calculating the skew for the time command further comprises calculating the skew based at least on a broadcast time for the time command.
17. The method of claim 13 , calculating the skew for the time command further comprises calculating the skew based at least on one of a setup delay, a toggle delay, and synchronization delay.