Looking for SyncServer S350 SAASM cf card image

[cg@chilia.com]

Hi,

I saw that there are some people using old SyncServers around here.
I recently obtained two SyncServer S350 SAASM equipped with Rubidium standards but somebody wiped the flash cards. I tried to boot it with an original flash card of an 250i and with a CF card created with the image that is floating around for 250s and I had some kind of luck: The unit boots, is accessible via the web interface and displays the time on the front. However, the menu buttons are not working and the unit does not recognise any of the 350 features like timing nor the Rubidium standard (it says unknown oscillator type). However, the header is recognising the 350.

It would be great if anybody has an image of a S350 oder S350 SAASM cf card.

Best regards and thanks for your help in advance!
  Christian

[SoundTech-LG]

Pretty incredible it boots with S-250 FW. I wonder if that image is one I created a while back from of the S-200s that I converted to S-250s?
Good luck in your search for S-350 CF Card image. Microsemi Microchip won't be of any help.

[cg@chilia.com]

Yes, I tried it with your imgc image as well and it booted  It seems they are all x86 based and at least have a similiar NIC onboard. However, all of the cool features of the S350 are gone. I tried to ask Microsemi for help, but obviously no help at all. They tried to sell me new units.

[SoundTech-LG]

Yes, they have perfected Corporate Greed and Customer Disservice...  wonderful folks!

[cg@chilia.com]

That changed quite dramatically. When they were still Symmetricom I asked them for the Monitor Software for my EOL PRS-50 cesium beam tube and they even sent me the cable for free with a PostIt on it: have Fun!

Anyway, it seems impossible to get a S300 or S350 Firmware image. I think there is almost no chance to use the whole server with open software, I didn‘t even manage to get Debian booting, via VGA pin header it just doesn’t show anything like a BIOS it just says „No OS found“.

If there is anybody interested in fotos of the server I can post them here. Maybe they can be useful for somebody playing around with these units.

[smgvbest]

Hi,
I've been playing now with several of the Syncserver units and have a S350.   I've enabled most all features on mine (these are not stored on the CFCARD, but in the EEPROM)

pics of some features below

I want to upgrade mine to a Rubidium Oscillator and need some Hires pics of Rabidium Used and interface board/cable
i'm happy to provide a CF Dump of both cards from my unit if there is still interest

[drdmr]

Hi Sandra, I have an S350 with the Rubidium oscillator. I can shut it down, open it up, and take some pictures of the insides. In return, could you point me to directions on how to enable any additional options? My unit has PTP enabled, but you have more options listed on the "Timing" tab in the "Status" page, and more tabs in the "System" page. You also have a page on the left that I don't, called "Monitoring". Below are some screenshots from my unit's web interface. Thanks in advance for your help, -- Dean

[smgvbest]

Enabling the features is actually really easy
logon and become root.   if you can not let me know and I can help you hack /etc/shadow and /etc/sshd to allow it

after you aer in as root
run /sbin/seeprom
 you will see

Code: [Select]

root@ntp1:~# seeprom

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Symmetricom, TTM
                         SyncServer Nonvolatile Storage
                         Version 1.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1. Initialize S350 seeprom               2. Set seeprom size     
  3. Read checksum                         4. Update checksum     
  5. Read HW rev byte                      6. Set HW rev byte     
  7. Read HW rev extension                 8. Set HW rev extension
  9. Read Model String                    10. Set Model String     
 11. Read Serial Number                   12. Set Serial Number   
 13. Read options data                    14. Set options data     
 15. Read options ext data                16. Set options ext data
 17. Read reserved String                 18. Set reserved String 
 19. Read LAN1 Data                       20. Set LAN1 Data       
 21. Read LAN1 MAC                        22. Set LAN1 MAC         
 23. Read LAN2 Data                       24. Set LAN2 Data       
 25. Read LAN2 MAC                        26. Set LAN2 MAC         
 27. Read LAN3 Data                       28. Set LAN3 Data       
 29. Read LAN3 MAC                        30. Set LAN3 MAC         
 31. Read LANG Data                       32. Set LANG Data       
 33. Read LANG MAC                        34. Set LANG MAC         
 35. Read Future String                   36. Set Future String   
 37. Read Oscillator Type                 38. Set Oscillator Type 
 39. Read Options                         40. Set Options         
 41. Read Options Ext                     42. Set Options Ext     
 43. Initialize S250 Rev1 seeprom         44. Initialize S250 Rev2 seeprom
 45. Show SEEPROM Contents
 0.  Exit the Program...........................................................
     Select Option:
run options 40 and 42,  basically enable everything
note: there are some that are mutually exclusive,

reboot the unit and you should have everything.
there's not real protection.   even the options just use the direct interface for seeprom to update those settings

So far the Monitor page does not work.   still trying to figure out why


pictures of the Rubidium would be helpfull.   close up near the main board connector so I can see if any components need to be changed would be helpful as well

[drdmr]

Hi, thanks for your reply. Does this earlier post from you contain the instructions I should follow to enable root?
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/metrology/symmetricom-s200-teardownupgrade-to-s250/msg2952418/#msg2952418

[drdmr]

Okay, I followed the instructions in your earlier post and...success! Thank you! Now I just need to figure out how to set up a T1/E1 input, because I hate seeing red on the Timing status tab below. But first, I'll shut down my unit, open it up, and get some photos for you. Thanks again, -- Dean

[drdmr]

Hi Sandra, here are some pictures of the inside of my S350-Rb. It may take quite a few posts to get them all uploaded!

I'll keep the SyncServer disconnected a while longer, so please let me know if you want any additional photos. Thanks, -- Dean

[drdmr]

Next photos

[drdmr]

More pics

[drdmr]

More than half uploaded now...

[drdmr]

Next pics

[drdmr]

Last photos here! Again, please let me know if you want any more, thanks. -- Dean

[smgvbest]

Thank you very much for the pics,   this confirms it is a SA.22 Rubidium they used which I have.
is there any chance you could get a pick of the underside of the little PCB plugged into the SA.22 Rubidium?
I know it might be more disassembly than you want to do so understand if you can't

Sandra

[smgvbest]

Okay, I followed the instructions in your earlier post and...success! Thank you! Now I just need to figure out how to set up a T1/E1 input, because I hate seeing red on the Timing status tab below. But first, I'll shut down my unit, open it up, and get some photos for you. Thanks again, -- Dean

Yes,  That was me,  and thats what I would have refered you too,   glad it worked for you

I take it you don't have a T1/E1 board on your s350 either?

that would be be the next project,  to find one or reverse engineer one

[smgvbest]

one more request if possible.

I've worked out the following pinout so far from your pics and mine

Blue: FACMOS (10Mhz Out)
Black: GND
Yellow: FREQ CTRL (DAC)
Orange: VIN (5V or 15V)?
White:   RX???
Gray: TX?
Red: VDD (5V or 15V)

The white and gray should be the serial connection I would think

Could you check the voltages on the Orange and Red leads and let me know whats there.

for Reference
 Microsemi_SA_22c_User_Guide_097-16313-201D.pdf (1620.67 kB - downloaded 157 times.)

[drdmr]

Okay, I measured the voltages on the P3 connector on the main board. (FWIW, this was shortly after applying power, and without the GPS antenna connected.) Starting from pin 1 near the edge of the main board, I got the following:

Pins 1-3 (blue, black, yellow): 0V
Pin 4 (orange): 15.3V
Pin 5 (white): 5.1V
Pin 6 (gray): 0V
Pin 7 (red): 5.1V

I also did some disassembly and got the photos you wanted, but I need a bit more time to process and post them -- will try to do that tomorrow.

[drdmr]

FYI, I measured those voltages without the mating connector attached. It just occurred to me you may want/need the voltages with the wires connected? If so, just let me know and I can do that tomorrow also.

[notfaded1]

The security on these 200 and 300 series leave at LOT to be desired.  Pretty disappointing if I paid as much as they ask for these.  Luckily I got mine pretty cheap.  Maybe that's why they hide all their docs and software now since becoming Microsemi and being busted on their security while still Symmetricom.  You can find many mentions on various vulnerability databases for these.  They are pretty ntp appliances though... I like the VFD time display on the front.  You can read it from a ways away when you select the big digit mode.  I've been experimenting with watching for the drift while on the Rb during standby.  Not exactly scientific right now but I unplugged the antenna and am letting it run on the Rb for a few weeks in my lab.  All in good fun.

Bill

[drdmr]

Bill, yes, though flip side of the security holes can be a benefit to folks like us who bought these units as discontinued, surplus devices. With full root access, would it be possible to update the ntp software to something more modern? If so, has anyone successfully done that?

Then there's the WNRO issue, which I believe will affect these units relatively soon (2021-2022?). I saw an earlier thread where some of you were discussing that, but has anyone found a patch? I guess we still have a bit more time.

Sandra, I had a bit of the workday from hell today, so I haven't had a chance to get back to my S350-Rb pictures and voltage measurements yet, but I will.

Dean

[drdmr]

Hi Sandra, I measured voltages again, this time at the wire ends/crimps inside the P3 connector when plugged into the board (duh). I also used a somewhat better meter. Here's what I got -- a bit more interesting than before:

Blue (wire at pin 1): 2.44V
Black (2): 0.0V
Yellow (3): 2.50V
Orange (4): 15.3V
White (5): 5.04V initially, then dropped to 1.18V after a minute or two
Gray(6): 0.10V
Red (7): 5.14V

Does that help answer your questions on the function of each wire?

I still owe you those photos of the board underneath the Rb oscillator -- will post as soon as I get a bit more time. -- Dean

[smgvbest]

Hi Dean,

Yes, that does,   It pretty much confirms this pinout (just a swap of Rx/Tx from my initial guess)

Blue: FACMOS (10Mhz Out)
Black: GND
Yellow: FREQ CTRL (DAC)
Orange: VIN 15V
White:   Tx  (xmit from oscillator)
Gray: Rx
Red: VDD 5V

I'll have to come up with a PCB to interface the SA.22

Hi Sandra, I measured voltages again, this time at the wire ends/crimps inside the P3 connector when plugged into the board (duh). I also used a somewhat better meter. Here's what I got -- a bit more interesting than before:

Blue (wire at pin 1): 2.44V
Black (2): 0.0V
Yellow (3): 2.50V
Orange (4): 15.3V
White (5): 5.04V initially, then dropped to 1.18V after a minute or two
Gray(6): 0.10V
Red (7): 5.14V

Does that help answer your questions on the function of each wire?

I still owe you those photos of the board underneath the Rb oscillator -- will post as soon as I get a bit more time. -- Dean