UfiSpace N3100-4C User manual

Issued Date
17 - July - 2023
Version: 1.1
Unifying Cloud & Carrier Networks
N3100-4C
5G Timing Adapter
Installation Guide

5G Timing Adapter Installation Guide
2
Revision History
Revision
Release Date
Summary of Description
Author
1.0
17 July 2023
-First Draft Release.
Winston Lai

5G Timing Adapter Installation Guide
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Contents
1. Introduction................................................................................................................................. 4
2. Installation................................................................................................................................... 4
2.1 Hardware Compatibility and Requirement ..................................................................... 5
2.2 Installing the Adapter...................................................................................................... 5
3. LED indicators.............................................................................................................................. 6
3.1 Front Panel LED............................................................................................................... 6
4. Driver, Firmware and Related Software...................................................................................... 7
4.1 Driver, Firmware Installation........................................................................................... 7
4.2 Related Software Installation.......................................................................................... 8

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1. Introduction
The UfiSpace N3100-4C is a 5G timing adapter that delivers accurate and reliable
synchronization for COTS (Commercial of the Shelf) servers to address the O-RAN Open
Fronthaul requirement.
By offloading the Precision Time Protocol (PTP) stack and servo from the COTS server, the
N3100-4C will deliver stringent timing synchronization needed for end-to-end solution in O-RAN
infrastructure. Equipped with Stratum 3E OXCO, high performance FPGA and in-house software
stack complied with PTP and SyncE standards, N3100-4C provides Class C timing accuracy for
various use cases such as 5G O-RAN fronthaul, data centers, High-Frequency Trading (HFT) and
industrial automation. With all the software stack running on top of the adapter, it eliminates
the extra integration and validation effort and ensures consistent timing performance under
heavy DU CPU workload.
The N3100-4C is future-proofed with Intel E-810 controller, 4x 10GE/25GE interfaces, and
multiple timing source including GNSS, 1PPS and 10MHz. It provides full timing features
supporting Grand Master (T-GM), Boundary Clock (T-BC), and G8275.1 telecom profile and can
fulfill O-RAN defined synchronization topology (LLS C1, C2, C3) requirement.
This document describes the command needed for N3100-4C.
Figure 1 N3100-4C
2. Installation
This chapter covers how to install Intel Ethernet adapters.
Overview of the installation:

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1. Make sure the operating system is Linux.
2. Insert the adapter(s) in device.
3. Attach the copper or fiber network cable(s).
4. Install software, firmware and drivers, please refer to section 4
2.1Hardware Compatibility and Requirement
Before installing the adapter, check your system for the following:
•The open PCI Express slot(The system supports PCIe Gen3 and PCIe Gen4 up to
x16 lanes)
•Required air flow: 500LFM
•Maximum power consumption: 48W
•Operating Temperature: 0 ℃~ 55 ℃
•Storage Temperature: -40℃~ 65℃
•Transceiver:
Supported Physical Layer Interface
25Gbps
10Gbps
DACs
25GBASE-CR
SFP+ Twinax
Optics and AOCs
25GBASE-SR
25GBASE-LR
10GBASE-SR
10GBASE-LR
2.2Installing the Adapter
One open PCI-Express slot, x4, x8, or x16.
1. Turn off and unplug your computer. Then remove the cover.
CAUTION:
•Turn off and unplug the power before removing the computer's cover. Failure to
do so could endanger you or may damage the adapter or computer.
•The adapter is not hot-swappable. Make sure to turn off your computer before
plug or unplug the timing adapter
2. Remove the cover bracket from an available slot.
3. Insert the adapter, pushing it into the slot until the adapter is firmly seated. Excessive force
could break the connector. Use caution when pressing the board in the slot. (Figure 2)
4. Secure the adapter bracket with a screw. (Figure 3)
5. Replace the computer cover and plug in the power cord.
6. Power on the computer.

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Figure 2.
Figure 3.
3. LED indicators
3.1 Front Panel LED
LED Condition
Equipment Status
Sync
Off
The timing card is not activated or not fully inserted in the
PCI Express slot
Solid Green
One of ethernet ports is up and synchronized to timing
source
Solid Amber
Ethernet and synchronization link status are down/lost
Blinking Green
Ethernet ports is up but system timing synchronization is
disable or in free-run hold over mode
Blinking Amber(1/sec)
System works well including Ethernet port but thermal alert
is triggered
Sync LED

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Blinking Amber(4/sec)
Thermal NMI event is triggered and all Ethernet ports are
disable
Ethernet I/O Port(0~3)
Off
Cable is not plugged in/No traffic
Blinking Green
25G TX/RX activity
Blinking Amber
10G or less TX/RX activity
4. Driver, Firmware and Related Software
This section describes the driver, firmware and related software installation.
Note: This document is based on CentOS-7(1908). Minimum requirement: ice-1.7.16 driver with
3.20 NVM.
4.1 Driver, Firmware Installation
1. Follow the steps to install/update the driver of the PCIe timing card:
1.1. Download the source file
Intel® Network Adapter Driver for E810 Series Devices under Linux*
1.2. Install the driver
# tar zxvf ice-1.7.16.tar.gz
# cd ice-1.7.16/src/
# sudo make install
1.3. Remove the older version driver:
# sudo rmmod ice
1.4. Load the new version driver
# sudo modprobe ice
2. Follow the steps to update the firmware of the PCIe timing card:
2.1. Download the source file:
Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) Update Utility for Intel® Ethernet Network Adapters E810
Series—Linux*
2.2. Install the firmware:

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# tar zxvf E810_NVMUpdatePackage_v3_20_Linux.tar.gz
# cd E810/Linux_x64
# chmod 755 nvmupdate64e
# sudo ./nvmupdate64e
2.3. Follow the prompts to update the NVM image on the desired device.
3. Power cycle the system and check the driver and NVM version:
4.2 Related Software Installation
1. Follow the below steps to install ufi-sync-tool-1.0.0-0:
1.1. Download the source file:
ufi-sync-tool-1.0.0-0.x86_64.rpm
(Please refer to our sales for the username and password to access the file.)
1.2. Install ufi-sync-tool:
# sudo rpm -ivh ufi-sync-tool-1.0.0-0.x86_64.rpm
2. Set the IP address of the E810 interface:
# sudo ifconfig p2p1 192.168.176.100
3.. Execute ufiCardMgmt on the DU server to access the PCIe timing card:
# ufiCardMgmt -s 192.168.176.101
For specifics about timing configuration, please refer to UFI Timing Application User Guide.