Re: IPX OS that supports serial DCD/CTS/RTS for a GPS/PPS NTP clock

On Wed, Aug 03, 2011 at 05:48:39PM -0700, Alex Carver wrote:
> Wow there's a lot of three letter acronyms in that subject.
> 
> The recent thread here about a couple IPXes in search of a good home 
> reminded me about a question that's been bothering me.
> 
> I'm trying to make an NTP server with a GPS input that puts a PPS 
> signal on one of the control lines (CDCD, CTS, or RTS).  The IPXes 
> were previously running Debian but they dropped support for the 
> IPX architecture completely.  I tried OpenBSD which still has 
> support but somehow they've managed to mangle serial support and 
> now only TX/RX is supported but none of the control signals are available.

	I have a Cycle 5 that has been running NetBSD 5.1 reasonably.
FreeBSD is out since the sparc (not sparc64) port died as an infant
long ago.  Unfortunately that's my only lunchbox, so I can't test anything
for you.

	Are you using something like a GPS-18 LVC, or a proper GPS reference
clock?  Many timing receivers (even for WWVB) output IRIG, and the ntpd
audio drivers were developed for hardware like this running SunOS/Solaris.

> Does anyone have a suggestion for an OS that supports full serial, 
> control signals and all?  I heard mention of NetBSD once but I don't 
> remember the details.  My one copy of Solaris doesn't support the IPX 
> either (I have Solaris 8 on CD for another machine).

	Solaris 7 will, but you don't get IPv6 support that way.  I think
I'd try NetBSD first, if you want to do this serially, and SunOS 4.1.3/4
or Solaris if you want to use the audio refclocks (WWV, CHU IRIG from a WWVB
or GPS receiver.)

	--msa