Manage time

Precise timing is critical for most module services including data collection, data transfer, and data storage because all events are time-stamped and their order is important. To provide accurate time for these services, you can configure the module to synchronize time with a variety of time sources.

FactoryTalk Historian ME can periodically check external time sources to synchronize its time settings. The synchronization is based on a single selected time source that coordinates time accuracy among different devices in your FactoryTalk environment. You can synchronize the module’s Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) with a controller (preferred solution) or a network NTP time server computer. Alternatively, you can set the time manually.

Changing the module time may affect its performance and services. If you change the module time to a past time compared to the current module time, the module will reboot into safe mode if the time change results in either of the following:

If the module enters safe mode, repair the archive files and get the module out of safe mode.

For details, see Repair archives using safe mode.