Proposal to Acquire PTP Hardware and Housing for Existing Hardware

Introduction:

Currently, the Roko network development team possesses three completed Timecards (https://store.timebeat.app/products/ocp-tap-timecard-mini-gold-edition?variant=42665121677483) as well as three Secure Compute Modules. These are hardened RPi CM4s loaded with an HSM that is BIP 32/39/44 compliant and can store up to 640 key slots, both public/private and foreign (https://store.zymbit.com/products/secure-compute-module-scm4).

These two powerful units require housing. With a bit of additional compute power and some storage, along with housing as a standalone unit, we can control and distribute our PTP time source to the Roko Network.

Benefits and Importance of PTP:

PTP for Relay Networks:

Enhanced Data Transmission: By ensuring precise synchronization between relay nodes, PTP minimizes the chances of data collisions, thereby boosting the overall efficiency of the network.

Optimized Network Performance: PTP synchronizes the clocks of all nodes within the network, leading to improved network performance by reducing latency and jitter.

Resilience in Adverse Conditions: The Best Master Clock Algorithm of PTP allows for automatic selection and switching to a new master clock if the current one fails, thereby enhancing the network's time synchronization resilience.

PTP for IoT Devices:

Consistent Data: IoT devices frequently collect and transmit data at regular intervals. PTP guarantees accurate timestamps, eliminating potential data inconsistencies that could occur from unsynchronized clocks.

Precise Coordinated Actions: IoT devices often need to synchronize their actions with each other or a central server. PTP ensures all devices have synchronized clocks, enabling them to coordinate their actions accurately.

Enhanced Security: Certain security protocols depend on time synchronization. PTP provides accurate timekeeping, allowing IoT devices to authenticate themselves and securely communicate with other devices.

PTP for Blockchain Systems:

Accurate Transaction Ordering: The order of transactions is vital in blockchain systems. PTP provides the necessary precise time synchronization for accurately timestamping and ordering transactions.

Improved Network Consensus: Blockchain networks depend on consensus algorithms, many of which require accurate timekeeping to function correctly. PTP can boost the performance and reliability of these algorithms.

Seamless Interoperability: Blockchain networks often need to interact with external systems like financial systems, medical devices, and telecom assets. The accurate time synchronization provided by PTP can enable seamless and reliable interactions between blockchain networks and these systems.

Controlling our source of time for the Roko Network is crucial. It is a key component in most critical infrastructure systems today, and these are just a few examples of how PTP can enhance our user experience and security for devices that heavily rely on highly accurate timestamping.

Proposal:

To acquire the following parts to complete six fully housed PTP devices to be distributed amongst the core development team:

6x $85 Intel Core i3-10105F 4-Core Comet Lake Processor 3.70GHz 8GT/s 6MB LGA 1200 CPU

3x $425 Shuttle XPC Slim XH510G2 Barebone System - Socket LGA-1200-1 x Processor Support

3x $370 Shuttle XPC Slim XH410G Mini Barebone PC Intel H410 Support 65W Cometlake-s LGA1200 CPU PCI-E X16 Slot No Ram No HDD/SSD No CPU No OS (Vesa Mount Included)

6x $140 Seagate BarraCuda 5TB Internal Hard Drive HDD – 2.5 Inch SATA 6Gb/s 5400 RPM 128MB Cache for Computer Desktop PC (ST5000LM000)

12x $55 SAMSUNG 980 SSD 1TB PCle 3.0x4, NVMe M.2 2280, Internal Solid State Drive, Storage for PC, Laptops, Gaming and More, HMB Technology, Intelligent Turbowrite, Speeds of up-to 3,500MB/s, MZ-V8V1T0B/AM

3x $315 Timebeat TimeCard mini Base Board (PCIe Carrier board)

3x $250 Secure Compute Modules, Hardened RPi CM4s

Total $6090 in parts + $110 for shipping/taxes/Eth Gas fees = $6200

Thank you for your consideration!

-Myzurn