How to synchronize a TSN IEEE 802.1AS enabled cRIO network to NTP

[ChrisFarmerWIS]

We have a Cisco IE4000 switch, and 8 cRIO-9056 modules hanging off the switch which are TSN enabled, however they are all different from global traceable time and gradually drifting.

How can we setup the Cisco switch so that it can sync with a global NTP time server, and then ensure all cRIOs have the correct time and are all synchronised with each other via TSN?  It seems like we can only have one or the other"?

We've raised with NI, but we've recommended to work this out with Cisco (despite NI heavily promoting the Cisco switch as the switch of choice for TSN back in the day).

I am posting here in the hope that someone at NI knows how to set this up!

Other Information:

• Sync time across all the cRIOs using Cisco IE4000 (802.1AS)
• The cRIOs are connected to the IE4000 in a star topology
• The IE4000 NTP is configured to sync time with the time servers at their university
• TSN has been enabled
• Confirmation required on CNC software (Cisco provided CNC software was provided for test purposes only, no support)
• Are the TSN bridges required?
• Can the switch be the grandmaster clock as it is always in sync with NTP (takes care of drift over time)?
• According to this NI article, Global traceable time is "Optional" for 802.1AS

We raised this same issue on the Cisco forum, and we found out about their "CNC" software that apparently never ended up getting released. They followed up with a few points/questions:

• This is not an official product.  You cannot get support from Cisco TAC.   

• This cannot be put into production. This is for evaluation or proof of concept only. 

• What are the end devices you plan to use?  They must support PTP 802.1AS, and 8021.Qbv for your eval to be successful.

• Is this purely for educational type research?

Did anyone ever make this work?  

Thanks for any help you can provide.