Synchronizing the Impenetrable Vault
The Impenetrable Vault is connected to the proxy machine via a one-way internet connection. To send transactions to the blockchain, the Impenetrable Vault sends the signed transaction to the proxy and the proxy passes it along to the internet at large. The proxy also receives all communication from the internet. Transaction confirmations, deposits, all of it only gets as far as the proxy machine.
The Impenetrable Vault needs to be kept up to date somehow. The proxy cannot send any information upstream, so it relies on the human factor to stay current.
This article covers how to keep the Impenetrable Vault in line with reality.
Sync currency amounts
Currencies are synchronized on a per-account and per-currency basis. Different currencies require different information to be input into the Impenetrable Vault. This information may be a Nonce, total amount of funds, deposit code, etc. The Sync button is available on all screens. The process illustrated here is generalized and can be applied to all currencies.
Select Sync at the top of the side bar menu.
Select an account and currency with the drop-down menus.
The Impenetrable Vault displays a popup asking you to input information. Do not type anything yet. The type of information is specific for each currency and may not be exactly as shown below.
The subsequent steps require both the Impenetrable Vault and the proxy machine, where the Proxy Sync or System messages will appear with the information you need.
Navigate to the proxy area of the proxy machine. This will show a log of messages. The newest message states exactly what you need to input on the Impenetrable Vault.
The latest information may show up under either "Sync" or "System Messages". Check both tabs to find the information matching the Impenetrable Vault's request.
Some messages are longer, such as the BTC Sync message:
In cases like this, make sure to match the information being requested to the appropriate column of the proxy output.
Input the information displayed on the proxy into the corresponding field on the Impenetrable Vault, then click the button to continue.
The button may be labelled "Add", "Update", "Continue", or something else. No matter the label, the same process happens when you click it:
- The Impenetrable Vault pushes the information you input, along with an expected verification code, to the proxy.
- The proxy checks the information from the Impenetrable Vault against what is in its database.
- The proxy either:
- detects the information is correct and displays the verification code
- detects a mistake in the information input and tells you what to correct
Either input the verification or correction on the Impenetrable Vault.
Synchronizing just one currency may require repeating steps four, five, and six any number of times.
When taking time to synchronize an account's transactions on the Impenetrable Vault, best practice is to perform the sync procedure for all currencies with assets on the account.
Sync Clock
Networked computers keep their time synchronized using an internet clock. They do have a clock chip which keeps time between synchronizations and while the system is shut down, but when operating most networked computers regularly refer to an online clock to keep their internal clocks calibrated.
Your Impenetrable Vault cannot access the internet, so it cannot check its own clock against a global standard. It does, however time-stamp the information it transmits to the rest of the Custody Infrastructure system, and, by extension, to the blockchain.
The MPC, on the other hand, does keep its clock synced via the internet. By checking the Impenetrable Vault's timestamps against its own time clock, the MPC can see if the Impenetrable Vault's clock becomes out-of-sync with the rest of the system.
When the MPC detects that the Impenetrable Vault is out-of-sync with the real time, it pushes a notification to the desktop and mobile apps.
Synchronization Procedure
An admin must perform the Impenetrable Vault clock sync as it involves changing the system preferences.
Open the System Preferences on the Impenetrable Vault and click Sync Clock.
Check the Proxy machine. There will be a notification at the top of the desktop app indicating how many seconds off the Impenetrable Vault is:
Input the number of seconds indicated into the Impenetrable Vault Set the Time Difference popup and click update.
After verification, the Impenetrable Vault sleeps for the input number of seconds. During this time, its clock stays frozen. When the Impenetrable Vault wakes, the clock will be in-sync with the rest of the solution.