
Overview of IP Utilities
304234-A Rev 00
2-15
NTP Overview
The Network Time Protocol (NTP) synchronizes the timing of internal clocks of
various network devices across large, diverse networks to universal standard time.
NTP runs over UDP, which in turn runs over IP. The NTP protocol specification is
documented in RFC 1305.
Each device on the network contains an internal system clock that is used to
maintain accurate time for the device. The internal system clock on most local
devices is set by eye or by wristwatch to within a minute or two of the actual time
and is rarely reset at regular intervals. Many of these clocks are battery-backed
devices that use room temperature clock oscillators that can drift as much as
several seconds each day. NTP solves this problem by automatically adjusting the
time of the devices so that they are synchronized within milliseconds.
The current implementation of NTP supports only NTP client mode. In this mode,
the local NTP client, which runs on a router, accepts time information from other
remote time servers and adjusts its clock accordingly. However, the NTP local
client will not attempt to synchronize another device’s clock.
NTP Terminology
An NTP peer can be any device that runs NTP software. However, the current
implementation of NTP refers to peers as remote time servers that provide time
information to other time servers on the network and to the local NTP client. An
NTP client refers to the local network device -- in this case a router -- that accepts
time information from other remote time servers.
NTP System Implementation Model
NTP is based on a hierarchical model that consists of a local NTP client, which
runs on the router, and a number of remote time servers. The NTP client sends
requests for time information (NTP messages) to and receives time information
from one or more remote time servers. The local NTP client reviews the time
information from all available time servers and synchronizes its internal clock to
the time servers whose time is most accurate. The NTP client does not forward
time information to other devices running NTP.
Comentarios a estos manuales