NTP and Linux

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<html> <head> <title>NTP and Linux </title> </head> <body> <h1>NTP and Linux </h1> <div class="info">Author: <a href="http://www.a1articles.com/author_1_149558.html">Graham Gallagher</a></div><div class="body">Linux based operating systems are increasing in popularity all the time. Commercial operating systems like Windows and OS X are constantly being bombarded by viruses and security breaches. There are few viruses that can touch a Linux system and they are of course free for the most part as well. <br /> <br /> Both individuals and businesses are making the switch to one of the many LINUX based operating systems that are freely available. <br /> <br /> Whatever the Linux system chosen keeping accurate time is pretty simple and straight forward.<br /> <br /> Accurate time synchronization is absolutely crucial to many common applications. Online transactions are almost impossible to conduct effectively without a <a href="http://www.industrial-computer-systems.com/network-time-server/network-time-server.htm">synchronized network</a>. Even for the casual home user time synchronization is very useful. E mails that arrive before they are sent can be very confusing!<br /> <br /> Most of the Linux based operating systems contain their own version of Network Time Protocol, which is designed to synchronize the time across a network. For those that do not come with a version attached NTP is actually open source and is available for download at ntp.org.<br /> Windows also contains an NTP, Windows Time. Linux users have an advantage however as it has traditionally been Linux systems that were the development platforms used for NTP. NTP either operates via a time source on the internet or from an external dedicated <a href="http://www.industrial-computer-systems.com/ntp-server/ntp-server.htm">NTP server</a>.<br /> <br /> All of these reference clocks adhere to UTC time, which stands for Universal Coordinated Time. This is a global timescale relayed from atomic clocks that are accurate to within a few nanoseconds.<br /> <br /> The NTP daemon (that is a service program that runs in the background at all times) compares the time shown on a computer with its set timing source and makes any adjustments necessary to keep it accurate.<br /> An NTP daemon is configured via a simple file; ntp.conf. If you wish to use an internet timing source over 200 can be found at pool.ntp.org.<br /> <br /> Many computer experts advise against the use of such internet based timing sources however, as they are unauthenticated and may leave open a doorway for malicious attacks and general abuse.<br /> <br /> The alternative is to use a dedicated NTP time server. These are readily available and provide both better accuracy and increased security. Such servers receive their timing source from either a radio broadcast (MSF in the UK, WWVB in the USA) or via a GPS system.<br /> <br /> After they are installed, which takes about an hour, dedicated NTP servers check the timing of all the clocks on every device installed to a network continuously. Any adjustment that is required is made immediately. <br /> <br /> As for the accuracy of the timing resources; GPS provides time correct to 1-5 nanoseconds, and a radio broadcast 1-20 nanoseconds. Given that a nanosecond is one billionith of a second that is pretty accurate indeed!<br /> </div> <div class="source">Article Source: <a href="http://www.a1articles.com/ntp-and-linux-982266.html">http://www.a1articles.com/ntp-and-linux-982266.html</a></div> <div class="author"> <div class="authorBio"></div> </author> </body> </html>

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NTP and Linux Author: Graham Gallagher Linux based operating systems are increasing in popularity all the time. Commercial operating systems like Windows and OS X are constantly being bombarded by viruses and security breaches. There are few viruses that can touch a Linux system and they are of course free for the most part as well. Both individuals and businesses are making the switch to one of the many LINUX based operating systems that are freely available. Whatever the Linux system chosen keeping accurate time is pretty simple and straight forward. Accurate time synchronization is absolutely crucial to many common applications. Online transactions are almost impossible to conduct effectively without a synchronized network. Even for the casual home user time synchronization is very useful. E mails that arrive before they are sent can be very confusing! Most of the Linux based operating systems contain their own version of Network Time Protocol, which is designed to synchronize the time across a network. For those that do not come with a version attached NTP is actually open source and is available for download at ntp.org. Windows also contains an NTP, Windows Time. Linux users have an advantage however as it has traditionally been Linux systems that were the development platforms used for NTP. NTP either operates via a time source on the internet or from an external dedicated NTP server. All of these reference clocks adhere to UTC time, which stands for Universal Coordinated Time. This is a global timescale relayed from atomic clocks that are accurate to within a few nanoseconds. The NTP daemon (that is a service program that runs in the background at all times) compares the time shown on a computer with its set timing source and makes any adjustments necessary to keep it accurate. An NTP daemon is configured via a simple file; ntp.conf. If you wish to use an internet timing source over 200 can be found at pool.ntp.org. Many computer experts advise against the use of such internet based timing sources however, as they are unauthenticated and may leave open a doorway for malicious attacks and general abuse. The alternative is to use a dedicated NTP time server. These are readily available and provide both better accuracy and increased security. Such servers receive their timing source from either a radio broadcast (MSF in the UK, WWVB in the USA) or via a GPS system. After they are installed, which takes about an hour, dedicated NTP servers check the timing of all the clocks on every device installed to a network continuously. Any adjustment that is required is made immediately. As for the accuracy of the timing resources; GPS provides time correct to 1-5 nanoseconds, and a radio broadcast 1-20 nanoseconds. Given that a nanosecond is one billionith of a second that is pretty accurate indeed! Article Source: http://www.a1articles.com/ntp-and-linux-982266.html About the Author:

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