Timeserver
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A timeserver is a computer networking device that reads the actual time from a reference clock and distributes this information to its clients using a computer network.
The most important and widely-used protocol for distributing and synchronising time is the Network Time Protocol (NTP), though other less-popular or outdated time protocols continue in use.
The time reference used by a timeserver could be another timeserver, a connected radio clock or an atomic clock. The most common true time source is a GPS or GPS master clock. Timeservers are sometimes multi-purpose network servers, dedicated network servers, or dedicated devices. All a dedicated timeserver does is provide accurate time.
An existing network server (e.g. a file server) can become a timeserver with additional software. The NTP homepage provides a free and widely-used reference implementation of the NTP server and client for many popular operating systems. The other choice is a dedicated timeserver device.
The term "stratum" is used to distinguish the accuracy or closeness to a true time server. The stratum indicates the place of a particular time server in a hierarchy of servers. The scale is 0 to 14 where 0 is the most accurate and likely an atomic clock. Some time clients will reject a time update from a server whose stratum is too high. This can be a pitfall for administrators setting up an in-house time server with no true time source.
