Five Things to Consider Before Purchasing NTP Time Server

What is NTP?

Network Time Protocol is a protocol for Internet-based software that uses an algorithm to check the clocks in a system and adjust them to drift with reference to a single time source. NTP is not the only time synchronization protocol available, but undoubtedly the most popular, as it has been constantly updated since its development in the late 80′s.

What is UTC?

Coordinated Universal Time is the global calendar, based on Greenwich Meantime (but is in line with the natural deceleration of the Earth by increasing jumps seconds). UTC is governed by a constellation of atomic clocks around the world and is used by computer networks, air traffic control and the commercial world.

What is the network time synchronization?

The synchronization of network time is when all the computers in a network are running at the same time. Synchronization is essential for modern computer networks since a lack of synchronization can lead to data loss, system errors, and failure of time-sensitive transactions and can even leave a network vulnerable to security threats.

Where can I get UTC?

The most common place to receive a UTC time source is, obviously, through the Internet, although users should be warned that these offer no guarantee of accuracy, reliability, and can leave a system vulnerable to security threats as UTC source is beyond the firewall. A more secure and more accurate receipt of the UTC is to use either the network of GPS (Global Positioning System) or radio broadcast specialists provided by several national physics laboratories.

What is the difference between a network time server and NTP server?

Nothing, really interchangeable names, most of network time servers use NTP and are therefore the NTP servers. Other names for these devices are often cited as: time server, atomic clock, time server or time server.