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poll a stratum-1 server

 
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Tim Nelson
Honored Contributor

poll a stratum-1 server

I understand how to use ntp within our organization's Intranet to sync time.

However I don't know how to take the next most important step, which is having the master server(s) in our Intranet accept broadcasts from an Internet Stratum-1 server. Nor do I know the IP address of a Stratum-1 server.

I'm assuming the master in our Intranet would also need to be configured as a client to accept broadcasts from a Stratum-1 server on the Internet, thus the master must have access to the Internet. Additionally, I believe I'd need to be able to ping this Stratum -1.

I apologize if this has been hashed over numberous times on the forum, possibly I'm missing something obvious.

Could someone please provide a link or answer to this question?

Thanks,
4 REPLIES 4
Kofi ARTHIABAH
Honored Contributor
Solution

Re: poll a stratum-1 server

Yes you are right Tim, ntp has been widely discussed in the forums do a search (button in top left of your screen) - to start you off here you are:

http://my1.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,1150,0xe95f7e990647d4118fee0090279cd0f9!0,00.html
http://my1.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,1150,0xe95f7e990647d4118fee0090279cd0f9!0,00.html

..and to answer your questions:

rather than accepting broadcasts from the internet, I would rather suggest that you pool the server - you can check the list at: http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~mills/ntp/clock1.htm
for a list of publicly accessible ntp servers.

If you are behind a firewall, you would have to get your firewall admin to let your ntp traffic through.

Good luck
nothing wrong with me that a few lines of code cannot fix!
Madhu Sudhan_1
Respected Contributor

Re: poll a stratum-1 server

Follow the URL http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~ntp/ to get latest IPs of Time Servers on the net.

Follow this URL for configuration information.

http://docs.hp.com/hpux/onlinedocs/B2355-90759/B2355-90759.html

I don't think its a good idea to allow Internet-ntp-broadcasts into your network. Let your server be a client to stratum-n server on the internet and also a brodcast-server in your lan.

Hope this helps.

...Madhu
Think Positive
rick jones
Honored Contributor

Re: poll a stratum-1 server

you should really question whether or not you really need to get time from a stratum-1 server. if you are that keen on accurate time, you might be better-off getting a radio clock of some flavor - GPS or the like. with that, your own server can be stratum 1, and you do not need to worry about getting access to a time server on the internet.

there is however a stratum-1 (?) time server at ntp-cup.hp.com that i know has been discussed out in netnews. it gets time via a GPS receiver
there is no rest for the wicked yet the virtuous have no pillows
Tim Malnati
Honored Contributor

Re: poll a stratum-1 server

If you use SAM to configure NTP you will need to declare at least two stratum 1 or stratum 2 servers. SAM will write this data in /etc/ntp.conf (man 1M). If you choose to have several servers to sync to you can also use the PREFER directive to give preference to the ones you feel are the most reliable. I really question if broadcast time sync is available on the internet. Somehow I doubt that it's being passed through the various routers you'll need to traverse.

If security is a REALLY big thing, NTP has the capability of secure authentication. You will need to make special arangements with a couple of the stratum 1 providers to accomplish it though (probably with a fee). My guess is that the only users that have a need for this level of security are organizations like the military, high level financial institutions, etc. I would bet that Al Gore has NTP in use at his residence in the Naval Observatory compound, but I wonder if across town at the White House if they are syncing with NTP at all?