The Tech Focus

There are hundreds of internet based timing sources that allow
computers running NTP to synchronise to a UTC time - however, there are
several drawbacks in relying on the Internet for a timing reference:

There are hundreds of internet based timing sources that allow computers running NTP to synchronise to a UTC time - however, there are several drawbacks in relying on the Internet for a timing reference:

Security is paramount for most computer networks and NTP, one of the Internet’s oldest protocols, is equipped with its own security measures in the form of authentication. Authentication verifies that each timestamp has come from the intended time reference by analysing a set of agreed encryption keys that are sent along with the timing information.

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This article explains how to configure Windows 2003 to run as a Network Time Server.

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We are all
used to the Sat Nav by now. More and more people are installing those little
black boxes into their cars and throwing away their old paper road maps. The
advantages of satellite navigation are many fold ? from constant updates keeping
the maps current to being able to pin point your location miles from any
landmarks or road signs.

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The world
is becoming an ever smaller place. Modern technology means that it is just as
easy to make a purchase from the other side of the world as it is buy something
from our local high street.

Everything
from hotels and airline tickets to jewellery and clothes can now be bought from
the other side of the world with just a click of mouse.

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The importance of timing synchronisation in a modern computer network.

Copyright (c) 2008 Richard Williams

On occasion we all need to know the time and we have a multitude of different devices to tell us it; from our mobile phones and wrist watches to the office wall clock or the chimes on the radio news.

But how accurate are all these clocks and does it matter if they are all telling different times? For our day-to-day business it probably doesn’t matter too much if the office wall clock is faster than your wrist-watch your boss probably won’t fire you for being a minute late. But in some environments accuracy and synchronisation are vital where a minute can make all the difference in something being sold or not or even something being stolen!

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This article describes the components required to utilise GPS for computer timing applications. It also discusses how the GPS system can be used for computer network timing by using the Network Time Protocol (NTP) and NTP time servers.

Nowadays GPS is most commonly known for vehicle navigation solutions. However, the GPS system can be used for many other useful purposes. For instance, many computer network time synchronisation solutions, such as NTP time servers, use the atomic clocks on board each GPS satellite for accurate timing. The GPS system can be used as an accurate reference clock for synchronising time-critical applications on computers and networks. This article describes how computer systems can utilise GPS time and discusses what equipment is required to provide a precision timing reference.

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