The Time Server Blog
How accurate is the time you receive?
Unfortunately many Internet time servers are wholly inaccurate, however, this free and easy to use tool by Galleon Systems lets you check a server accuracy and reliability. Free to download and complete with instructions – an essential tool for anybody relying on the Internet for UTC time.
To download please visit Galleons NTP server site:
Galleon’s NTP server checker:
Dedicated time servers are used throughout the world to ensure computer networks are synchronised. Not only does a synchronised network offer more security but synchronisation using a dedicated time server can offer legal protection.
Because dedicated time servers use such a secure and reliable method of keeping time (atomic clock signals from either the GPS network or radio broadcasts) the time can be legally audited to few milliseconds. However, networks synchronised using an Internet timing source can not be audited and this can leave these systems open to abuse or even fraud.
Dedicated time servers are also based behind a firewall ensuring the system is protected from any intrusion while an internet based timing source has to have access through the firewall through an open port.
Any company that requires security in its network or protection from fraud must ensure they are using either a GPS or radio referenced time server.
What is a time server?
A time server is a device that utilises a single time source and distributes it amongst a network. This enables all machines on a LAN (or WAN) to be synchronised together.
What is NTP?
Network Time Protocol is a protocol (a set of instructions) designed to distribute the time from a time server top a network.
Why do I need a time server?
It may well be that you don’t. Many small networks survive and operate perfectly without the need of a time server. However, if computers are required to do time sensitive transactions or applications then a time server is essential. Without proper synchronisation all sorts of unforeseen problems can arise and many of the online transactions that we take for granted such as seat reservation, Internet shopping, the stock exchange and even sending emails are reliant on perfect time synchronisation.
What is the best time reference to use?
A single global timescale based on the time told by atomic clocks has been developed called UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). UTC is utilised by networks all over the world. In using UTC you are in affect synchronising your network with every other network in the world that utilises UTC.
Where to I get UTC time from?
The most common and easiest location to receive UTC time is from across the Internet although Internet time sources are notoriously inaccurate. They also provide little security. Apart from the fact the time server is outside your firewall, NTP can’t authenticate these signals. Authentication is a security measure used by NTP to prevent malicious attacks that masquerade as a time server.
The most secure methods for receiving UTC time is by using either the GPS network (global positioning system), whose satellites transmit the timing information or alternatively by using specialist national time and frequency long-wave transmissions although these are not available everywhere.
