Network Time Protocol (NTP) is a standard protocol for network time synchronization, which can synchronize the time of devices in the network to the exact local time.
How the NTP server works
An NTP server is a device used to manage and allocate network time. It uses a technique called "timestamping" to calibrate the time by comparing the time difference between the client and the server. NTP servers typically keep in sync with accurate clocks, such as satellite clocks, and assign this accurate time to clients.
How to calibrate the network time via the NTP server
Client sends request: A client (usually a computer or device on the network) sends a request to the NTP server to get the exact time.
NTP Server Response: When the NTP server receives a request, it uses its internal accurate clock to generate a timestamp, which is then sent to the client.
Client calibration time: Once the client receives the timestamp, it compares it to the local time, finds the time difference, and then adjusts the local time to match the time of the NTP server.
Continuous synchronization: The client sends requests to the NTP server at regular intervals (e.g., every minute) to keep local time and network time in sync.
Advantages of NTP Server:
Improved accuracy: NTP servers can provide highly accurate time, which is essential for many applications such as financial transactions, system monitoring, and network communication.
Easy to manage: The NTP server can centrally manage all the devices in the network, making it easier to synchronize and adjust the time.
Failback: If a client's timing is off, the NTP server can help restore it to the correct location.
Resource-saving: By handing over time synchronization tasks to a professional NTP server, clients can save resources and better focus on other tasks.
By using the NTP server for network time calibration, we can ensure that the device time in the network remains highly accurate and synchronized. This is critical for many applications that require accurate timekeeping.