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Chapter
6
6 – SNTP Server
Synchronizing the time….
fter discussing how to setup an SNTP client in an earlier chapter, it is important to figure out
where the synchronizing server or the clock synchronization information comes from. This
chapter discusses the details on how a Magnum switch can be setup as a SNTP server.
A
SNTP - prerequisites
It
is
h
is assumed here that the user is familiar with issues on why time synchronization
needed between systems on a network. If not, sooner or later the importance of
aving the same time for logs, software updates, synchronized or scheduled
restarts etc. will be realized by the system administrator as well as the network
administrator. If the user is not familiar with the importance of time synchronization it is
strongly recommended to read up various articles available on the Internet on this topic.
j
SNTP Server is available only on MNS-6K-SECURE
Not all models of the GarrettCom 6K family of switches support SNTP server
as this functionality requires a clock that needs to be accurate. While all devices
can be SNTP clients, a select set of devices can be SNTP servers.
Background
The standard timescale used by most nations of the world is Coordinated Universal Time
(UTC), which is based on the Earth's rotation about its axis. Time Zone offsets are typically
set to the UTC, including GMT, which is an approximation of UTC.
International Atomic Time (TAI, from the French name Temps Atomique International) is a
high-precision atomic time standard that tracks proper time on Earth's period. TAI is the
principal realization of Terrestrial Time, and the basis for Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
which is used for civil timekeeping all over the Earth's surface. The Gregorian calendar, which is
based on the Earth's rotation about the Sun, uses the UTC to designate things such as time,
date, month, year etc. The UTC timescale is modified with respect to International Atomic
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