Accession Number:

ADA509552

Title:

Internet Timekeeping Around the Globe

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

DELAWARE UNIV NEWARK DEPT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Personal Author(s):

• Mills, David L.
• Thyagarjan, Ajit
• Huffman, Brian C.

Report Date:

1997-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

9.0

Abstract:

This paper describes a massive survey of Network Time Protocol NTP servers and clients in order to discover statistics of time and frequency errors, as well as determine the health and welfare of the NTP synchronization subnet operating in the global Internet. Among the conclusions of the survey are that most NTP clocks are within 21 ms of their synchronization sources and all are within 29 ms on average. However, additional errors up to one-half the roundtrip delay are possible, but relatively rare. There is, however, a disturbing incidence of improperly operating sewers and misguided server configurations.

Descriptors:

• *COMPUTER PROGRAMS
• *SYNCHRONIZATION(ELECTRONICS)
• *COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS
• SOCIAL WELFARE
• COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOLS
• CLOCKS
• OSCILLATORS
• STATISTICS

Subject Categories:

• Computer Programming and Software
• Electricity and Magnetism
• Radio Communications

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE