The Importance of Network Time Protocol Standards

Network time machine

Humans have been keeping time for 5,000 to 6,000 years. The ancient Egyptians were the first to tell time by using obelisks as primitive sundials, while the first mechanical clocks were invented in Europe in the 14th century. Since then, clocks and their ability to accurately keep time have rapidly advanced. Not only are clocks an important timekeeper throughout our busy days, but they are also extremely important to network servers.

The importance of GPS clocks
Network clocks run on a clock server or GPS time server. These network clocks regulate the time and ensure that all electronic processes are at the same time. A single difference of a couple of seconds can cause many problems with network servers. It can throw off computing abilities and cause errors to important electronic programs. Think of the Y2K. Many people thought that retailers, computers, and other electronics would crash, all at the result of the GPS digital clock starting over. This was simply due to the fact that the network clocks had not been set to jump over to the new millennium.

How are GPS clocks regulated?
Because an accurate time telling is so important when it comes to GPs and network clocks, it requires an extremely accurate regulation. In operation since before 1985, Network Time Protocol (NTP) is one of the oldest Internet protocols that are still in use today. The Precision Time Protocol (PTP), however, is what is currently used to synchronize clocks throughout a computer network. This process was originally defined and standardized by IEEE in 2002. This new form of WiFi digital wall clock was designed and implemented after the Y2K scare.

The effects of a poorly standardized clock
iI might be difficult to imagine all of the implications of an inaccurate WiFi digital wall clock. The majority of clocks within your house are probably regulated. If you live in a part of the country that participates in daylight savings time, you will notice that most of the clocks automatically go back or jump ahead the needed hour. The few that do not automatically do this are likely run on batteries and are not connected to the WiFi digital wall clock. People that rely on battery operated clocks have stories of being late or early to work. They also have stories of losing track of time after a battery clock has stopped working properly.

Now imagine if this occurred on a widespread scale. No one would know what time it was. You would not know when to drop your children off at school. You wouldn?t know what time to leave work. Additionally, your employer would not be able to properly track the amount of hours worked, thus resulting in mistakes on your expected paycheck. Once all of these clocks are messed, shortly after, you will notice that your internal clock is also confused. Not following a regulated WiFi digital wall clock could cost you a lot in terms of both time and money.

WiFi digital wall clocks are an important part of regulating our world. These WiFi clocks run on network servers that all report to and gather information from one source. This is essentially the main time teller. It is also known as the Network Time Protocol. Although these protocols have changed a few times over the years and might still change in the coming years, the one thing that remains consistent is a base time teller mechanism. Without this mechanism, the world would be in disarray and there would be devastating financial effects on you, as well as the rest of the world.

About: Eric

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