NTP pool
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The NTP pool is a dynamic collection of networked computers that volunteer to provide highly accurate time via the Network Time Protocol to clients worldwide. The machines that are "in the pool" are part of the pool.ntp.org domain as well as of several subdomains divided by geographical zone and are distributed to NTP clients via round robin DNS. Work is being done to make the geographic zone selection unnecessary, via customized authoritative DNS servers that utilize geolocation software.
As of June 2012[update], the pool consists of about 2400 active time servers on IPv4 and 450 servers on IPv6.[2] Because of the decentralization of this project accurate statistics on the number of clients cannot be obtained, but according to the project's website the pool provides time to between five and 15 million systems.[3] Because of client growth the project is in perpetual need of more servers.[4][5][6]
There is always a desire for more time servers, as the more time servers are in the pool, the lower the resource demand on each member. Joining the pool requires at least a broadband connection to the Internet, a static IP address, and accurate time from another source (for example from another NTP server, from a DCF77 receiver, WWVB receiver or a GPS receiver).
This project was started by Adrian von Bidder [7] in January 2003 after a discussion on comp.protocols.time.ntp about abuse of the public stratum 1 servers.[8] The system has been maintained and developed by Ask Bjørn Hansen since July 2005.
References
- ^ "What the NTP Pool can offer". Retrieved 29 April 2011.
- ^ NTP Servers in All Pool Servers viewed Jun 10, 2012 at 15:21Z
- ^ Pool Capacity
- ^ The pool needs more servers
- ^ "NTP Pool Reaches 1000 Servers, Needs More". Slashdot. September 8, 2007.
- ^ Egan Orion (9 September 2007). "Network time pool tops 1,000 servers: But still looking for volunteers". The Inquirer.
- ^ "Adrian 'Dagurashibanipal' von Bidder" (Mon, 27 Jan 2003 20:55:30 +0100). Newsgroup: comp.protocols.time.ntp. <pan.2003.01.27.19.55.29.794340@fortytwo.ch>.
{{cite newsgroup}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help); Unknown parameter|subhect=ignored (help) - ^ Public servers abuse by David Mills
External links
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