MANUAL P/N 900000165 REV H
8 Understanding the Network Time Protocol.
8.1 Why use the Network Time Protocol
Accurate Time has always been an important issue, especially in today’s world where computer
systems are required to precisely time stamp events and occurrences. However, computers are
notorious for poor time keeping because they use a basic watch crystal as their internal timebase.
This means that the computer’s internal clock will drift significantly over time, an effect
exacerbated by changes in temperature. A computer in an office environment can lose or gain up
to 40 seconds in a week.
Computers are normally set manually to a known time source such as a speaking clock or
broadcast time signal. Once set, most users leave the computer timebase to drift, resetting the
operating system clock only on an ad-hoc basis.
Network Time Protocol (NTP) is an Internet Protocol, which propagates time throughout the
network and is referenced to UTC. The NTP Time Server acquires UTC time by a direct UTC time
scale source, such as GPS. Other options such as IRIG or LF receiver are available.
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