Ntp Configuration; Introduction To Ntp; Applications Of Ntp - 3Com WX3000 Series Operation Manual

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NTP Configuration

When configuring NTP, go to these sections for information you are interested in:

Introduction to NTP

NTP Configuration Task List
Configuring NTP Implementation Modes
Configuring Access Control Right
Configuring NTP Authentication
Configuring Optional NTP Parameters
Displaying and Maintaining NTP Configuration
NTP Configuration Examples
The term switch used throughout this document refers to a switching device in a generic sense or
the switching engine of a WX3000 series.
The sample output information in this manual was created on the WX3024. The output information
on your device may vary.
Introduction to NTP
Network time protocol (NTP) is a time synchronization protocol defined in RFC 1305. It is used for time
synchronization between a set of distributed time servers and clients. Carried over UDP, NTP transmits
packets through UDP port 123.
NTP is intended for time synchronization between all devices that have clocks in a network so that the
clocks of all devices can keep consistent. Thus, the devices can provide multiple unified-time-based
applications (See
A local system running NTP can not only be synchronized by other clock sources, but also serve as a
clock source to synchronize other clocks. Besides, it can synchronize, or be synchronized by other
systems by exchanging NTP messages.

Applications of NTP

As setting the system time manually in a network with many devices leads to a lot of workload and
cannot ensure accuracy, it is unfeasible for an administrator to perform the operation. However, an
administrator can synchronize the clocks of devices in a network with required accuracy by performing
NTP configuration.
NTP is mainly applied to synchronizing the clocks of all devices in a network. For example:
Applications of NTP).
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