Using Time and Frequency Transmissions to Synchronise a Computer Network
Computer network synchronisation is often perceived as a headache for many system administrators but keeping accurate time is essential for any network to remain secure and reliable. Failing to have an accurate synchronised network can lead to all sorts of errors when dealing with time sensitive transactions.
The protocol NTP (Network Time Protocol) is the industry standard for time synchronisation. NTP distributes a single time source to an entire network ensuring all machines are running the exact same time.
One of the most problematic areas in synchronising a network is in the selection of the time source. Obviously if you are spending time getting a network synchronised then the time source would have to be a UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) as this is the global timescale used by computer networks all over the world.
UTC is available across the internet of course but internet time sources are not only notoriously inaccurate but using the internet as a time source will leave computer system open to security threats as the source is external to the firewall.
A far better and secure method is to use a dedicated NTP time server. The NTP server sits inside the firewall and can receive a secure time signal from highly accurate sources. The most commonly used these days is the GPS network (Global Positioning System) this is because the GPS system is available literally anywhere on the planet. Unfortunately it does require a clear view of the sky to ensure the GPS NTP server can ‘see’ the satellite.
There is another alternative however, and that is to use the national time and frequency transmissions broadcast by several national physics laboratories. These have the advantage in that being long wave signals they can be received indoors. Although it must be noted these signals are not broadcast in every country and the range is finite and susceptible to interference and geographical features.
Some of the main transmissions broadcast are known as: the UK’s MSF signal, Germany’s DCF-77 and the USA’s WWVB.
