Network Protocols and How They Work

Before you can grasp Network Protocols, and the importance of having a high-quality network time server, it’s a good idea to start with the basics. What is a protocol, and an Internet protocol, specifically? A protocol, as used in information technology parlance, is basically a set of rules in a telecommunication connection that has the ability to specify the terms of interactions between the two entities that are connecting. Protocols can exist at many levels of a telecommunications connection.

Have you heard of an IP address? That stands for Internet Protocol, which is a set of rules for connections and message reception at the Internet address level. Network Protocol, or more accurately Network Time Protocol (NTP) is a type of protocol at the computer network level that is used to synchronize computer clock times within a given network. This is crucial to business level functions in many ways, as even the smallest deviations in in time across networks can cause huge problems. Things like distributed procedures, file and software updates, and security mechanisms rely on precisely coordinated times throughout the network. A great example of this is air traffic control systems, if they are not all 100% in sync, there could be catastrophic consequences.

Another part of the process that is important is UTC, or Coordinated Universal Time. This is the clock that NTP (network time protocol) is intended to synchronize the network with. This can usually be maintained within tens of milliseconds of accuracy, especially with new algorithms that mitigate possible effects of network latency.

Where do network timeservers come into the picture? Well, network time servers are server computers that are responsible for reading the actual time from a reference clock source online or at a local source, and then distributing that time information to the clients across the network. The network timeserver must be reliable and quality tested.

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