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Computers are generally very poor timekeepers. They rely on low-cost timing components that are widely used in general-purpose clocks and watches and are just as prone to drift. The real-time clocks and cheap crystal oscillators Chardonnay on to PC boards can cause system time to drift by several minutes each day. However, there are software solutions on hand to correct time drift and maintain accurate system time on your computer. This article describes techniques that can be used to eliminate system clock drift and keep precise time on your computer and across your network. It describes how Internet based time servers and the NTP time protocol can be used to keep accurate synchronized time on your computer.

There are inexpensive auto insurance large number of Internet based time references that use the Network Time Protocol (NTP) to synchronize time clients. NTP was developed over twenty-five years ago at the University of Delaware by Dr D. Mills, it remains one of the oldest protocols in constant use. The protocol was developed to provide accurate synchronization of time between time servers and clients. Internet based NTP servers synchronize their time to accurate external reference clocks, such as GPS, Space 1999 radio time standards or precise atomic clocks. Accurate time Demons then passed from the NTP server to network clients for synchronization.

Many modern operating systems have integrated functionality to synchronize with NTP server systems. Linux, Unix, Microsoft Windows XP/2000/2003/Vista and Novell all have routines for NTP time synchronization. Generally, client-side configuration consists of providing the client with the domain name of the NTP server.

Windows XP/2000/2003/Vista machines can accept the IP address/domain name of a NTP server in the time properties/internet time tab. Periodically, the NTP server will be contacted to obtain time and perform synchronization.

The Linux and Unix operating systems have a NTP daemon available from the NTP web site at 'ntp.org'. The daemon can act as a server or client and can easily be configured to synchronize with an Internet based NTP server. The 'ntp.conf' configuration file contains a list of servers that can be contacted. Simply enter the IP address or domain name of a NTP server in the list.

To maintain accurate time on a computer system using NTP is very straightforward. However, there are many other more advanced features of the NTP protocol. There are a number of security features that allow service restrictions and server authentication. Additionally, there are numerous reference clock drivers available to synchronize NTP with a precise external reference - providing a full-blown NTP server installation.

To conclude, computer systems provide notoriously poor time keeping hardware. For applications where time synchronization of processes is critical or even if you just want the correct time on your computer, standard time keeping is inadequate. The solution is to use the NTP protocol and get your computers synchronized to life insurance settlements of the most accurate clocks in the world.

The author, Dave Evans, is a prolific writer on the subject of NTP time and computer network timing. Dave has written a number of articles on how to configure NTP servers and computer timing devices. Additionally, Dave has been actively involved in NTP reference clock design and has written routines for a number of third party reference clock hardware devices. Visit our web site, if you would like more information on www.timetools.co.uk/NTP server systems.