Time server

A time server is a server that the client supplies its current timestamp.

Time servers are primarily used for synchronization of hosts. This synchronization is necessary, for example for directory services. In general, the Network Time Protocol is used. For particularly high demands on the accuracy of the Precision Time Protocol is used. The protocol Daytime is used primarily for debugging and analysis.

Time servers are operated because of their low demands on processing power and memory usually in addition to other servers on a shared host, often on a dedicated host. But there are also corresponding appliances. Mostly relates a time server, in turn, current timestamp from other time servers or from a high-precision timer, such as a radio clock or a GPS receiver to be tuned to the Coordinated Universal Time.

In Germany, the atomic clock of the Physikalisch- Technische Bundesanstalt in Braunschweig is decisive for the legal time, in Switzerland in Bern that the Federal Office of Metrology, in Austria those in the Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying.

These institutions operate in the Internet public time servers that are queried, among others, of time servers of many Internet providers. To avoid overloading the official server should be queried as a rule the time server of your provider or an NTP pool.