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1 NTP Configuration
When configuring NTP, go to these sections for information you are interested in:
z Introduction to NTP
z NTP Configuration Task List
z Configuring NTP Implementation Modes
z Configuring Access Control Right
z Configuring NTP Authentication
z Configuring Optional NTP Parameters
z Displaying and Maintaining NTP Configuration
z NTP Configuration Examples
z The term switch used throughout this document refers to a switching device in a generic sense or
the switching engine of a WX3000 series.
z 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 Applications of NTP).
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: