Configuring SNTP Settings

200 Series software supports the SNTP (Simple Network Time Protocol). SNTP assures accurate network device clock time synchronization up to the millisecond. Time synchronization is performed by a network SNTP server. 200 Series software operates only as an SNTP client and cannot provide time services to other systems.

Time sources are established by Stratums. Stratums define the accuracy of the reference clock. The higher the stratum (where zero is the highest), the more accurate the clock. The device receives time from stratum 1 and above since it is itself a stratum 2 device.

The following is an example of stratums:

• Stratum 0: A real time clock is used as the time source, for example, a GPS system.
• Stratum 1: A server that is directly linked to a Stratum 0 time source is used. Stratum 1 time servers provide primary network time standards.
• Stratum 2: The time source is distanced from the Stratum 1 server over a network path. For example, a Stratum 2 server receives the time over a network link, via NTP, from a Stratum 1 server.

Information received from SNTP servers is evaluated based on the time level and server type.

SNTP time definitions are assessed and determined by the following time levels:

• T1: Time at which the original request was sent by the client.
• T2: Time at which the original request was received by the server.
• T3: Time at which the server sent a reply.
• T4: Time at which the client received the server's reply.

The device can poll unicast and broadcast server types for the server time.

Polling for unicast information is used for polling a server for which the IP address is known. SNTP servers that have been configured on the device are the only ones that are polled for synchronization information. T1 through T4 are used to determine server time. This is the preferred method for synchronizing device time because it is the most secure method. If this method is selected, SNTP information is accepted only from SNTP servers defined on the device using the SNTP Server Configuration page.

Broadcast information is used when the server IP address is unknown. When a broadcast message is sent from an SNTP server, the SNTP client listens to the message. If broadcast polling is enabled, any synchronization information is accepted, even if it has not been requested by the device. This is the least secure method.

The device retrieves synchronization information, either by actively requesting information or at every poll interval. If unicast and broadcast polling are enabled, the information is retrieved in this order:

• Information from servers defined on the device is preferred. If unicast polling is not enabled or if no servers are defined on the device, the device accepts time information from any SNTP server that responds.
• If more than one unicast device responds, synchronization information is preferred from the device with the lowest stratum.
• If the servers have the same stratum, synchronization information is accepted from the SNTP server that responded first.

MD5 (Message-Digest algorithm 5) Authentication safeguards device synchronization paths to SNTP servers. MD5 is an algorithm that produces a 128-bit hash. MD5 is a variation of MD4, and increases MD4 security. MD5 verifies the integrity of the communication, authenticates the origin of the communication.