NetWare 4.1/9000 Concepts

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NetWare Glossary
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You must have at least one other Primary time server that the Reference time
server can contact.
Whenever Primary and Reference time servers are on a network, they must be
able to contact each other for polling.
• Secondary time server. Secondary time servers obtain the time from a Single
Reference, Primary, or Reference time server. They adjust their internal clocks to
synchronize with the network time, and they provide the time to workstations.
A Secondary time server does not participate in determining the correct network
time.
If you have designated a server on the network as a Single Reference time
server, then designate all other servers on the network as Secondary time
servers.
If you have designated several servers on the network as Primary or Reference
time servers, then designate all other servers on the network as Secondary time
servers.
To keep network traffic to a minimum, connect Secondary time servers to
Primary or Reference time servers that are physically nearby.
For optimal time synchronization, minimize the number of intervening routers
and slow LAN segments between Secondary time servers and their Single
Reference, Primary, or Reference time server.
SAP and custom configuration
Time source servers use one of two methods to find each other: SAP and
custom configuration.
• SAP (Service Advertising Protocol). By default, Primary, Reference, and Single
Reference servers use SAP to announce their presence on the network.
Primary and Reference time servers use SAP information to determine the other
servers to poll to determine the network time.
Secondary time servers use SAP information to pick a time server to follow.
An advantage of SAP is that it allows quick installation without regard to the
network layout. It also allows automatic reconfiguration if operating modes are
changed or if new servers are added to the network.
A disadvantage of the SAP method is that a small amount of additional network
traffic is generated.