NetWare Directory Services

5-3

Understanding Time Synchronization in NDS

Time Stamps

Whenever an event occurs in the Directory database, such as when a

password is changed or an object is renamed, NDS requests a time stamp. A

time stamp is a unique code that identiﬁes the event and notes the time of its

occurrence.

The time stamp is used in the event of collisions (multiple changes to the

same object from different servers) on the network to determine the source

location and sequence of events.

Time stamps are especially important when Directory partitions are

replicated and need to be concurrent with one another.

NDS uses time stamps to

• Establish the order of events (such as object creation and Directory partition

replication).

• Record “real world” time values.

• Set expiration dates.