NetWare Directory Services

5-7

Understanding Time Synchronization in NDS

Time Servers

If a Primary time server goes down, the Secondary time server can get the

time from an alternate Primary time server.

If you use Primary time servers, each one needs to be able to contact another

Primary time server or a Reference time server to determine time on the

network.

Reference

Reference time servers provide a time that Primary and Secondary time

servers and client workstations can synchronize with.

Reference time servers can be synchronized with an external time source,

such as a radio atomic clock.

A Reference time server acts as a central point of control for time on the

network. Eventually, all Primary time servers adjust their clocks to agree

with a Reference time server.

Reference time servers do not adjust their internal clocks; instead, Primary

and Secondary servers’ internal clocks are adjusted to synchronize with the

Reference time server.

The following ﬁgure shows a Reference time server synchronized to an

external clock. The Reference time server, in turn, provides time to

Secondary servers and client workstations, as well as to a Primary time

server at another location.