4 ms·
Unfortunately, having more Stratum-1 servers does nothing to help clueless device manufacturers who hardcoding the IP address of an individual server, and damag
by bcaa7f3a8bbc 8y ago
Unfortunately, having more Stratum-1 servers does nothing to help clueless device manufacturers who hardcoding the IP address of an individual server, and damaging the community service. But yes, when we talk about the NTP community in general, we certainly needs more Stratum-1 servers. Nowadays, running a Stratum-1 is easy, the hardware is cheap, a single broad computer w/ time source from a shortwave radio or GPS. And if one loves electronics, one can build a precision oscillator (evem a Rubidium standard can be used for 300 USD), or go straight to make a GPSDO to achieve highly-reliable timekeeping.
Nevertheless, there are two practical difficulties.
1. Static IP addresses are unavailable in most home connections. And many home broadbands throttle UDP traffic, dropping them when the pps rate is high. It makes one's home unsuitable for hosting a NTP server.
2. Unlike Stradium-2, you cannot simply use a "cloud" service for your dedicated server. To run a NTP Stratum-1, you have to physically host your server with the customized hardware in a datacenter, which costs 100 dollars/month in my city, not including network transit and bandwidth. I really want to run one, but I cannot afford it.
3. Shortwave / GPS reception is usually not available in a datacenter, and an antenna installation is usually not allowed. You can be creative, a good way is using the time provided by mobile basestations. But it needs experience.
- Rjevski 8y ago> a good way is using the time provided by mobile basestations That would definitely not be Stratum-1, so I wouldn’t recommend it.
- bcaa7f3a8bbc 8y agoThanks for reminding me. If a mobile basestation is not usable, it seems to me that the best way is trying a WWVB-disciplined oscillator. Shortwave is certainly not available indoor, but longwave reception is possible. Hopefully it won't be killed by NIST due to the funding issues...
- jsjohnst 8y agoI’ve never been successful getting long wave reception in a data center (didn’t try running cable to an external antenna though, as then why not GNSS if that’s doable).
- jsjohnst 8y agoThat and also many DCs I’ve been in barely get cell signal on the floor.
- jsjohnst 8y agoRe: #3, many good data centers either provide a stratum-1 to sync to or let you run your own cable/antenna if you are at least renting a cage worth of space.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]