NTP
Updated: 05/01/2023 by Computer Hope
Short for Network Time Protocol, NTP is a network protocol used to synchronize the clocks of computers and other network devices. It is utilized in packet-switched networks that naturally have variable latency. By using the intersection algorithm, NTP attempts to find the most accurate time servers and minimize the effects of changing network latency, thus ensuring the best synchronization on all network devices.
History of NTP
The concept for NTP was developed by David Mills around 1985. Officially introduced in 1988, NTP version 1 is defined in RFC 1059. It was followed by NTP version 2, which is defined in RFC 1119, version 3, which is defined in RFC 1305, and version 4 in RFC 5905. Before NTP, there was the DCNET Internet Clock Service.