H3C Technologies H3C WX6000 Series Access Controllers - Manual (Page 486)

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NTP Configuration
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The term switch in this document refers to a switch in a generic sense or an access controller
configured with the switching function unless otherwise specified.
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The local clock of a WX6103 access controller switch interface board cannot be set as a reference
clock. It can serve as a reference clock source to synchronize the clock of other devices only after
it is synchronized.
When configuring NTP, go to these sections for information you are interested in:
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NTP Overview
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NTP Configuration Task list
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Configuring the Operation Modes of NTP
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Configuring Optional Parameters of NTP
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Configuring Access-Control Rights
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Configuring NTP Authentication
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Displaying and Maintaining NTP
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NTP Configuration Examples
NTP Overview
Defined in RFC 1305, the Network Time Protocol (NTP) synchronizes timekeeping among distributed
time servers and clients. NTP runs over the User Datagram Protocol (UDP), using UDP port 123.
The purpose of using NTP is to keep consistent timekeeping among all clock-dependent devices within
the network so that the devices can provide diverse applications based on the consistent time.
For a local system running NTP, its time can be synchronized by other reference sources and can be
used as a reference source to synchronize other clocks.
Applications of NTP
An administrator can by no means keep synchronized time among all the devices within a network by
changing the system clock on each station, because this is a huge amount of workload and cannot
guarantee the clock precision. NTP, however, allows quick clock synchronization within the entire
network while it ensures a high clock precision.
NTP is used when all devices within the network must be consistent in timekeeping, for example:
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In analysis of the log information and debugging information collected from different devices in
network management, time must be used as reference basis.