tidsreferensservers

A tidsreferensserver, often translated as time reference server or time server, is a computer or device that provides accurate time synchronization to other devices on a network. These servers are crucial for maintaining consistent time across distributed systems, which is essential for various applications including logging, transaction processing, security protocols, and network diagnostics.

The primary function of a tidsreferensserver is to obtain an authoritative time source and then distribute that time to clients. The most common protocol used for this purpose is the Network Time Protocol (NTP). NTP allows clients to query the server for the current time and adjust their own internal clocks accordingly. More modern and precise protocols like the Precision Time Protocol (PTP) are also used, particularly in environments requiring very high accuracy, such as industrial automation or financial trading.

Tidsreferensservers can obtain their time from various sources. These can include GPS receivers, radio time signals from national metrology institutes (like WWVB in the US or DCF77 in Germany), or even other highly accurate time servers higher up in the NTP hierarchy. The accuracy of the time provided by a tidsreferensserver depends on the quality of its time source, the network latency between the server and clients, and the client's ability to adjust its clock. Organizations often deploy multiple tidsreferensservers for redundancy and to ensure reliable time synchronization even if one server fails.