[ntp:questions] problem with synchronizing two comps to each other

Brad Knowles brad at stop.mail-abuse.org
Thu May 19 17:34:40 UTC 2005


At 4:25 PM +0000 2005-05-19, Bjorn Gabrielsson wrote:

>  PPSKit-patch implements the kernel PPSAPI which is useful when you
>  have a good GPS with PPS-signal attached to the computer. In which way
>  does this relate to loosing timer interrupts? or the OPs question?

	Sorry, I was under the impression that the PPSKit patches also 
helped with the overall problem of losing interrupts.  My bad.

>  Lots of people run NTP on Linux with no problems.

	And lots of people have problems with NTP on Linux.

>                                                     Lots of companys
>  sell Linux based NTP-servers.

	How many of those are not patched with the PPSKit?  And of those 
that are not patched, how many work well?  And how many people have 
resolved the networking issues with Linux?


	I'm not saying that Linux won't work.  However, it has a number 
of well-known areas where it tends to have difficulties relative to 
NTP.  In addition, there are a much greater number of people using 
Linux who are neophytes, and an there is increased ratio of neophytes 
to experts.  There are also some issues with the networking code in 
current versions of Linux.

	The result is a serious issue that needs to be addressed any time 
someone talks about doing NTP using Linux.

	If they're already an expert and they know what the PPSKit 
patches do and whether or not they need them, then we're down to 
things like the networking code, or problems inherent to anyone 
trying to use desktop-grade computers as servers, or perhaps issues 
internal to NTP itself.

-- 
Brad Knowles, <brad at stop.mail-abuse.org>

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little
temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

     -- Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), reply of the Pennsylvania
     Assembly to the Governor, November 11, 1755

   SAGE member since 1995.  See <http://www.sage.org/> for more info.



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