[ntp:questions] Re: Security when using non windows sntp client with Windows SNTP server

[Richard B. Gilbert]

sandy wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> My requirement is to use SNTP. I am trying to synchronize time between
> a linux based system as sntp client and  windows 2000 SNTP server. I
> notice that time is getting synchronized. I am not sure whether the
> packets are secured. Can anybody please tell me whethere the packets
> are secure by default ? If not, how to add security for these packets ?
>  Could you please guide me ? 
> 
> Regards,
> Sandy
> 

I don't believe that SNTP supports cryptographic authentication.  For 
that, you would need to use ntpd on both ends.

The only "security" that ntpd provides is the ability to 
cryptographically "sign" NTP packets and to validate those signatures.