[ntp:questions] NTPD concurrent clients limit

David L. Mills mills at udel.edu
Thu Jul 31 18:30:03 UTC 2008


Bill,

The default behavior has not changed. As the documentation says, the 
rate limit and kod must be explicitly enabled. You don't need to ask the 
operator about the version; an rv command in ntpq reveals it for all to see.

Dave

Unruh wrote:
> "David L. Mills" <mills at udel.edu> writes:
> 
> 
>>Phil,
> 
> 
>>See the limit and kod restrict options in the Access Control Options 
>>page in the current web documentation.
> 
> 
> Since the current web documentation refers to the current version of ntp,
> and since the OP has never told us what version of ntpd he is running or
> even if it is  ntpd he is running, that may not be helpful.
> 
> In fact he may not know. If it is in hardware only it may be some hack
> written by someone whose knowledge of ntp was gained in kindergarten class.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>>Dave
> 
> 
>>Phil wrote:
> 
> 
>>>Can the kiss-o'-death packet be disabled ?
>>>Is this packet also implemented in a "canned" or hardware only ntp server?
>>>Thanks
>>>Phil Harwood
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>>j. wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Hi all,
>>>>>>I'm testing an embedded linux device, which implement an NTP server,
>>>>>>based on the ntpd demon.
>>>>>>It looks like ntpd accepts only a limited number of requests from a
>>>>>>test clientIi've set up.
>>>>>>Do you know if there's such limit or what's the logic behind it?
>>>>>>Maybe ntpd rejects bursts of requests coming from the same IP?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Thanks in advance,
>>>>>>Gianandrea Gobbo.
>>>>
>>>>>If you poll the server continuously at intervals of less than 64
>>>>>seconds, most modern NTP servers will send you a "Kiss of Death" packet.
>>>>>Polling this frequently is considered abusive!  It's also unnecessary,
>>>>>NTP is designed to work with poll intervals between 64 seconds and 1024
>>>>>seconds and will adjust its poll interval within that range as needed.
>>>>
>>>>His question can be rephrased, what does ntpd do after it has sent the 
>>>>Kiss of Death?
>>>>does it drop all subsequent packets? -- That sounds like a huge cost on 
>>>>the
>>>>ntp server-- ie imagine a popular server with 10,000 machines it has sent
>>>>the KoD to. It then has to scan that whole list for each packet to see if
>>>>it is in there-- something which takes time and destroys the ability of 
>>>>ntp
>>>>to deliver its time base rapidly.
>>>>
>>>>Note that how ntpd handles this situation depends on which version of ntpd
>>>>you are running.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>There are two exceptions to the above.  You may specify the "iburst"
>>>>>keyword for a server and NTPD will send an INITIAL burst of eight
>>>>>request packets at intervals of two seconds.  This is designed for fast
>>>>>startup.  After the initial burst, polling continues at intervals
>>>>>between 64 and 1024 seconds.
>>>>
>>>>So how does the server know whether this burst is an iburst or is a rogue
>>>>client to which it should send a KoD?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>If you are using a dialup telephone connection for short periods three
>>>>>or four times a day, you may specify the "burst" keyword which sends
>>>>>eight requests two seconds apart at EACH poll interval.  "Burst" is to
>>>>>be used ONLY for brief periods with LONG intervals between them!
>>>>
>>>>>It is customary to request permission from the owner of the server
>>>>>before using "burst". 
>>>
>>>
>>>




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