"Network Time Protocol Version 4 Protocol And Algorithms Specification", Jack Burbank, 25-Feb-08. ( bytes)

The Network Time Protocol (NTP) is widely used to synchronize computer clocks in the Internet. This document describes NTP Version 4 (NTPv4), which is backwards compatible with NTP Version 3 (NTPv3) described in RFC 1305, as well as previous versions of the protocol. NTPv4 includes a modified protocol header to accommodate the Internet Protocol Version 6 address family. NTPv4 includes fundamental improvements in the mitigation and discipline algorithms which extend the potential accuracy to the tens of microseconds with modern workstations and fast LANs. It includes a dynamic server discovery scheme, so that in many cases specific server configuration is not required. It corrects certain errors in the NTPv3 design and implementation and includes an optional extension mechanism.

"Definitions of Managed Objects for Network Time Protocol Version 4 (NTPv4)", Heiko Gerstung, Chris Elliott, 25-Feb-08. ( bytes)

The Network Time Protocol (NTP) is used in networks of all types and sizes for time synchronization of servers, workstations and other networked equipment. As time synchronization is more and more a mission critical service, standardized means for monitoring and management of this subsystem of a networked host are required to allow operators of such a service to setup a monitoring system that is platform- and vendor-independant. This Internet draft provides a standardized collection of data objects for monitoring the NTP entity of such a network participant and it is part of the NTP Version 4 standardization effort.

"Network Time Protocol Version 4 Autokey Specification", Brian Haberman, David Mills, 22-Apr-08. ( bytes)

This memo describes the Autokey security model for authenticating servers to clients using the Network Time Protocol (NTP) and public key cryptography. Its design is based on the premise that IPSEC schemes cannot be adopted intact, since that would preclude stateless servers and severely compromise timekeeping accuracy. In addition, PKI schemes presume authenticated time values are always available to enforce certificate lifetimes; however, cryptographically verified timestamps require interaction between the timekeeping and authentication functions. This memo includes the Autokey requirements analysis, design principles and protocol specification. A detailed description of the protocol states, events and transition functions is included. A prototype of the Autokey design based on this memo has been implemented, tested and documented in the NTP Version 4 (NTPv4) software distribution for Unix, Windows and VMS at http://www.ntp.org.

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