The CZ.NIC association, administrator of the CZ national domain, has launched an open and freely usable NTP (Network Time Protocol) server with the stratum 1 level. Using the NTP server operated by the CZ.NIC association, anyone can adjust the system time of his/her computer connected to the Internet.

The time server operated by the CZ.NIC association has the stratum 1 level in the hierarchy of NTP servers, meaning that it is connected directly to an accurate time signal source. In the case of the NTP server of the CZ.NIC association, this source is the GPS Trimble Acutime Gold. Only a simple configuration and Internet connection is required to synchronize the given computer's system time with the time server. Brief instructions to configure the time synchronization with the NTP server of the CZ.NIC association for computers with the Windows, Linux and Mac OS X operating systems are available at http://podpora.nic.cz/page/544/.

"There are many time servers worldwide, with different accuracy levels. Many of these can also be used in the Czech Republic," explained Ondřej Surý, Technical Director of the CZ.NIC association. "However, when synchronizing accurate computer time, what matters is the connection method and parameters of the network between the accurate time source and the client computer. That is why we have launched our open stratum 1 NTP server, which is connected to the Czech Internet via the NIX.CZ peering center, hence guaranteeing fast response for most Czech networks."

The technical solution of the NTP server of the CZ.NIC association consists of the Trimble Acutime Gold GPS receiver, used a source of a high-accuracy time signal, and an i386-based server connected to the Internet, equipped with the FreeBSD 6.2 operating system and the NTPD 4.2 software.

CZ.NIC cooperated on preparation of the NTP server with the CESNET association, operating stratum 1 NTP servers from 2001. Nevertheless, public NTP servers of the CESNET association provide time data mainly for secondary time servers which in turn provide the date to other computers.

"Cooperation with the CZ.NIC association is a welcome opportunity for us to leverage our knowledge and experience to benefit the wide Internet community," said Dr. Vladimír Smotlacha, research worker of the CESNET association. "I believe that we will find additional cooperation options in future within projects that will offer Czech Internet users new services."

"Long-term goals of the CZ.NIC association include development of the Internet and use of this media in the Czech Republic," added Ondřej Filip, Executive Director of CZ.NIC. "Launch of the open time server with the stratum 1 level is one of the development projects we intend to focus on mainly after deploying our new registration system for the CZ domain."

About CESNET z. s. p. o.
The CESNET association was founded by universities and the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in 1996, with the primary objective to operate and develop the backbone academic computer network of the Czech Republic. Under the name CESNET2, the current generation of this network offers transfer rates of gigabits per second on its backbone channels. Any organization complying with the acceptable use policy of the network may connect to this network. To obtain more information, go to www.cesnet.cz.