[ntpwg] Additional text for SNTP

[David L. Mills]

Greg,

(Shudder) It was never the intent to allow an SNTP client to have 
dependent clients. I had assumed the word "edge" implied specifically 
that. I did wordsmith carefully in the NTPv4 spec to differentiate 
primary server, secondary server (with clients) and clients (without 
clients). That means SNTP widgets of whatever stripe cannot function as 
secondary servers.

Dave

Greg Dowd wrote:

> Is it actually true in 4330 that a sntp client cannot be a sntp server.
> I thought that it said that it was designed to operate at the "edges" of
> the network, without a constraint that it couldn't do a stratum2
> function explicitly stated.
>
> I understand the logic, but I believe the addition of text to constrain
> operation is a NEW idea for ntpv4.
>
>
>
>
> Greg Dowd
> gdowd at symmetricom dot com (antispam format)
> Symmetricom, Inc.
> www.symmetricom.com
> "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler" Albert
> Einstein
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ntpwg-bounces+gdowd=symmetricom.com at lists.ntp.org
> [mailto:ntpwg-bounces+gdowd=symmetricom.com at lists.ntp.org] On Behalf Of
> David L. Mills
> Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 11:28 AM
> To: NTP Working Group
> Subject: Re: [ntpwg] Additional text for SNTP
>
> Danny,
>
> I'm not sure any words are necessary. An SNTP client is ipso facto a
> client and by spec sends only mode-3 messages. We have defined an SNTP
> server and an SNTP client, but not an SNTP peer. Also, I'm a little
> uneasy about saying what an SNTP client can or cannot accept. It can't
> have dependent clients, so in truth we don't care what it does with the
> server packet other than to say if it follows the peer process rules it
> will make good clock.
>
> Dave
>
> Danny Mayer wrote:
>
>> I'd like to propose additional text be added to section 14 on SNTP in
>> the NTPv4 protocol draft. I'm requesting this addition due to an issue
>
>
>> that came up last week with an SNTP client.
>>
>> Suggested text:
>>
>> "An SNTP client MUST only send mode 3 packets (client) and MUST only
>> accept mode 4 (server) and mode 5 (broadcast) packets. An SNTP client
>> MAY send or receive mode 6 (NTP control) packet. All other packet
>> modes MUST be ignored.
>>
>> An SNTP server MUST not send mode 3 (client) packets."
>>
>> Any objections or refinements?
>>
>> Danny
>> _______________________________________________
>> ntpwg mailing list
>> ntpwg at lists.ntp.org
>> https://lists.ntp.org/mailman/listinfo/ntpwg
>
>
>
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