Operation modes

Devices that run NTP can implement clock synchronization in one of the following modes:

• Client/server mode

• Symmetric peers mode

• Broadcast mode

• Multicast mode

You can select operation modes of NTP as needed. If the IP address of the NTP server or peer is unknown and many devices in the network need to be synchronized, adopt the broadcast or multicast mode. In the client/server or symmetric peers mode, a device is synchronized from the specified server or peer, so clock reliability is enhanced.

When operating in client/server mode, a client sends a clock synchronization message to servers with the Mode field in the message set to 3 (client mode). Upon receiving the message, the servers automatically operate in server mode and send a reply, with the Mode field in the messages set to 4 (server mode). Upon receiving the replies from the servers, the client performs clock filtering and selection and synchronizes to the optimal reference source.

In client/server mode, a client can synchronize to a server, but a server cannot synchronize to a client.

In symmetric peers mode, devices that operate in symmetric active mode and symmetric passive mode exchange NTP messages with the Mode field 3 (client mode) and 4 (server mode). Then the device that operates in symmetric active mode periodically sends clock synchronization messages, with the Mode field in the messages set to 1 (symmetric active). The device that receives the messages automatically enters symmetric passive mode and sends a reply, with the Mode field in the message set to 2 (symmetric passive). This exchange of messages establishes symmetric peers mode between the two devices, so the two devices can synchronize, or be synchronized by, each other. If the clocks of both devices have been synchronized, the device whose local clock has a lower stratum level synchronizes the other device.

In broadcast mode, a server periodically sends clock synchronization messages to broadcast address 255.255.255.255, with the Mode field in the messages set to 5 (broadcast mode). Clients listen to the broadcast messages from servers. When a client receives the first broadcast message, the client and the server start to exchange messages with the Mode field set to 3 (client mode) and 4 (server mode), to calculate the network delay between client and the server. Then, the client enters broadcast client mode. The client continues listening to broadcast messages, and synchronizes its local clock based on the received broadcast messages.

In multicast mode, a server periodically sends clock synchronization messages to the user-configured multicast address, or, if no multicast address is configured, to the default NTP multicast address 224.0.1.1, with the Mode field in the messages set to 5 (multicast mode). Clients listen to the multicast messages from servers. When a client receives the first multicast message, the client and the server start to exchange messages with the Mode field set to 3 (client mode) and 4 (server mode), to calculate the network delay between client and server. Then, the client enters multicast client mode. It continues listening to multicast messages, and synchronizes its local clock based on the received multicast messages.

In symmetric peers mode, broadcast mode, and multicast mode, the client (or the symmetric active peer) and the server (the symmetric passive peer) can operate in the specified NTP operation mode only after they exchange NTP messages with the Mode field 3 (client mode) and the Mode field 4 (server mode). During this message exchange process, NTP clock synchronization can be implemented.