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Date:      Wed, 23 Sep 2015 10:35:54 -0700
From:      Tim Kientzle <tim@kientzle.com>
To:        Poul-Henning Kamp <phk@freebsd.org>
Cc:        hackers@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: What IS the right NTP behaviour ?
Message-ID:  <F6AF299A-17B1-44DF-B025-B8FA0BC833D4@kientzle.com>
In-Reply-To: <39337.1442999127@critter.freebsd.dk>
References:  <39337.1442999127@critter.freebsd.dk>

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I like your outline here.

One concern I keep running into:  Using NTP in VMs that are frequently =
suspended/resumed.  Though I suppose this may be covered by your =
'workstation' scenario (just step it after VM resume when you see the =
large skew).

Tim


> On Sep 23, 2015, at 2:05 AM, Poul-Henning Kamp <phk@freebsd.org> =
wrote:
>=20
> As you probably know I'm working on a new NTP client called Ntimed.
>=20
> It is no surprise that people have different expectations of how
> timekeeping should behave, and I'm trying to figure out
> what Do What I Want is.
>=20
> I think I have identified three variations of "DWIW", which I have
> named "eCommerce", "SCADA" and "Workstation"
>=20
> Please let me know (private email to keep list noise down) if your
> needs would not be served by any of these three variations or for
> that matter any other comment or input on this topic.
>=20
> Thanks
>=20
> Poul-Henning
>=20
>=20
> eCommerce
> ---------
>=20
> 	Correct system time is mandatory.
>=20
> 	Bootup fails if correct time cannot established.
> 		What do we mean by "fails" ?
> 			Does it hang until success ?
> 			Does it fail into single-user ?
> 			Does it raise a big red flag ?
>=20
> 	Stepping time after bootup is *never* allowed.
> 		If time drifts out of tolerance:
> 			Raise Alarm
> 				How ?
> 				Signal init(8) into single-user mode ?
> 			Slew clock, no matter how far.
> 			Syslog periodically how wrong system time is
>=20
> SCADA
> -----
>=20
> 	We don't need the system clock to be on time, as long as
> 	we know exactly how wrong it is.
>=20
> 	Startup should be as quick and reliable as possible.
> 		Configurable timer for how long we hold up startup.
>=20
> 	Startup step only allowed during this time interval.
>=20
> 	Stepping time after bootup is never allowed.
> 		If time drifts out of tolerance:
> 			Slew clock, no matter how far.
> 			Syslog periodically how wrong system time is
> 			Raise Alarm (optional)
> 				How ?
>=20
> Workstation
> -----------
>=20
> 	Startup should be fast-ish
>=20
> 	Steps are allowed any time necessary
> 		suspend/resume
> 		change in network topology
> 		clock drift
>=20
> --=20
> Poul-Henning Kamp       | UNIX since Zilog Zeus 3.20
> phk@FreeBSD.ORG         | TCP/IP since RFC 956
> FreeBSD committer       | BSD since 4.3-tahoe
> Never attribute to malice what can adequately be explained by =
incompetence.
> _______________________________________________
> freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org mailing list
> https://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-hackers
> To unsubscribe, send any mail to =
"freebsd-hackers-unsubscribe@freebsd.org"
>=20




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