Re: NTP question

[James R Cutler <james.cutler () consultant com>]

> On May 2, 2019, at 10:59 AM, William Herrin <bill () herrin us> wrote:
>
> On Wed, May 1, 2019 at 7:03 PM Harlan Stenn <stenn () nwtime org <mailto:stenn () nwtime org>> wrote:
> It's not clear to me that there's anything *wrong* with using the pool,
> especially if you're using our 'pool' directive in your config file.
>
> The one time I relied on the pool I lost sync a year later when all three servers the configuration picked withdrew 
> time services and the still-running ntp client didn't return to the names to find new ones. Wonderful if that's fixed 
> now but the pool folks argued just as strongly for using it back then.
>
> Also, telling the security auditor that you have no idea who supplies your time source is pretty much a non-starter. 
> You can convince them of a lot of things but you can't convince them it's OK to have no idea where critical services 
> come from.
>
> That's what's wrong with the pool. 
>
> Regards,
> Bill Herrin
>
>
> -- 
> William Herrin ................ herrin () dirtside com <mailto:herrin () dirtside com>  bill () herrin us 
> <mailto:bill () herrin us>
> Dirtside Systems ......... Web: <http://www.dirtside.com/ <http://www.dirtside.com/>>

I have only ever used the pool as a supplement to other servers. Here is a snippet from ntp.conf that was found in the 
bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying 'Beware of the Leopard.’ *

#       External Time Synchronization Source Servers
#
server  tick.usno.navy.mil                      # open access
server  time.apple.com                          # open access
server  Time1.Stupi.SE                          # open access
server  ntps1-0.uni-erlangen.de                 # open access
server  0.pool.ntp.org                          # open access
server  1.pool.ntp.org                          # open access
server  2.pool.ntp.org                          # open access
server  nist1-nj2-ustiming.org                  # open access
server  nist1-chi-ustiming.org                  # open access
server  nist1-pa-ustiming.org                   # open access
#

I have not kept up with pool changes since then.

*Apologies to Douglas Adams