NTP

Network Time Protocol (NTP) is a protocol used to synchronize the clocks of computers over a network. NTP ensures that all devices in a network, regardless of their location, maintain a consistent time. It works by connecting client devices to remote time servers, which provide highly accurate time information. These servers often synchronize their time with atomic clocks or GPS signals, ensuring extremely precise timekeeping. NTP uses a hierarchical system of servers, with stratum 0 being the most accurate time sources (such as GPS or atomic clocks) and stratum 1, 2, etc., being servers that synchronize with each other.

NTP operates by exchanging timestamps between the client and server to calculate network delays and correct the client’s time accordingly. The protocol compensates for network latency and adjusts the system clock based on the server’s time. It supports both symmetric and asymmetric time synchronization, where clients can also act as servers, enabling a scalable and decentralized architecture. This allows for accurate timekeeping in large networks, from local area networks (LANs) to global infrastructures.

In enterprise and data center environments, NTP is critical for ensuring system synchronization, particularly for time-sensitive applications like logging, security events, and financial transactions. Accurate timekeeping is also essential for maintaining consistency across distributed systems and databases. NTP is implemented using a range of software solutions, with popular implementations including ntpd, chrony, and systemd-timesyncd, each with its advantages in terms of speed, reliability, and resource efficiency.

It recommended to run only ONE NTP service on your computer at a time!
Also some package manager, like apt, might not behave correctly is no ntp service is running. It highly recommended to have a ntp service running.