nixCraft 🐧
Billions of devices sync with NTP servers daily, checking for and correcting time discrepancies both during boot-up and in the background. NTP is an essential for modern applications and all connected devices
Jul 18, 2024 at 7:42pmWeb
Show threadarutazJul 18, 2024
@nixCraft and TOTP stops working
Show threadkoman Jul 18, 2024
@nixCraft Try to use a 2FA with incorrect timestamp...
Show threadZorin =^o.o^=Jul 18, 2024

@nixCraft We're pretty spoiled when it comes to time sources lately. Nearly everyone has an NTP or GSM synced clock in their pocket, and most of our devices sync too.

Remember when you had to call a phone number and listen for "AT THE BEEP THE TIME WILL BE”? Aiigh!

Show threadThe Spiral CowJul 18, 2024

@nixCraft You do realize devices and computers have batteries to save the current time and that a drift of a second or so is not going to impact any of that... right? You act like without NTP, time is going to skew horribly on every single device randomly and unpredictably by hours or days.

And if your device's battery fails, you have bigger issues than just time drift.

NTP time sync is nice in certain situations, but it isn't the life-saving, critical service you make it out to be.

Show threadEarl NovyJul 18, 2024

@thespiralcow @nixCraft For https are some minutes into the future already a problem. Different timestamps in the logs is also annoying, if you search for a problem.

It is not the end of the world, but in datacenters you can run into some nasty problems.

Show threadInternet RandoJul 18, 2024

@nixCraft Remember folks. For the low, low price of some lost accuracy, you *can self host* your own time server (at stratum not 1), alongside that pi-hole you'd probably better be running in 2024..

anyway, two more cents from some random nerd. peace out.

Show threadVariaJul 18, 2024
@mousey @nixCraft Your pi or consumer level hoster is more likely to fail or drift out of sync than the pools of NTP servers provided by organisations and large communities
Show threadInternet RandoJul 19, 2024
@varia @nixCraft definitely. I'm just saying, it's one of those democratized internet things that you can add your own egg to that basket. True facts about uptime and consistency, YMMV, and all, true true.. god bless pool.ntp.org et al..
Show threadSpaceLifeFormJul 18, 2024

@nixCraft

The first thing I check when I get a certificate error:

Is my clock working?

Show threadleckseJul 18, 2024
@nixCraft Just use GPS time. I'm absolutely certain that none of these devices will still be in operation in 2038.
Show threadGary ParkerJul 18, 2024

@nixCraft not an NTP problem, per se, but the coin cell battery backup on my home server ran down. We had a power cut and ESXi failed to boot, along with all the VMs. Incorrect system time meant all the signed driver modules failed to auth and the system failed to boot.

Time is important.