Time Synchronization Performance Analysis based on NTP Data Captured from Two Distant Locations

Time synchronization is a critical aspect of computing and communication systems. Network Time Protocol (NTP) is the most widely used time synchronization protocol globally for devices on computer network and Internet. This work considers analysis of NTP packets from various prominent NTP services like 'time.nplindia.org', 'samay1.nic.in', 'samay2.nic.in', 'ntp1.npl.co.uk', 'ntp.nict.jp' and 'time.nist.gov'. The analysis is based on capturing NTP packets for same time period from two distinct locations in India separated by around 2500 Km by road. A software is developed for capturing and extracting information from NTP packets received from various NTP servers. The time offset and the delay variations are analyzed in detail. The analysis provides a thorough understanding of NTP synchronization, highlighting its robustness and global timekeeping capabilities. Further, this work can enrich the comprehension of NTP service selection and their implications for diverse applications.