Every day, billions of devices around the world synchronize thanks to the
NTP pool. This essential service relies
entirely on voluntary server contributions. Discover why
and how to participate.
The pool.ntp.org project, founded in 2003 by Ask Bjorn Hansen,
has become the largest time source on the Internet. Here are some figures
that illustrate its importance:
4,000+Active servers worldwide
~370Servers in the France pool
BillionsRequests processed daily
Free100% community service
Did you know?
Most Linux distributions, routers, NAS devices, and countless IoT devices
use pool.ntp.org
as their default time source. Without the pool, these devices would gradually lose their synchronization.
Why Contribute?
The Road Network Analogy
Imagine a road network where all roads are maintained by volunteers.
If nobody contributes, the roads deteriorate and the network collapses.
The NTP pool works exactly the same way: it is a critical Internet infrastructure
maintained by the community. The more contributors there are, the more reliable, fast,
and resilient the service is for everyone.
🌍
Serve the Community
Your server helps millions of devices stay synchronized.
It is a concrete contribution to Internet infrastructure, a public good that
everyone benefits from.
🛡️
Strengthen Resilience
The more servers in the pool, the more the system withstands failures.
Each new contributor reduces the load on existing servers and improves
overall availability.
🇫🇷
Improve Local Coverage
The pool directs clients to the geographically closest servers.
Contributing from France improves accuracy for all French users
and reduces latency.
🔒
Reduce Dependency
Diversifying time sources reduces dependency on Big Tech
(time.google.com, time.apple.com). A diversified pool is a more sovereign
and more secure pool.
📊
Gain Visibility
Your organization is publicly listed on ntppool.org.
It is a mark of technical competence and community commitment
that strengthens your credibility.
🎓
Learn and Improve
Operating an NTP server in the pool is an excellent opportunity to deepen
your knowledge in networking, security (NTS), and system administration.
How Does the Pool Work?
The NTP pool uses a geolocated DNS round-robin system to automatically
direct clients to the nearest servers:
A device requests the time
The client sends a DNS query to fr.pool.ntp.org
(or another geographic zone).
DNS selects servers
The pool system randomly chooses active servers in the requested zone,
weighted by their reliability score.
The client synchronizes
The device queries the selected servers, compares their responses, and adjusts
its clock with the best estimate.
Monitoring watches continuously
The pool system regularly checks each server and adjusts its score.
A failing server is automatically removed from the rotation.
The Reliability Score
Each server in the pool receives a score between -100 and +20. The monitoring system queries your server
every few minutes. If your server responds correctly, the score increases.
If it does not respond or provides an incorrect time, the score decreases.
A server with a score below 10 is temporarily removed from the rotation.
How to Join the Pool?
Prerequisites
🌐
Static IP
Fixed IPv4 and/or IPv6 address (no dynamic DHCP)
📡
Stable Connection
Sufficient bandwidth, high uptime (99%+)
⚙️
Configured NTP Server
Chrony or NTPd, synchronized to reliable sources
🔧
Regular Maintenance
Commitment to maintain the server over the long term
Steps to Join
Configure your NTP server
Install and configure Chrony (recommended) or NTPd on your server.
Make sure it is properly synchronized to reliable Stratum 1 or 2 sources.
Open UDP port 123
Make sure that the NTP port (UDP 123) is accessible from the Internet
in both directions (inbound and outbound) on your firewall.
Create an account on the pool
Go to manage.ntppool.org
and create your operator account.
Add your server
Enter the IP address of your server and select the appropriate geographic zones
(Europe, France, etc.).
Monitor your score
The monitoring system will start querying your server. Your score
will gradually increase if everything is working correctly. Aim for a score
above 15 for an optimal contribution.
Tip: Start with a single server to familiarize yourself with the monitoring system
and the pool's requirements. You can then add more servers once
the first one has a stable score.
RDEM Systems' Commitment
Our Contribution to the Global NTP Pool
At RDEM Systems, we consider time synchronization as a
critical infrastructure that deserves serious investment.
Here is our contribution:
~10 public servers (ntp1 to ntp11) dedicated to the global NTP pool
1 Stratum 1 server with GNSS receiver (GPS/Galileo) and PPS signal
Why this commitment?
As a network operator (AS206014), we benefit daily from the NTP pool
for our own services and those of our clients. Contributing to the pool is our way
of giving back to the community what it provides us.
It is also a matter of digital sovereignty: the more NTP servers
operated in France, the less we depend on foreign sources.
Want to Contribute but Lack Resources?
If you do not have the infrastructure to operate your own NTP server, you can
still contribute to the ecosystem:
Configure your devices with pool servers rather than proprietary servers (Google, Apple)
Spread the word: raise awareness among your professional network about the importance of time synchronization
Support the project: the NTP pool accepts donations to fund its DNS infrastructure
Report issues: if you detect a failing pool server, report it to the community
Ready to Take Action?
First check that your own system is properly synchronized, then contribute to the pool!