Why Contribute to the NTP Pool?

By Richard DEMONGEOT | February 8, 2026 | Reading time: 8 min
Why contribute to the NTP pool: lasting commitment to time security and precision for all

The NTP Pool in Numbers

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
~370 Servers in the France pool
Billions Requests processed daily
Free 100% community service

Why Contribute?

🌍

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:

  1. A device requests the time
    The client sends a DNS query to fr.pool.ntp.org (or another geographic zone).
  2. DNS selects servers
    The pool system randomly chooses active servers in the requested zone, weighted by their reliability score.
  3. The client synchronizes
    The device queries the selected servers, compares their responses, and adjusts its clock with the best estimate.
  4. Monitoring watches continuously
    The pool system regularly checks each server and adjusts its score. A failing server is automatically 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

  1. 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. Before opening your server to the public, validate your NTP server with the online validator to confirm offset, stratum and reachability are clean.
    # Installing Chrony (Debian/Ubuntu) sudo apt install chrony # Checking synchronization chronyc tracking
  2. 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.
  3. Create an account on the pool
    Go to manage.ntppool.org and create your operator account.
  4. Add your server
    Enter the IP address of your server and select the appropriate geographic zones (Europe, France, etc.).
  5. 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.

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
  • NTS enabled across our entire infrastructure
  • Datacenter hosting in France and Europe
  • Dual-stack IPv4/IPv6 on all servers
  • 8 different TLDs for maximum DNS redundancy
  • 24/7 monitoring and proactive maintenance

View our reliability score on ntppool.org →

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

Free NTP Tools

Three independent tools to diagnose your time synchronization: