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Copy file name to clipboardExpand all lines: Standards/scs-XXXX-v1-ntp-decisions.md
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@@ -88,21 +88,22 @@ Hyper-V also offers time synchronization through a PTP device file managed by it
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Paravirtualized time synchronization has the benefit of generally offering the highest precision.
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Like RTC clock emulation, it also works independently of the guest system's network connectivity.
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The main drawback is the dependency on a specific hypervisor, even more so than emulated RTC hardware, because it actually requires hypervisor-specific code to run in the guest system.
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The main drawback is the dependency on a specific combination of hypervisor and guest operating system, because it requires hypervisor-specific drivers to run in the guest.
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## Decision
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From looking at the available options, it becomes apparent that there is no single optimal solution for time synchronization.
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The most precise option is the least portable, but the most widely supported option also requires the most provider-specific configuration.
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The aim of SCS is to improve interoperability between Openstack clouds, so the preferable standard solution is one that works across a wide range of setups.
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This perspective clearly favours NTP as a standardized method of time synchronization, because of it's wide support in cloud images and it's independence from other components, such as the hypervisor.
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However it is still useful for a CSP to offer less portable, but more precise methods of time synchronization, especially if they are integrated into the default cloud images offered by the CSP.
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So, we should standardize a portable NTP setup, that users can develop images against which will work well in any SCS cloud.
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We should not try to prevent CSPs from supporting paravirtualized, or other methods of time synchronization which may offer significant benefits over NTP.
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* used method of time sync depends on the available options, but also on the image
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* which option best to target when building a cloud image depends on who is building the image
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* CSPs can target whichever mechanism their cloud supports best
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* users may want images that are as portable as possible, so they can reuse them across SCS clouds
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* since interoperability between clouds is the primary motivation for SCS, standardization should focus on portability
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* the most portable option is NTP, so we should standardize an NTP setup!
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* CSPs should still be free to support additionally support more precise methods, like ptp_kvm, and pre-configure them in the images they offer
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* challenges for NTP:
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* local NTP server must be reachable by guests
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* advertising NTP servers to customers and instances
@@ -111,6 +112,7 @@ The most precise option is the least portable, but the most widely supported opt
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* should we standardize a vendor data key for NTP?
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* should local NTP server IPs be part of a CSP self description?
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