A DTS server provides time to other hosts including other DTS servers in the cell. A typical LAN is configured with three DTS servers. Clients query these servers for time, and the servers query one another, computing the new system time and adjusting their own clocks as appropriate.
It may be desirable to configure a DTS system to have two LAN servers and one global server synchronizing with each other (rather than just having time servers within the LAN synchronizing with each other).
One or more of the servers can be attached to an external time provider, using the DTS Time Provider Interface. This server is referred to as the time provider server. The time provider server is set to UTC time. Many devices are available for obtaining UTC time provided by standards organizations over short-wave radio, telephone, and satellite. Alternatively, reliable time can be provided by an Internet link to the Network Time Protocol (NTP).
Figure 13 illustrates three DTS servers on a LAN using an external UTC time provider to obtain the correct time.
Figure 13 Distributed Time Servers