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Justin Force
Asked: 2011-04-16 12:31:52 +0800 CST

Synchronize time on a private network that must not connect to the Internet

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For HIPAA compliance, this network can not be connected to the Internet or to any other network or computer which connects to the Internet.

I've got a small private network comprised entirely of Macs running Mac OS X 10.6. The computers share files and services. The clocks drift, and this causes problems.

We've tried configuring one of the Macs as an NTP server, but it still drifts and the whole network drifts with it.

Maybe we can connect some kind of hardware clock. Maybe a USB radio clock? I would prefer a Mac-compatible device, but we're prepared to build a whole Linux (or maybe even Windows, if we have to) box to fill this role. I've scoured the Web, and I see things like the WWVB51USB and the USB5131 from Meinberg, but I wanted to see if anybody already had an answer.

mac ntp clock-synchronization

2 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    If you have a convienent window nearby a GPS dongle can provide time information in addition to location.

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  2. I definitely can recommend the Meinberg devices. We were using a 19" device which got it's time from DCF77 (Europe) in a large, but closed network (it was a closed production plant network with an Active Directory (don't ask..), so a proper time sync was inevitable for authentication/kerberos etc. The Mainberg device was rock solid, once set up, ran 'forever' - until the plant.. well ;-). Edit: I have no experience with the USB devices.

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