System Time
Network time synchronization is critical because every aspect of managing, securing, planning, and debugging a network involves determining when events occur. Time provides a frame of reference between all devices on the network.
Without synchronized time, accurately correlating log files between devices, for instance when tracking security breaches or network usage, is not possible. Problems affecting a large number of components can be nearly impossible to track if timestamps in logs are inaccurate.
Time also reduces confusion in shared file systems, as it is important for the modification times to be consistent, regardless of the machine on which the files systems reside.
For these reasons, it is important that the time configured on the all devices on the network be accurate.
NOTE The switch supports Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP) and when enabled, the switch dynamically synchronizes the switch time with the SNTP server time. The switch operates only as an SNTP client, and cannot provide time services to other devices.
This section describes the options for configuring system time, time zone, and Daylight Savings Time (DST). It includes the following topics: