Saying the time in a global economy - Benefits of an NTP server

by Richard Williams N

The world is becoming an increasingly small. Modern technology means that it is just as easy to make a purchase from across the world as it is to buy something for our local streets.
Everything from hotels and plane tickets for jewelry and clothing can be purchased from across the world with just a mouse click away.
However, such global trade is only possible thanks to the precision clock synchronization possible through the use of UTC and NTP servers.
Just think next time you buy a plane ticket on the Internet, you may have purchased the last seat on the plane, but what would happen if someone moments later on a computer with a slower clock tried to buy the same ticket.
It is clear that the seat has been sold but not according to a computer that will verify their registration and could reach the conclusion that, as the clocks of the original transaction happened afterwards.

Such confusion could lead to chaos particularly sensitive with the passage of time and commercial transaction, as the stock exchange where millions can be made or lost in seconds.
Fortunately the world can trade in relative safety, thanks to UTC and NTP servers let everyone to operate under an exact time scale.
UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) was developed after the development of atomic clocks when they realized that previous deadlines (GMT) based on the movement of the earth, were not very accurate as Earth slows in its rotation.
Instead of UTC was developed which allows adjustments in the Earth's rotation by adding leap seconds. UTC refers to time zones with only add or subtract hours after the time as UTC +5 or UTC-3.
NTP (Network Time Protocol) was developed to allow servers to synchronize all the machines in a network simultaneously. NTP Servers are usually get their timing reference, either a specialist UTC or GPS radio transmission across the network and can synchronize all the machines networked together.

N Richard Williams is an author and a technical specialist in telecommunications and network synchronization of time helping the industry dedicated to developing products for server time. Please visit us to learn more about a time server GPS or other products of NTP server.

Read More...

Telecommuting 2.0 - One possible solution to the energy crisis

by A. Ullman

1.0 telecommuting is defined as any person working from home via the Internet. When high-speed Internet was made available to people's homes, it is generally assumed that telecommuting would take over the world. In reality, only a very small percentage of the workforce full-time Telecommute.
So, why telework has not achieved a high level of saturation? There are several major problems with telework for the masses. Many people do not have the discipline to work from home. They do not have a professional working segregated that is free from distractions. They have no access to reliable network. Also, do not have confidence that management will be a full day of work with all the distractions available at home (TV, video games, family members, etc.). All these problems combine to maintain telework to be something more than a niche option for the workplace in general. Telecommuting needs an update in order to be fully utilized by the average worker.
What is it?
For workers to be effective need an office. They must be free from distractions. They need a place to go to one place and go home so that work and home life can be separated (from spreading too far in either direction can be harmful). Teleworkers also need professional grade Internet access to an ISP that has SLA and treats its customers as business customers, not home Internet surfers. They need personal firewalls. They need a real desktop (not part of a desk, coffee table or sofa). Need a professional-grade telephone system. They need a real mailing address. They have all the things a traditional office provides.

In this current environment, where the cost of a gallon of gasoline is more than four dollars and the roads are hopelessly congested to the point of impasse, which is not necessary to spend one hour on the road to come and go from work.
The solution lies in Telecommuting 2.0. 2.0 In Telecommuting, workers driving a few blocks down the street to a remote location Office Accommodation Centre. The remote control office accommodation of the Centre for leasing office space for people from different companies in a remote office accommodation centre. " Centers are not owned by the employer. They are owned and managed commercial real estate companies across cities and suburbs. They are located near where people live, so the commute can be as short as a mile or two. It is likely that most people living within a mile or two of some industrial complex, strip mall with free space will become, or an existing office building that is close to (and probably not fully leased. All these places are candidates for lease under the Office Accommodation Centre distance model.
Remote Office Hosting Centers are the key to Telecommuting 2.0. They provide professional services and a central location.
A remote Office Accommodation Centre will provide:

Professional-grade Internet access (as well as personal firewalls and assistance with network problems.)
Professional telephone system with voice mail, long distance and other features that professionals are available with VOIP.
Professional work area, (ie, desk, chair, lighting, isolation and proximity to other workers badly needed for social contact.
Scan card-based security system (which record of arrival and departure to verify attendance and working hours). Safety records could be provided to management for the verification work hours.
Flexible lease. Companies do not want to be caught with a long-term lease if the employee turnover.
Remote Office Hosting Centers also allow companies to expand and contract, or change of personnel without the constraints of existing infrastructure and the limitations of office lease. The companies also have a larger pool of work for hire as many people are unwilling to move or make long commutes even if they are a perfect fit for a company or another.
Remote Office Hosting Centers would also be able to generate additional revenue by offering additional services, such as technology support, optional equipment, high-speed printers, video conferencing and additional costs.
At present there is a bill proposed in Congress that would require 20% of federal employees can work from home or a convenient location. A recent survey showed that 30% of office workers would be willing to accept somewhat lower pay if they would telecommute. The next presidential election could be decided in part based on which candidate is able to find a solution to the current energy crisis.
If Congress really wants to solve the energy crisis, it is necessary to get people to drive less, but still need to be able to do their job (so they can continue paying taxes.) Instead of spending hundreds of millions in subsidies for alternative fuels The government should seriously consider offering tax credits to businesses that allow workers to telecommunications, whether home or from a location near where they live. Each car is off the road means less fuel is consumed, fewer dollars transferred over the seas foreign oil companies, and more efficient travel (less traffic) for those who really need to drive to work, in order to perform a job that can not be done remotely.
Unlike hydrogen fuel cells, technology and infrastructure already exists. The only thing that must change is how the office space is rented, sold and used by American corporations. 2.0 telework is not new technology. It is simply a new way of working.

Read More...