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16. IANA Considerations

This document involves several IANA registry and assignment matters for the Network Time Protocol.

16.1. Port Assignment

UDP/TCP Port 123 was previously assigned by IANA for this protocol and continues to be used.

16.2. Multicast Address Assignment

IANA has assigned:

  • IPv4 multicast group address: 224.0.1.1
  • IPv6 multicast address: ending with :101

These addresses are used for NTP broadcast and multicast modes.

16.3. Extension Field Types Registry

This document introduces NTP extension fields allowing for future protocol extensions. IANA has established and maintains a registry for Extension Field Types, identified by the Field Type sub-field within the extension field.

Registration Policy: New Extension Field Types are defined by IETF Review, following policies outlined in RFC 5226.

Initial State: Registry populated with no initial entries, to be extended as future needs arise.

16.4. Reference Identifier Codes Registry

IANA has created a registry for NTP Reference Identifier codes. This includes current codes defined in Section 7.3.

Registration Policy: First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS) basis.

Registry Format:

IDClock Source
GOESGeosynchronous Orbit Environment Satellite
GPSGlobal Position System
GALGalileo Positioning System
PPSGeneric pulse-per-second
IRIGInter-Range Instrumentation Group
WWVBLF Radio WWVB Fort Collins, CO 60 kHz
DCFLF Radio DCF77 Mainflingen, DE 77.5 kHz
HBGLF Radio HBG Prangins, HB 75 kHz
MSFLF Radio MSF Anthorn, UK 60 kHz
......

16.5. Kiss-o'-Death Codes Registry

IANA has created a registry for NTP Kiss-o'-Death codes. These codes are returned in the Reference Identifier field to indicate various error conditions. This includes current codes defined in Section 7.4.

Registration Policy: First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS) basis.

Registry Format:

CodeMeaning
ACSTThe association belongs to a unicast server
AUTHServer authentication failed
AUTOAutokey sequence failed
BCSTThe association belongs to a broadcast server
CRYPCryptographic authentication or identification failed
DENYAccess denied by remote server
DROPLost peer in symmetric mode
RSTRAccess denied due to local policy
INITThe association has not yet synchronized
MCSTThe association belongs to a manycast server
NKEYNo key found
RATERate exceeded
RMOTAlteration of association from a remote host
STEPA step change in system time has occurred
......

16.6. Experimental Code Reservation

For both Reference Identifiers and Kiss-o'-Death codes, IANA is requested to never assign a code beginning with the character "X", as this prefix is reserved for experimentation and development purposes.

This reservation allows implementers to test new clock sources and error conditions without risk of conflict with officially assigned codes.