[Ntp] [Editorial Errata Reported] RFC5905 (8903)

RFC Errata System <rfc-editor@rfc-editor.org> Wed, 06 May 2026 15:54 UTC

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Subject: [Ntp] [Editorial Errata Reported] RFC5905 (8903)
Archived-At: <https://mailarchive.ietf.org/arch/msg/ntp/V6rQMj2gbu58Kdz56vO-WACg5gU>

The following errata report has been submitted for RFC5905,
"Network Time Protocol Version 4: Protocol and Algorithms Specification".

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You may review the report below and at:
https://www.rfc-editor.org/errata/eid8903

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Type: Editorial
Reported by: Aidan R <aidanjredden@gmail.com>

Section: 11.2.1

Original Text
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This results in three tuples, lowpoint (p, -1, theta -
lambda), midpoint (p, 0, theta), and highpoint (p, +1, theta +
lambda), where lambda is the root synchronization distance.

Corrected Text
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This results in three tuples, lowpoint (p, -1, theta -
LAMBDA), midpoint (p, 0, theta), and highpoint (p, +1, theta +
LAMBDA), where LAMBDA is the root synchronization distance.

Notes
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Two distinct quantities are inconsistently referred to as either "lambda" or "LAMBDA": the peer synchronisation distance, and the root synchronisation distance.
In Section 10, the peer synchronisation distance is defined as (delta / 2) + epsilon and denoted by the minuscule lambda.
In section 11.2.3, the root synchronisation distance is defined as EPSILON + DELTA / 2 and denoted by the majuscule LAMBDA. The root synchronisation distance is also referred to as LAMBDA in Section 4.
However, in sections 11.2.1 and 11.2.2, the root synchronisation distance is referred to with the minuscule lambda, leading to an editorial inconsistency between the identifiers for peer and root synchronisation distances.

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RFC5905 (draft-ietf-ntp-ntpv4-proto-13)
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Title : Network Time Protocol Version 4: Protocol and Algorithms Specification
Publication Date : June 2010
Author(s) : D. Mills, J. Martin, Ed., J. Burbank, W. Kasch
Category : PROPOSED STANDARD
Source : Network Time Protocols
Stream : IETF
Verifying Party : IESG

[Ntp] [Editorial Errata Reported] RFC5905 (8903) RFC Errata System