[Ntp] Re: [NTP] Roughtime: Inadequate Explanation of Protocol's Unique Feature? (Question to all WG members)

[Watson Ladd <[e-mail]>]

On Tue, Sep 3, 2024 at 1:37 AM <[e-mail]> wrote:
>
> @watson/ben: thanks for your replies
> Can the information about the ecosystem and reporting system be found anywhere else?
> Not necessarily about a server list or who runs them, but about how the logic works, how reporting should roughly be done, etc.?

First let me say I very much appreciate the effort you are spending on
improving the draft. It's very easy for me as author to think I have
explained things well when I have not. I think what I have in the
draft is there but is fairly telegraphic. A client queries multiple
servers, and through the chaining mechanism can determine if they give
inconsistent results (Section 4 and 9.2). When there is an
inconsistency the client reports, and we have a format for doing that
(might need more explication). When the client reports, and what
happens after is currently beyond scope.

I'm not sure what logic you are discussing. We certainly can put in
more examples and explanations of how having three causally related
measurements can impeach a server giving the incorrect time.
Ultimately though distrust comes about through human understanding of
which one was wrong.

> (If so, could you link to that?)
> Or are you saying it's okay for this to not be documented anywhere?

Part of the problem is that we do not have any such program operating
to describe, and being very prescriptive about things that don't yet
exist is a losing battle.

>
> Let's remember that this is Roughtime's supposed core technical feature.

I think roughtime has this feature and it's just a matter of
documentation. But we can't dictate the human bits come into
existence: they either will or will not, and will operate according to
their needs. Mozilla has a very different root program than Apple.

Sincerely,
Watson Ladd

>
> @ntp-wg: I was really looking for input on this from people who didn't have an active role in developing Roughtime.
> I ask you all again to provide a short opinion, please.

Yes, please chime in!

>
>
> Besten Gruß / Kind regards,
> Kristof Teichel
> (and Martin Langer)



-- 
Astra mortemque praestare gradatim