350-401 Question #791: Real Exam Question with Answer & Explanation

Question

How do stratum levels relate to the distance from a time source?

Options

• AStratum 1 devices are connected directly to an authoritative time source.
• BStratum 15 devices are connected directly to an authoritative time source
• CStratum 0 devices are connected directly to an authoritative time source.
• DStratum 15 devices are an authoritative time source.

Explanation

NTP Stratum Levels Explained

Option A is correct because in the Network Time Protocol (NTP) hierarchy, Stratum 1 servers are directly connected to an authoritative time source (such as a GPS receiver, atomic clock, or radio clock), making them the most accurate network time servers available.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• Option B is incorrect because Stratum 15 devices are near the bottom of the hierarchy, far removed from the time source, and considered unreliable or nearly unusable
• Option C is incorrect because Stratum 0 represents the actual hardware reference clocks (atomic clocks, GPS devices) themselves - they are not networked devices but rather the physical time sources that Stratum 1 servers connect to
• Option D is incorrect because Stratum 15 is the furthest usable stratum level from the source, not an authoritative time source itself

💡 Memory Tip: Think of strata like floors in a building - Stratum 0 is the foundation (the clock itself), Stratum 1 is the ground floor (directly touching the foundation), and each higher stratum number moves you farther away from accuracy. The lower the number, the closer to the source!

No community discussion yet for this question.