ietf-nntp Section 11.5 - NEWNEWS

[Clive D.W. Feather]

Paul Overell said:
>> + The date and time are given in the server's approximation to UT
>> + (otherwise known as GMT). The server is not required to track leap
>> + seconds or UT/TAI/UTC variations exactly, nor need the server's clock
>> + be accurate to within 1 second.

> I think invoking UT/TAI/UTC/ is muddying the waters.  It's in UTC (not
> UT, not TAI, not POSIX).

How do you know ? That's one of the issues.

> Saying what accuracy is not required doesn't
> say what accuracy is required.  I suggest:
> 
>         The date and time are given in UTC.  The date and time SHOULD be
>         accurate.
> 
> Using "SHOULD" gives the server the get-out if they can't support leap
> seconds or if their clock drifts a bit, but if they can get it right
> then they SHOULD.

If we give a quantity, the client knows how much slack to allow when doing
the DATE/NEWNEWS thing. I think that's a good idea.

-- 
Clive D.W. Feather  | Work:  <clive at demon.net>   | Tel:  +44 20 8371 1138
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