Select Server Dialog

"Select From These Servers"

This is a list of time servers that Nuclear Clock can download the time from. Time servers are computers on the Internet connected to atomic clocks. These atomic clocks (managed by NIST) have the precise time, which Nuclear Clock obtains by accessing the time servers. The checked boxes indicate that the server is selected. An unchecked box means that that server is deselected and the time will not be downloaded from it.

The priority number (the number right next to the check boxes) tells the order in which the servers will be tried. If Nuclear Clock is unable to connect to the priority 1 server, it will try the priority 2. If the priority 2 server fails, then it will try priority 3, etc.

The "Server Address" column contains the Internet address of the time server, which Nuclear Clock uses to access the server. The "Description" column contains a short description of the time server (could be any sort of description). The "Stratum" column (not visible in the above picture) tells the stratum of the time server. Stratum 1 indicates that the time server is directly connected to an atomic clock. Stratum 2 servers get the time from Stratum 1 servers. Stratum 3's get their time from Stratum 2 servers, etc.

"Add", "Edit", and "Delete" buttons

Use these buttons to change the servers in the "Select From These Servers" list. "Add" adds a server entry, "Edit" allows you to change an entry, "Delete" permanently removes an entry from the list. The "Add" and "Edit" buttons bring up the Add/Edit dialog box, which allows you to enter the values.

"Current Server"

The server currently being used by Nuclear Clock. You can change this value by selecting from the drop down list.

"Number of Retries"

The number of times to retry a server before going on to the next one on the list.

"Server Timeout (in seconds)"

The number of seconds to wait for a response for a server. If the time between trying to connect to a server and receiving a response goes beyond the timeout value, Nuclear Clock will either retry connecting to the same server or try connecting to a different server.