NTP (network time protocol)

NTP keeps track of time from a server, synchronising for network delays and local clock drifts. ntp can run as a client or a server.

In the department, we run multiple ntp servers that synchronise with the computer centers main server as well as each other.

Mac's (from os9 up) can also sync with unix ntp servers.

Packages

Under linux, following rpm's are required (for mandrake8.0).

ntp-4.0.99k-6mdk

Host

We shall define a number of local ntp hosts, and assign them to various computers.

ntp neo
ntp1 orion
ntp2 s2
ntp3 s3
ntp4 s4

Files

/etc/ntp.conf
This is the configuration file that defines what time servers are known.
/etc/ntp/drift
This file keeps track of the clock drift on the local machine.

Configuration

The configuration file for ntp can be found in /Mount/config/data/Install/ntp.

Problems...?

Note, it can take upto 30 minutes for an ntp server to become active after starting. Be aware that the server will seem to be unavailable until it has become stable.

You must be root to do the following.

sh /etc/rc.d/init.d/ntpd status
sh /etc/rc.d/init.d/ntpd stop
sh /etc/rc.d/init.d/ntpd start