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Trick: Installing and Configuring Network Time Protocol (NTP) |
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Monday, 13 September 2004 |
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The Linux ntpd program makes continuous adjustments to your computer's system time by sampling the time from one or more (preferably three) NTP servers. The correct time is calculated by figuring out the network delay from a series of queries to the servers, then factoring in this delay to calculate the correct time. The NTP program will deliver accuracy to within 1-50ms, depending on the network path to the server and the server itself. For a workstation, you should use stratum 2 NTP servers. Stratum 1 NTP servers are available only to stratum 2 servers in the same time zone, or by previous arrangement.
Setting your computer to the correct time is essential because so many things depend on it: log files, email servers, cron jobs, and timed alerts among them. This article explains how to set and maintain accurate time on your system from the command line interface. Read more at Linux.com |
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