NTPD(8) The Network Time Protocol (NTP) Distribution NTPD(8)NAMEntpd - Network Time Protocol (NTP) daemon
SYNOPSISntpd [ -46aAbgLmnNqx ] [ -c conffile ] [ -f driftfile ] [ -i jaildir ]
[ -k keyfile ] [ -l logfile ] [ -p pidfile ] [ -P priority ] [ -r
broadcastdelay ] [ -s statsdir ] [ -t key ] [ -u user[:group] ] [ -U
interface_update_interval ] [ -v variable ] [ -V variable ]
DESCRIPTION
The ntpd program is an operating system daemon which sets and maintains
the system time of day in synchronism with Internet standard time
servers. It is a complete implementation of the Network Time Protocol
(NTP) version 4, but also retains compatibility with version 3, as
defined by RFC-1305, and version 1 and 2, as defined by RFC-1059 and
RFC-1119, respectively. ntpd does most computations in 64-bit float‐
ing-point arithmetic and does relatively clumsy 64-bit fixed-point
operations only when necessary to preserve the ultimate precision,
about 232 picoseconds. While the ultimate precision is not achievable
with ordinary workstations and networks of today, it may be required
with future gigahertz CPU clocks and gigabit LANs.
The daemon can operate in any of several modes, including symmetric
active/passive, client/server broadcast/multicast and manycast. A
broadcast/multicast or manycast client can discover remote servers,
compute server-client propagation delay correction factors and config‐
ure itself automatically. This makes it possible to deploy a fleet of
workstations without specifying configuration details specific to the
local environment.
Ordinarily, ntpd reads the ntp.conf configuration file at startup time
in order to determine the synchronization sources and operating modes.
It is also possible to specify a working, although limited configura‐
tion entirely on the command line, obviating the need for a configura‐
tion file. This may be particularly appropriate when the local host is
to be configured as a broadcast/multicast client or manycast client,
with all peers being determined by listening to broadcasts at run time.
Various internal ntpd variables can be displayed and configuration
options altered while the daemon is running using the ntpq and ntpd
utility programs.
When ntpd starts it looks at the value of umask, and if it is zero ntpd
will set the umask to 0222.
OPTIONS-a Require cryptographic authentication for broadcast client, mul‐
ticast client and symmetric passive associations. This is the
default.
-A Do not require cryptographic authentication for broadcast
client, multicast client and symmetric passive associations.
This is almost never a good idea.
-b Enable the client to synchronize to broadcast servers.
-c conffile
Specify the name and path of the configuration file, default
/etc/ntp.conf.
-f driftfile
Specify the name and path of the frequency file, default
/etc/ntp.drift. This is the same operation as the driftfile
driftfile configuration command.
-g Normally, ntpd exits with a message to the system log if the
offset exceeds the panic threshold, which is 1000 s by default.
This option allows the time to be set to any value without
restriction; however, this can happen only once. If the thresh‐
old is exceeded after that, ntpd will exit with a message to the
system log. This option can be used with the -q and -x options.
-i jaildir
Chroot the server to the directory jaildir. This option also
implies that the server attempts to drop root privileges at
startup (otherwise, chroot gives very little additional secu‐
rity). You may need to also specify a -u option.
-k keyfile
Specify the name and path of the symmetric key file, default
/etc/ntp.keys. This is the same operation as the keys keyfile
configuration command.
-l logfile
Specify the name and path of the log file. The default is the
system log file. This is the same operation as the logfile log‐
file configuration command.
-L Do not listen to virtual IPs. The default is to listen.
-n Don't fork.
-N To the extent permitted by the operating system, run the ntpd at
the highest priority.
-p pidfile
Specify the name and path of the file used to record the ntpd
process ID. This is the same operation as the pidfile pidfile
configuration command.
-P priority
To the extent permitted by the operating system, run the ntpd at
the specified priority.
-q Exit the ntpd just after the first time the clock is set. This
behavior mimics that of the ntpdate program, which is to be
retired. The -g and -x options can be used with this option.
Note: The kernel time discipline is disabled with this option.
-r broadcastdelay
Specify the default propagation delay from the broadcast/multi‐
cast server to this client. This is necessary only if the delay
cannot be computed automatically by the protocol.
-s statsdir
Specify the directory path for files created by the statistics
facility. This is the same operation as the statsdir statsdir
configuration command.
-t key Add a key number to the trusted key list. This option can occur
more than once.
-u user[:group]
Specify a user, and optionally a group, to switch to.
-U interface_update_interval
Number of seconds to wait between interface list scans to pick
up new and delete network interface. Set to 0 to disable
dynamic interface list updating. The default is to scan every 5
minutes.
-v variable, -V variable
Add a system variable listed by default.
-x Normally, the time is slewed if the offset is less than the step
threshold, which is 128 ms by default, and stepped if above the
threshold. This option sets the threshold to 600 s, which is
well within the accuracy window to set the clock manually.
Note: Since the slew rate of typical Unix kernels is limited to
0.5 ms/s, each second of adjustment requires an amortization
interval of 2000 s. Thus, an adjustment as much as 600 s will
take almost 14 days to complete. This option can be used with
the -g and -q options. Note: The kernel time discipline is dis‐
abled with this option.
FILES
/etc/ntp.conf
default name of the configuration file
/etc/ntp.drift
default name of the drift file
SEE ALSOntp.conf(5), ntpdate(8)
The complete documentation can be found at
/usr/share/doc/ntp-doc/html/ntpd.html in the package ntp-doc.
Debian 2007-12-07 NTPD(8)
