Bug#400390: [pkg-ntp-maintainers] Bug#400390: Please have ntp installed by default in the standard task

[Kurt Roeckx]

On Sun, Nov 26, 2006 at 01:29:10PM +0100, Olaf van der Spek wrote:
> >However, I'm not sure that the ntp is a package that should be installed
> >by default, or atleast not run as a daemon by default.
> >
> >Something that runs ntpdate (or ntpd -q -g) regularly, or some sntp
> >client, could make more sense for a default.
> 
> What are the advantages of ntpd or ntpdate?

I'm not sure what you're asking.

In the normal case you run ntpd as a daemon, it regularly sends packets
out to synchronize the clock.  It will adjusts some kernel parameters
so that your clock's rate is about correct.  It should get your clock
accurate to a few ms.

If you run ntpdate (or ntpq -q) this is a one time only thing, and
just adjusts to clock at that time, it won't do anything else.  This is
basicly the sntp (simple ntp) behaviour, and you get a clock accurate
in the order of a second.

If you run ntpd as a daemon, it acts as both client and server, it
implements the full ntp protocol including all the algorithmes that go
with it.

The problem with running ntpd default is that it's designed to act as
an ntp server, and not to run on a desktop system or something that
doesn't have a static IP address.

What you might want as a default installation is an sntp client.


Kurt