[pkg-ntp-maintainers] Bug#462862: explain changes in ntp.conf

[Ross Boylan]

Package: ntp
Version: 1:4.2.4p4+dfsg-3
Severity: wishlist


When upgrading from dfsg-2 to dfsg-3 the default ntp.conf file has changed from
-------------------------
# pool.ntp.org maps to about 1000 low-stratum NTP servers.
# Your server will pick a different set every time it starts up.
#  *** Please consider joining the pool! ***
#  *** <http://www.pool.ntp.org/join.html> ***
# maxpoll works around a kernel bug in 2.6.18 and earlier
server 0.debian.pool.ntp.org iburst dynamic maxpoll 7
server 1.debian.pool.ntp.org iburst dynamic maxpoll 7
server 2.debian.pool.ntp.org iburst dynamic maxpoll 7
server 3.debian.pool.ntp.org iburst dynamic maxpoll 7
-------------------------------------------

to
--------------------------------------------
# pool.ntp.org maps to about 1000 low-stratum NTP servers.  Your server will
# pick a different set every time it starts up.  Please consider joining the
# pool: <http://www.pool.ntp.org/join.html>
server 0.debian.pool.ntp.org iburst dynamic
server 1.debian.pool.ntp.org iburst dynamic
server 2.debian.pool.ntp.org iburst dynamic
server 3.debian.pool.ntp.org iburst dynamic
-------------------------------------------------

The changes for which I need more information are the removal of
maxpoll and the associated comment.

It would be helpful to know if the change arises from an assumption
that the kernel will be > 2.6.18, or from some other fix.  I have a
system that is still on 2.6.18, and I don't know if the new conf file
is safe for it.

I looked in the changed log and BTS, but couldn't find anything.

It would be useful to clarify the proper handling of 2.6.18 and
earlier kernels in the changelog, NEWS.Debian, the comments in
ntp.conf, or some combination.

Possibly this change was from some earlier version and I only picked
it up by running the diff.  I do not think I amanually inserted the
lines shown above.

Thanks.
-- System Information:
Debian Release: lenny/sid
  APT prefers testing
  APT policy: (990, 'testing'), (990, 'stable'), (50, 'unstable')
Architecture: i386 (i686)

Kernel: Linux 2.6.18-5-686 (SMP w/2 CPU cores)
Locale: LANG=en_US.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=en_US.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8)
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/bash

Versions of packages ntp depends on:
ii  adduser                       3.105      add and remove users and groups
ii  libc6                         2.7-6      GNU C Library: Shared libraries
ii  libcap1                       1:1.10-14  support for getting/setting POSIX.
ii  libreadline5                  5.2-3      GNU readline and history libraries
ii  libssl0.9.8                   0.9.8g-3   SSL shared libraries
ii  lsb-base                      3.1-24     Linux Standard Base 3.1 init scrip
ii  netbase                       4.30       Basic TCP/IP networking system

Versions of packages ntp recommends:
ii  perl                          5.8.8-12   Larry Wall's Practical Extraction 

-- no debconf information