[pkg-ntp-maintainers] Bug#714997: ntpdate gets invoked by default

[Zefram]

Package: ntpdate
Version: 1:4.2.6.p5+dfsg-2
Severity: normal

If I install the ntpdate package, in order to have the useful diagnostic
tool of the ntpdate(8) program, an if-up script also gets installed, which
uses ntpdate in order to adjust the system clock every time a network
interface comes up.  Sure that's a vaguely sensible way to use ntpdate,
but wanting to do that is not inherent in installing the ntpdate program.

I think there should be two distinct packages here: one providing the
ntpdate program (and ntpdate-debian), and a second one implementing
the specific use of ntpdate to repeatedly adjust the system clock.
The package descriptions must reflect these distinct purposes.  If for
some reason you're not willing to split the packages, then the secondary
purpose of the single package needs to be stated in its description.
(The present description of the ntpdate package describes the ntpdate
program, but makes no mention of running it automatically.)

-zefram