[PLUG] ntp, ntpd, ntpdate, ntpd-debian

Denis Heidtmann denis.heidtmann at gmail.com
Thu Dec 3 00:34:19 UTC 2009


On Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 4:19 PM, jen montserrat <jen.montserrat at gmail.com> wrote:
> the no server suitable for sync error is most likely the result of the
> configuration file for ntpdate.  check /etc/default/ntpdate and ensure that
> the line:
>
> NTPDATE_USE_NTP_CONF=yes
>
> is set to:
>
> NTPDATE_USE_NTP_CONF=no
>
> and then try ntpdate sync
>
> If you are using ntpd then disregard this message
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jen

I think you missed my summary of this issue, posted on Nov. 30.  Here
it is repeated.

To recap:  I wanted to keep my system clock reasonably correct.  I
understood that ubuntu runs ntpdate at boot by default.  It was not
happening.  Two reasons:

1) /etc/default/ntpdate has a line NTPDATE_USE_NTP_CONF=yes, which
causes ntpdate to go to /etc/ntp.conf for the server list.  ntpd is
not installed,( again, the default condition), so /etc/ntp.conf does
not exist.  Changing the statement to NTPDATE_USE_NTP_CONF=no causes
ntpdate to use the server list following in
NTPSERVERS="ntp.ubuntu.com".

2) My dsl modem was blocking port 124, so ntpdate could not reach any
servers.  Option -u on ntpdate forces use of an unprivileged port, so
servers can be reached.

I learned some stuff about ntp servers, my modem, anacron, and ubuntu.
 I never tested whether the default server ntp.ubuntu.com actually
worked, since I had expert advice on choice of servers.

Thanks to all who helped me navigate the maze.

-Denis



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