[ntp:questions] ntpd stuck at default minpoll on stratum one

[Dennis Hilberg, Jr.]

Hi,

I have a stratum one server running ntpd 4.2.4p3 at 1.1502 with a Garmin GPS 18 
LVC as a refclock.  I use the shmpps driver from http://time.qnan.org/ . 
Since this driver only provides the PPS signal, I need to have a few other 
servers defined in my ntp.conf so that my ntpd knows what time it is.

Here's my concern: the poll interval on those servers is always stuck at the 
default minpoll (64sec), even though I have not specified so.  I would 
rather not poll those servers at such a rapid rate, but ntpd seems to be 
doing this on its own, as far as I know.

It's been this way since I set up the server, about two months ago.  I 
haven't messed with it, as I assume ntpd knows what it's doing.  However, my 
concern has finally prompted me to ask someone.

Here is my ntp.conf (comments removed):

restrict default kod nopeer nomodify notrap
restrict 127.0.0.1

server 127.127.28.0 minpoll 4 maxpoll 4 prefer
fudge 127.127.28.0 refid PPS flag3 1

server tick.ucla.edu iburst
server clock.via.net iburst
server t1.timegps.net iburst
server bigben.cac.washington.edu iburst
server clepsydra.dec.com iburst

driftfile /var/lib/ntp.drift

logfile /var/log/ntp/ntp.log

statsdir /var/log/ntp/
statistics loopstats peerstats clockstats
filegen loopstats file loopstats type day enable
filegen peerstats file peerstats type day enable
filegen clockstats file clockstats type day enable

keys /etc/ntp/keys

trustedkey 1
requestkey 1
controlkey 1

And here is a 'ntpq -p' and 'ntpq -crv' output:

saturn:# ntpq -p
      remote           refid st t when poll reach   delay   offset  jitter
=========================================================================
*SHM(0)          .PPS.       0 l   14   16  377    0.000    0.000   0.001
-tick.ucla.edu   .GPS.       1 u   37   64  377   38.910    2.332   1.286
-clock.via.net   .GPS.       1 u   51   64  377   34.722    2.470   3.509
+cpe-76-87-109-2 .GPS.       1 u   44   64  377   53.460    0.611   5.654
-bigben.cac.wash .USNO.      1 u   36   64  377   13.590    2.795   2.597
+clepsydra.dec.c .GPS.       1 u   29   64  377   30.161    1.618   1.432

saturn:# ntpq -crv
assID=0 status=0964 leap_none, sync_telephone, 6 events, event_peer/strat_chg,
version="ntpd 4.2.4p3 at 1.1502 Wed Aug 22 18:27:01 UTC 2007 (1)",
processor="i686", system="Linux/2.6.17-5mdv", leap=00, stratum=1,
precision=-20, rootdelay=0.000, rootdispersion=0.343, peer=22004,
refid=PPS, reftime=cab1a338.1c12986c  Fri, Oct  5 2007 23:01:28.109,
poll=4, clock=cab1a33e.4d9c88ab  Fri, Oct  5 2007 23:01:34.303, state=4,
offset=0.000, frequency=-22.221, jitter=0.001, noise=0.001,
stability=0.000

Thanks for any help.

Regards,

-- 
Dennis Hilberg, Jr.      timekeeper(at)dennishilberg(dot)com
NTP Server Information:  http://saturn.dennishilberg.com/ntp.php