[ntp:questions] Using ntpd with custom clock

Rob nomail at example.com
Wed Oct 17 09:14:56 UTC 2012


Kennedy, Paul <P.Kennedy at fugro.com.au> wrote:
> Forgive me if I am wrong, but this is a very odd request.  As far as I
> can tell, the request is for the NTP corrections to the system clock to
> be used to correct a different clock.
>
> I cannot quite understand how this is of practical use.  It is like
> diagnosing the faults on your car engine and then applying the
> corrections to a train engine.

When it is an odd request in your opinion, it does not mean it is
not valid.  It may explain why there is no standard code in ntpd
to handle this situation, but it is no excuse to give wrong answers
or boilerplate answers.

It happens so often on this group.  There are two questions that
very frequently pop up:

- I want to test and validate how ntpd handles an unusual situation
  (like a fault or a leap-second)

- I want to keep an island of sytems synchronized to the same time
  (but I don't care how that time relates to UTC)

All the time we see those responses that declare the question as
odd, or try to modify the requirements of the poster, or add a new
piece of hardware (like a GPS receiver).
And usually the responses are from the same small group of posters.

It is really lame.   When you cannot answer the question, you can
always keep quiet.  There is no need to always jump on the soapbox.



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