[ntp:questions] Re: how to question: query an ntp server to return the date

Richard B. Gilbert rgilbert88 at comcast.net
Thu Jan 27 12:45:13 UTC 2005


lb wrote:

>thx for the reply.
>the problem is that the machine runs some old accounting package and
>the date actually needs to be changed back in time to do certain
>functions. stupid it is. but somehow i need to get the true date in
>order to run some backup and maintenance processes. 
>any ideas on a way to do this?
>thx again.
>-lyle
>
>
>
>
>In article <CfOdnRcZMsc112XcRVn-oQ at comcast.com>, Richard B. Gilbert
><rgilbert88 at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>  
>
>>lb wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>hi. i was wondering if anyone can help me.
>>>on a unix machine, i want to be able to query an ntp server and return
>>>just the actual date in the form mmddyy. ntpdate -q gives too much
>>>info.
>>>is there an easy way to do this?
>>>thx in advance,
>>>-lyle
>>> 
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>The NTP protocol was not exactly designed to do what you want and 
>>neither is the ntpdate utility.  Is there some reason you can't simply 
>>use "date +%m/%d/%g"?   This does require that the  Unix system's clock 
>>be set more or less accurately.  If the clock is not accurate, you can 
>>use ntpdate to set the clock and then date to extracted a formatted 
>>date/time.  See man date and man strftime.  "date+5m/+%d/%Y" will  get 
>>you mm/dd/yyyy if you want the four digit year.
>>
>>If you need the UTC date rather than the local date, you can set your 
>>time zone appropriately.
>>    
>>
Sorry, not a clue.  You may be the only one in the world who needs such 
a thing!   It might be easier to fix the accounting package!!



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