Config file format - (Was: [ntp:hackers] FreeBSD serial ports)

Harlan Stenn stenn at www.ntp.org
Fri Feb 18 19:27:57 PST 2005


I want ntpd to be able to write a config file (the location of the file need
not be the standard location) for 2 reasons:

- it is a way to make it easy to "dump state", and I think it will help
  debug the parsing code for the new config file format
- I want it - I think it is neat

If folks don't want to allow remote config it is trivial to disable it,
using a number of methods.

For remote/enbedded devices, it may also be easier to do a remote config
then it is to "log in" to the device and send a HUP signal (assuming, of
course, that a) one can log in to the device, and b) the underlying OS
supports sending a HUP signal).

One of the reasons for allowing remote config is that ntpd maintains
ongoing "state" information, and a full shutdown/restart can be Bad.

Therefore, sometimes it may be a useful/good idea to allow remote 
configuration changes.

H



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