 Free Online Articles Directory |
|||||||
Home Page  Computers Networks Linux – Getting the Correct Time |
|||||||
 |
Linux – Getting the Correct Time
Ensuring a computer is not only displaying the correct time but that it is being maintained accurately is not as straight-forward as it first sounds. Most Linux systems have two clocks. The hardware clock, also known as the CMOS of Bios clock, is usually a simple crystal oscillator with battery back-up that maintains time when your system is off or boots up. This clock is usually located on the motherboard and will run all the time, however these clock chips tend to lose time as the computer ages and the battery weakens. The other clock, the system clock, is a software clock and it starts when you boot up your system often getting an initial time from the hardware clock. System clocks keep time by adding seconds on to a prime epoch, a base time that for Linux and Unix, began at midnight on January 1, 1970. However, the hardware clock is a cheap electronic oscillator and cannot maintain time to any useful degree of accuracy. They often drift several seconds a day which for day-to-day process is probably adequate but with time sensitive applications it can cause serious problems. A better way is to set the system clock using the time from a NTP (Network Time Protocol) time server. These dedicated time servers get a UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) time from an atomic clock which are the most accurate time keepers in the world, not losing a second in time in several millions of years. Dedicated NTP servers use either a radio receiver to pick-up a radio time and frequency broadcast which are transmitted by several national laboratories or by using the timing signal broadcast from the GPS network. Linux uses a NTP service called NTP Daemon (ntpd). This uses NTP to adjust the system clock for any drift in time as it frequently check the UTC time source. To configure the NTP daemon the ntp.conf file in the /etc directory can be used. From here more than one time server can be used as a reference and also the frequency it is checked can also be altered.
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Tags: Ntp Server, GPS Ntp Server, Ntp Time Server, Ntp Clock, GPS Time Server, Windows Server 2008, Windows Ntp Server, Gps Ntp Time Server, Network Time Server, Ntp Servers, Ntp Gps Time Server, Ntp Gps Server, Linux Time Server, Linux Ntp Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/networks-articles/linux-getting-the-correct-time-491801.html About the Author:
Richard N Williams is a technical author and specialist in atomic clocks, telecommunications, NTP and network time synchronisation helping to develop dedicated NTP clocks. Please visit us for more information about a network time server or other ntp server solutions.
Related ArticlesKeeping Accurate Time on Linux: Running a Ntp Time Server How to Build and Configure Your Own Radio Referenced Ntp Time Server Accuracy in Timekeeping, Clocks and Their Development Atomic Clock - Keeping the World Ticking Ntp Server: Keeping Track of Time Clocks - From the Sundial to the Ntp Server Ntp Server - Why the Need for a Dedicated Time Server Ntp Time Server - the Art of Synchronisation Got a Question? Ask.Ask the community a question about this article:Q&A Powered by:
 Latest Networks ArticlesHome Networking One 0n 0ne Part 3 Home Networking One 0n 0ne Part 2 Home Networking One 0n 0ne Part 1 Setting Up a Home Networking System Ntp - Using an Atomic Clock Receiver for Time Synchronisation Time Synchronization Basics: Configuring Windows as an Ntp Server Troubleshooting Internet / Network Connectivity Using the Osi Model Subnetting for Dummies With Scenario's More from Richard n WilliamsNtp - Using an Atomic Clock Receiver for Time Synchronisation Time Synchronization Basics: Configuring Windows as an Ntp Server Ntp Time Server - the Art of Synchronisation Ntp Server - Why the Need for a Dedicated Time Server Comment Fonctionne Un De Serveur De Temps Avec Une Interface Réseau Sous Windows Xp ? C'est Quoi, L'heure ? Des Cadrans Solaires à Ntp Ip65 Et Ip54 – Protéger Votre équipement électrique Contre La Poussière, Les Débris Et Le Liquide Uses of Touch Screen Monitors |
|
|||||
|
Article Categories
|
|||||||
 Sign up for our email newsletterReceive updates, enter your email below
Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (0.19, 17) |
|||||||
