How To
NTP Clients
* The hostname for KENICs' NTP Server is ntp.kenic.or.ke *
Two steps is all that you require to establish your synchronized network time source:
- Connect the time server to your network. (For ISP's)
- Install and configure the client software on each workstation that will interface to the server. Setting up an NTP or SNTP client is relatively simple once you have successfully communicated with your time server over the network. Your ISP will provide you with the name of your time resource.
There are a wide range of NTP clients available for various platforms. It is not necessary to purchase expensive client software. In many cases, the client software is already resident in the operating system of the workstation, server or router. In other cases, it is available as freeware, shareware or inexpensive applications.
Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 and XP
We highly recommend SymmTime - free, convenient multi-zone desktop time utility that automatically synchronizes your system clock to any accessible NTP server.
Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit - You will need to purchase the Microsoft® Windows NT® Server Resource Kit to obtain the necessary files for installing the Time Service that communicates with NTP. Refer to Microsoft NT supplement 4: Keeping Time On Your Windows NT Network.
W32Time - Windows 2000 and XP include a built-in time service called Windows Time or W32Time. Go to The Windows Time Service for a detailed description of this service, how it operates on a Windows 2000 network, and how it can be configured to best meet the needs of your enterprise.
Automachron - is a freeware SNTP client for synchronizing your computer's time with an NTP server. Automachron works under Win95/98, NT4 and Win2000. It supports SNTP as well as TIME (both UDP and TCP).
Tardis - Tardis is a shareware utility for Windows and is rated 5 Cows on Tucows.
WorldTime - is a feature-packed freeware World Clock. It is a 5 star "Killer Download" on ZDNet and is rated 4 Cows on Tucows. WorldTime uses the Network Time Protocol (NTP) to synchronize your computer system time to a time server.
Dimension 4 - time synchronization utility for Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0. (freeware)
NetTime - a simple time synchronization client for Windows 95/98/NT/2000. Its small, simple unobtrusive and it's free software.
Unix/Linux
Several manufacturers include the NTP daemon as part of their OS release. If your OS does not, we suggest you use the original NTP code itself which is freely available from the University of Delaware. (This is where NTP was developed.) Downloads are available at http://www.ntp.org. Documentation is included in the download that provides information on how to install the software on various Unix platforms.
Sun includes the NTP public domain software from the University of Delaware in many versions of their operating systems. For the most recent information, search http://docs.sun.com for "NTP".
Chrony - Chrony is a pair of programs which are used to maintain the accuracy of the system clock on a computer. The two programs are called chronyd (a daemon) and chronyc (a user interface to chronyd for monitoring/configuring). For Linux/Solaris/BSD.
Apple Macintosh
NTP support is available via the Date and Time Control Panel on Mac OS 8.5 and higher.
NetChronometer is shareware. NetChronometer will synchronize the date and time of your Macintosh with a network time server.
Mac-NTP Direct Download
Vremya is a scriptable NTP client for Macintosh. It allows you to set your clock using a NTP server by polling or receiving broadcasts. It requires Open Transport TCP/IP version 1.1 or better.
Novell Netware
Search the Novell Knowledgebase for "NTP" for the most recent documentation.
TIMESYNC.NLM provides a Novell-proprietary time synchronization service which has been available on NetWare since NetWare 4.0 was released in 1993. In 1999 Novell enhanced TIMESYNC.NLM to provide both NTP client and server capability. TIMESYNC.NLM version 5.08 or later provides these facilities. See the July 3, 1999 AppNote, Using Network Time Protocol (NTP) with NetWare 5. For NetWare version 4.2, see Monitoring and Maintaining Time Synchronization.
Cadence Time Services - Cadence is an NLM that becomes a part of the Novell operating system. Not inexpensive.
/SNTPCLNT is a Simple Network Time Protocol client shareware for Netware 3.x, 4.x and 5.x.
Cisco Routers and Firewalls
Cisco provides online documentation for the IOS system. IOS 12: You can find the relevant information in the master index of the Configuration Guide. IOS 10 and 11: Look under "Managing The System" of the Configuration Guide to find NTP configuration information
Cisco PIX Firewall - See the section on Cisco IOS Devices