I'd like to have my system clock as accurate as possible +/- 1 sec is fine. I can't seem to achieve that result, the clock is 15 to 20 secs off all the time.

Looking in Synaptic I see that ntpdate is installed, but I see no reference to the basic ntp let alone ntpd. I want ntpd because from what I read, it continuously adjusts the clock, not just on boot up.

My /etc/ntp.config file shows these default servers:

# Use servers from the NTP Pool Project. Approved by Ubuntu Technical Board
# on 2011-02-08 (LP: #104525). See http://www.pool.ntp.org/join.html for
# more information.
server 0.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org
server 1.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org
server 2.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org
server 3.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org

Yet If I run I get :

fred@COLOSSUS-2 ~ $ sudo ntpq -p
[sudo] password for fred:
remote refid st t when poll reach delay offset jitter
==============================================================================
+clock.trit.net 134.121.64.62 2 u 45 64 377 87.173 -13.228 4.978
-linode.dev.fawo 198.55.111.5 3 u 60 64 377 90.041 0.387 6.018
-linode227395.st 192.5.41.41 2 u 54 64 377 27.389 -4.787 5.910
*time.tritn.com 198.60.22.240 2 u 57 64 377 87.431 -4.680 6.099
+golem.canonical 140.203.204.77 2 u 64 64 377 95.979 -2.121 4.351

If nptd isn't installed where is the second list of servers coming from?

Using the I can see the "when" line changing every 2 secs, at times the delay line is over 100 beyond that is not acceptable. If ntpd isn't installed where are the 2 sec updates originating from?

If reboot to Windows and update the time, it makes the change that was needed in Mint. Even though I can see the connection changing every 2 secs it's not doing much if anything.

Bottom line: Can I install ntpd when ntpdate is already there? Do I need to make changes to the /etc/ntp.config file as well using other servers not listed on the ntp page? Does one override the other or will they conflict? Or should I remove ntpdate and put in ntpd and let it alone after that? Worst part is I don't see a listing for ntpd, or is ntpd part of "ntp"?

I realize that network congestion, distance from the server(s) all makes a difference as far as accuracy goes. But some of the satellites I tracking are only visible for seconds and if you don't have a very close approximation of the time, you won't see them.

Thank you all in advance!

"If"

ntpd is already installed and running. Otherwise you wouldn't be seeing what you're seeing. what is the result when you type in this command?

$ sudo service ntp status

Network Time Protocol (NTP) is the protocol and ntpd is the service/daemon that runs on your computer to keep accurate time.

Since the command ntpq -p produced some output it shows that ntpd is running. The * indicates what your computer is using as the time source. The when indicates in seconds the last time from the last response, delay is the round trip time in milliseconds to receive a reply and offset is the time difference between your computer and the server in milliseconds.

So everything appears to be working. Except at startup ntpd will not force a time jump. What are you using to compare times?

michaelk,

So ntpd is part of ntp IE: included in Mint? Why do I get 2 lists of time servers using 2 commands? Are the Ubuntu ones in the /etc/ntp.conf not being used by anything? Is there a way to force a time correction, I'd like to know what that is if you know.. and I'm betting you do!

Odd as it may seem I use my alarm wristwatch......... BUT ONLY after I have adjusted it to match the corrected time in Windows. Sounds an odd way to do it but it produces dependable results for what I am doing.Yes I can see the change in the Mint applet when I go back to Linux from correcting the time in Windows. So that IS a way to force a correction, clearly for my money the ntpd doesn't do anything of value on boot up. But that might not be totally true, if ntpd runs only from a cold boot and not a 'resume from standby' which is what I usually do. Next time I shut down completely, overnight I will note the time as shown and the deviation from what I consider real time. Then I will boot to Mint and see how close the clock is then.

I realize that being dual boot I am sharing the times with the DOS clock on the motherboard. At the end of the day I only do my serious satellite pass predictions using a Windows based program. GPredict for Linux isn't specific enough and I find it ponderous and not the least bit intuitive to use. .. Yes I have it, do I use it: Only for demonstrations of tracking to show others.

As it is now the time differential between Mint and Win 7 is unacceptable, even if I am not tracking anything. I'd still like to have a more accurate time being shown by the applet on the Mint desktop. But if you say it's all working, then it's not working as well as I'd like and I'm stuck with it.

Thank you very much for your speedy reply!

"If"

In a nutshell a pool is a big cluster of time servers so that everybody does not connect to the same one all at the same time. If you stop and restart the ntpd service you should connect to 4 different servers.

You can change to the North American pool:

server 0.north-america.pool.ntp.org
server 1.north-america.pool.ntp.org
server 2.north-america.pool.ntp.org
server 3.north-america.pool.ntp.org

Go to this site to get the actual time to set your watch.
http://nist.time.gov/

or call WWV at:
303-499-7111

You will need to listen to the call until 0 seconds to get a time "hack". The time is UTC which but you can tell if the computer is fast or slow.

You can use either ntpd or ntpdate to force time to be correct. If you stop ntpd then run
ntpdate 0.north-america.pool.ntp.org

Edit:
It could be a standby issue. See what happens when you cold boot.

michaelk,

Thanks for all the information, I didn't realize there was a North American pool, I will change over to those sites ASAP.

I have used WWV & WWVH (Hawaii) for many years in conjunction with my amateur radio station. They broadcast 24/7/365 on 2.5,5,10,15, & 20 Mhz AM. If you have a receiver you can usually hear one if not more of the time ticks and voices. WWWVH is the female voice. Depending on what bands you are hearing them, you can correlate your amateur band selection accordingly. It is a relative indicator of propagation of the HF bands.

The same one you selected for me is the one I use in Win 7: nist.time.gov that is.

I'll be watching the time deviation after a cold boot for sure.

So from here, I say "73" or "Best Regards" in Morse and thanks again! _ _ . . . . . . _ _

"If"

Yes, I am a Ham too...

And you do not use nist.time.gov in Mint?

michaelk,

Nice to meet you! Sorry for the WWV lesson, but you never know what someone knows

No I don't use nist.time.gov reason being I wasn't sure how to add it to the list of servers in the ntp.conf file! Can I simply put it in as nist.time.gov? Heck I'd blow out all the others and only use that one if I thought I could get away with it. Or must the syntax be server 4 nist.time.gov or server 0 nist.time.gov If I put in in first?

Cheers,

"If" DXCC Honor Roll, WAS, WAC, Royal Omani Radio Society Award

Just a suggestion to use nist to set your watch to compare system clocks not as a pool server.

Glad I got a clarification on that!

73 "If"