Ntp


a Network Time Client for BeOS

Table Of Content:
Installation
If you intend to make NTP update your time when BeOS starts up, copy the "Networktime" executable to /boot/home/config/bin. Next, open your UserBootscript, which is located in /boot/home/config/boot and add a line that looks like this:

/boot/home/config/boot/Networktime my.ntp.server.net &

If you're on a dialup, running Ntp everytime BeOS boots up may be a bad idea, because BeOS will automatically connect to the Internet for you.

What is Ntp
Ntp is a Network Time Protocol client. It connects your machine to a clock on the 'net somewhere and fetches the time from this clock, then sets the local clock (the one built-in to your computer). Since most clocks found on the internet are Atomic clocks they are precise. To get started, you'll want to pick a server. For more technical info on the Network Time Protocol please read RFC1305. RFCs can be found on many decent ftp servers, although a Google search is probably your best bet. .

Using Ntp
a) GUI
Double click on the application and when the window appears enter the name or IP number of the server you wish to fetch time from in the server address field. Ntp comes with Then click on the Update button. Ntp comes with the server bigben.cac.washington.edu which is located at the University of Washington in Seattle. If you don't live in the US you should probably pick a different server. canon.inria.fr is in Rocquencourt, which is near Paris, France. chronos.csr.net is in the UK, and clock.cuhk.edu.hk is in Hong Kong. Again, a complete list is available here.

Once you've picked a server, click the "Update Time" button. The application will fetch the Time and update the computer's clock.

b) Command Line Interface
As mentioned in the Installation instructions, you can also launch Ntp from a Terminal and give it the adress of a Ntp server as an argument (an argument is the word or phrase after the command. In the command ls -tl, -tl is the first argument). Known Bugs
The server must not be really far from where you are (because I don't check time leaps and other things from NTP but I will in next version).

History
Ntp was developed on a Dual66 BeBox, running BeOS PowerPC and then Ported to x86.

Status
Ntp version 1.1 is Free Software placed under the GPL from the FSF. Ntp is ©opyright 1997,1999 by Hirlimann Ludovic all rights reserved, and is ©right 2000 by Seth Flaxman. Neither Seth Flaxman nor Hirlimann Ludovic is responsible for any damage caused by Ntp. Use it at your own risk. I'd appreciate feedback as well as bug reports.
Altought it IS freeware I would like Ntp users to show some support for BeOS Power PC please mail leadership@apple.com saying You'de love to see the New Macs (G3 and G4 powered ) run The BeOS.

Thanks To

I (Seth) would also like to thank Jean-Baptiste M. Quéru of Be, Inc. for helping me understand Mr. Ludovic's comments, and code, all of which was in French! :)