path: root/ntpd/ntpd-opts.texi

@node ntpd Invocation
@section Invoking ntpd
@pindex ntpd
@cindex NTP daemon program
@ignore
# 
# EDIT THIS FILE WITH CAUTION  (ntpd-opts.texi)
# 
# It has been AutoGen-ed  December 24, 2011 at 06:34:12 PM by AutoGen 5.12
# From the definitions    ntpd-opts.def
# and the template file   aginfo.tpl
@end ignore
This program has no explanation.



This section was generated by @strong{AutoGen},
the aginfo template and the option descriptions for the @command{ntpd} program.  It documents the @command{ntpd} usage text and option meanings.

This software is released under a specialized copyright license.

@menu
* ntpd usage::                  ntpd usage help (-?)
* ntpd authnoreq::             authnoreq option (-A)
* ntpd authreq::               authreq option (-a)
* ntpd bcastsync::             bcastsync option (-b)
* ntpd configfile::            configfile option (-c)
* ntpd debug-level::           debug-level option (-d)
* ntpd driftfile::             driftfile option (-f)
* ntpd dvar::                  dvar option
* ntpd interface::             interface option (-I)
* ntpd ipv4::                  ipv4 option (-4)
* ntpd ipv6::                  ipv6 option (-6)
* ntpd jaildir::               jaildir option (-i)
* ntpd keyfile::               keyfile option (-k)
* ntpd logfile::               logfile option (-l)
* ntpd modifymmtimer::         modifymmtimer option (-M)
* ntpd nice::                  nice option (-N)
* ntpd nofork::                nofork option (-n)
* ntpd novirtualips::          novirtualips option (-L)
* ntpd panicgate::             panicgate option (-g)
* ntpd pccfreq::               pccfreq option
* ntpd pidfile::               pidfile option (-p)
* ntpd priority::              priority option (-P)
* ntpd propagationdelay::      propagationdelay option (-r)
* ntpd quit::                  quit option (-q)
* ntpd saveconfigquit::        saveconfigquit option
* ntpd set-debug-level::       set-debug-level option (-D)
* ntpd slew::                  slew option (-x)
* ntpd statsdir::              statsdir option (-s)
* ntpd trustedkey::            trustedkey option (-t)
* ntpd updateinterval::        updateinterval option (-U)
* ntpd usepcc::                usepcc option
* ntpd user::                  user option (-u)
* ntpd var::                   var option
@end menu

@node ntpd usage
@subsection ntpd usage help (-?)
@cindex ntpd usage

This is the automatically generated usage text for ntpd:

@exampleindent 0
@example
ntpd - NTP daemon program - Ver. 4.2.6p5
USAGE:  ntpd [ -<flag> [<val>] | --<name>[@{=| @}<val>] ]...
  Flg Arg Option-Name    Description
   -4 no  ipv4           Force IPv4 DNS name resolution
                                - prohibits these options:
                                ipv6
   -6 no  ipv6           Force IPv6 DNS name resolution
                                - prohibits these options:
                                ipv4
   -a no  authreq        Require crypto authentication
                                - prohibits these options:
                                authnoreq
   -A no  authnoreq      Do not require crypto authentication
                                - prohibits these options:
                                authreq
   -b no  bcastsync      Allow us to sync to broadcast servers
   -c Str configfile     configuration file name
   -d no  debug-level    Increase output debug message level
                                - may appear multiple times
   -D Str set-debug-level Set the output debug message level
                                - may appear multiple times
   -f Str driftfile      frequency drift file name
   -g no  panicgate      Allow the first adjustment to be Big
                                - may appear multiple times
   -i --- jaildir        built without --enable-clockctl or --enable-linuxcaps
   -I Str interface      Listen on an interface name or address
                                - may appear multiple times
   -k Str keyfile        path to symmetric keys
   -l Str logfile        path to the log file
   -L no  novirtualips   Do not listen to virtual interfaces
   -n no  nofork         Do not fork
   -N no  nice           Run at high priority
   -p Str pidfile        path to the PID file
   -P Num priority       Process priority
   -q no  quit           Set the time and quit
   -r Str propagationdelay Broadcast/propagation delay
      Str saveconfigquit Save parsed configuration and quit
   -s Str statsdir       Statistics file location
   -t Str trustedkey     Trusted key number
                                - may appear multiple times
   -u --- user           built without --enable-clockctl or --enable-linuxcaps
   -U Num updateinterval interval in seconds between scans for new or dropped interfaces
      Str var            make ARG an ntp variable (RW)
                                - may appear multiple times
      Str dvar           make ARG an ntp variable (RW|DEF)
                                - may appear multiple times
   -x no  slew           Slew up to 600 seconds
      opt version        Output version information and exit
   -? no  help           Display extended usage information and exit
   -! no  more-help      Extended usage information passed thru pager

Options are specified by doubled hyphens and their name or by a single
hyphen and the flag character.

The following option preset mechanisms are supported:
 - examining environment variables named NTPD_*



please send bug reports to:  http://bugs.ntp.org, bugs@@ntp.org
@end example
@exampleindent 4

@node ntpd authnoreq
@subsection authnoreq option (-A)
@cindex ntpd-authnoreq

This is the ``do not require crypto authentication'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
must not appear in combination with any of the following options:
authreq.
@end itemize

Do not require cryptographic authentication for broadcast client,
multicast client and symmetric passive associations.
This is almost never a good idea.

@node ntpd authreq
@subsection authreq option (-a)
@cindex ntpd-authreq

This is the ``require crypto authentication'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
must not appear in combination with any of the following options:
authnoreq.
@end itemize

Require cryptographic authentication for broadcast client,
multicast client and symmetric passive associations.
This is the default.

@node ntpd bcastsync
@subsection bcastsync option (-b)
@cindex ntpd-bcastsync

This is the ``allow us to sync to broadcast servers'' option.


@node ntpd configfile
@subsection configfile option (-c)
@cindex ntpd-configfile

This is the ``configuration file name'' option.
The name and path of the configuration file,
/etc/ntp.conf
by default.

@node ntpd debug-level
@subsection debug-level option (-d)
@cindex ntpd-debug-level

This is the ``increase output debug message level'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
may appear an unlimited number of times.
@item
must be compiled in by defining @code{DEBUG} during the compilation.
@end itemize

Increase the debugging message output level.

@node ntpd driftfile
@subsection driftfile option (-f)
@cindex ntpd-driftfile

This is the ``frequency drift file name'' option.
The name and path of the frequency file,
/etc/ntp.drift
by default.
This is the same operation as the
driftfile driftfile
configuration specification in the 
/etc/ntp.conf
file.

@node ntpd dvar
@subsection dvar option
@cindex ntpd-dvar

This is the ``make arg an ntp variable (rw|def)'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
may appear an unlimited number of times.
@end itemize



@node ntpd interface
@subsection interface option (-I)
@cindex ntpd-interface

This is the ``listen on an interface name or address'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
may appear an unlimited number of times.
@end itemize

Open the network address given, or all the addresses associated with the
given interface name.  This option may appear multiple times.  This option
also implies not opening other addresses, except wildcard and localhost.
This option is deprecated. Please consider using the configuration file
interface command, which is more versatile. 

@node ntpd ipv4
@subsection ipv4 option (-4)
@cindex ntpd-ipv4

This is the ``force ipv4 dns name resolution'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
must not appear in combination with any of the following options:
ipv6.
@end itemize

Force DNS resolution of following host names on the command line
to the IPv4 namespace.

@node ntpd ipv6
@subsection ipv6 option (-6)
@cindex ntpd-ipv6

This is the ``force ipv6 dns name resolution'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
must not appear in combination with any of the following options:
ipv4.
@end itemize

Force DNS resolution of following host names on the command line
to the IPv6 namespace.

@node ntpd jaildir
@subsection jaildir option (-i)
@cindex ntpd-jaildir

This is the ``jail directory'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
must be compiled in by defining @code{HAVE_DROPROOT} during the compilation.
@end itemize

Chroot the server to the directory
jaildir
.
This option also implies that the server attempts to drop root privileges at startup.
You may need to also specify a
-u
option.
This option is only available if the OS supports adjusting the clock
without full root privileges.
This option is supported under NetBSD (configure with
--enable-clockctl
) and Linux (configure with
--enable-linuxcaps
).

@node ntpd keyfile
@subsection keyfile option (-k)
@cindex ntpd-keyfile

This is the ``path to symmetric keys'' option.
Specify the name and path of the symmetric key file.
/etc/ntp.keys
is the default.
This is the same operation as the
keys keyfile
configuration file directive.

@node ntpd logfile
@subsection logfile option (-l)
@cindex ntpd-logfile

This is the ``path to the log file'' option.
Specify the name and path of the log file.
The default is the system log file.
This is the same operation as the
logfile logfile
configuration file directive.

@node ntpd modifymmtimer
@subsection modifymmtimer option (-M)
@cindex ntpd-modifymmtimer

This is the ``modify multimedia timer (windows only)'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
must be compiled in by defining @code{SYS_WINNT} during the compilation.
@end itemize

Set the Windows Multimedia Timer to highest resolution.  This
ensures the resolution does not change while ntpd is running,
avoiding timekeeping glitches associated with changes.

@node ntpd nice
@subsection nice option (-N)
@cindex ntpd-nice

This is the ``run at high priority'' option.
To the extent permitted by the operating system, run
ntpd
at the highest priority.

@node ntpd nofork
@subsection nofork option (-n)
@cindex ntpd-nofork

This is the ``do not fork'' option.


@node ntpd novirtualips
@subsection novirtualips option (-L)
@cindex ntpd-novirtualips

This is the ``do not listen to virtual interfaces'' option.
Do not listen to virtual interfaces, defined as those with
names containing a colon.  This option is deprecated.  Please
consider using the configuration file interface command, which
is more versatile.

@node ntpd panicgate
@subsection panicgate option (-g)
@cindex ntpd-panicgate

This is the ``allow the first adjustment to be big'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
may appear an unlimited number of times.
@end itemize

Normally,
ntpd
exits with a message to the system log if the offset exceeds the panic threshold, which is 1000 s by default. This option allows the time to be set to any value without restriction; however, this can happen only once. If the threshold is exceeded after that,
ntpd
will exit with a message to the system log. This option can be used with the
-q
and
-x
options.
See the
tinker
configuration file directive for other options.

@node ntpd pccfreq
@subsection pccfreq option
@cindex ntpd-pccfreq

This is the ``force cpu cycle counter use (windows only)'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
must be compiled in by defining @code{SYS_WINNT} during the compilation.
@end itemize

Force substitution the CPU counter for QueryPerformanceCounter.
The CPU counter (RDTSC on x86) is used unconditionally with the
given frequency (in Hz).

@node ntpd pidfile
@subsection pidfile option (-p)
@cindex ntpd-pidfile

This is the ``path to the pid file'' option.
Specify the name and path of the file used to record
ntpd's
process ID.
This is the same operation as the
pidfile pidfile
configuration file directive.

@node ntpd priority
@subsection priority option (-P)
@cindex ntpd-priority

This is the ``process priority'' option.
To the extent permitted by the operating system, run
ntpd
at the specified
sched_setscheduler(SCHED_FIFO)
priority.

@node ntpd propagationdelay
@subsection propagationdelay option (-r)
@cindex ntpd-propagationdelay

This is the ``broadcast/propagation delay'' option.
Specify the default propagation delay from the broadcast/multicast server to this client. This is necessary only if the delay cannot be computed automatically by the protocol.

@node ntpd quit
@subsection quit option (-q)
@cindex ntpd-quit

This is the ``set the time and quit'' option.
ntpd
will exit just after the first time the clock is set. This behavior mimics that of the
ntpdate
program, which is to be retired.
The
-g
and
-x
options can be used with this option.
Note: The kernel time discipline is disabled with this option.

@node ntpd saveconfigquit
@subsection saveconfigquit option
@cindex ntpd-saveconfigquit

This is the ``save parsed configuration and quit'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
must be compiled in by defining @code{SAVECONFIG} during the compilation.
@end itemize

Cause ntpd to parse its startup configuration file and save an
equivalent to the given filename and exit.  This option was
designed for automated testing.

@node ntpd set-debug-level
@subsection set-debug-level option (-D)
@cindex ntpd-set-debug-level

This is the ``set the output debug message level'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
may appear an unlimited number of times.
@item
must be compiled in by defining @code{DEBUG} during the compilation.
@end itemize

Set the output debugging level.  Can be supplied multiple times,
but each overrides the previous value(s).

@node ntpd slew
@subsection slew option (-x)
@cindex ntpd-slew

This is the ``slew up to 600 seconds'' option.
Normally, the time is slewed if the offset is less than the step threshold, which is 128 ms by default, and stepped if above the threshold.
This option sets the threshold to 600 s, which is well within the accuracy window to set the clock manually.
Note: Since the slew rate of typical Unix kernels is limited to 0.5 ms/s, each second of adjustment requires an amortization interval of 2000 s.
Thus, an adjustment as much as 600 s will take almost 14 days to complete.
This option can be used with the
-g
and
-q
options.
See the
tinker
configuration file directive for other options.
Note: The kernel time discipline is disabled with this option.

@node ntpd statsdir
@subsection statsdir option (-s)
@cindex ntpd-statsdir

This is the ``statistics file location'' option.
Specify the directory path for files created by the statistics facility.
This is the same operation as the
statsdir statsdir
configuration file directive.

@node ntpd trustedkey
@subsection trustedkey option (-t)
@cindex ntpd-trustedkey

This is the ``trusted key number'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
may appear an unlimited number of times.
@end itemize

Add a key number to the trusted key list.

@node ntpd updateinterval
@subsection updateinterval option (-U)
@cindex ntpd-updateinterval

This is the ``interval in seconds between scans for new or dropped interfaces'' option.
Give the time in seconds between two scans for new or dropped interfaces.
For systems with routing socket support the scans will be performed shortly after the interface change
has been detected by the system.
Use 0 to disable scanning. 60 seconds is the minimum time between scans.

@node ntpd usepcc
@subsection usepcc option
@cindex ntpd-usepcc

This is the ``use cpu cycle counter (windows only)'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
must be compiled in by defining @code{SYS_WINNT} during the compilation.
@end itemize

Attempt to substitute the CPU counter for QueryPerformanceCounter.
The CPU counter and QueryPerformanceCounter are compared, and if
they have the same frequency, the CPU counter (RDTSC on x86) is
used directly, saving the overhead of a system call.

@node ntpd user
@subsection user option (-u)
@cindex ntpd-user

This is the ``run as userid (or userid:groupid)'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
must be compiled in by defining @code{HAVE_DROPROOT} during the compilation.
@end itemize

Specify a user, and optionally a group, to switch to.
This option is only available if the OS supports adjusting the clock
without full root privileges.
This option is supported under NetBSD (configure with
--enable-clockctl
) and Linux (configure with
--enable-linuxcaps
).

@node ntpd var
@subsection var option
@cindex ntpd-var

This is the ``make arg an ntp variable (rw)'' option.

This option has some usage constraints.  It:
@itemize @bullet
@item
may appear an unlimited number of times.
@end itemize