RHBA-2011:0222 - Bug Fix Advisory

Topic

An updated ntp package that clarifies man page documentation is now
available.

Description

The Network Time Protocol (NTP) is used to synchronize a computer's time
with a referenced time source.

This updated package addresses the following man page ambiguity:

• The "-q" switch causes ntpd to exit immediately after setting the clock

but this action only occurs if there are configured servers for ntpd to set
a clock against. The man page did not note this latter point. This
ambiguity meant it was possible to conclude ntpd was misbehaving when it
did not quit if run with the "-q" switch but with no configured servers.
With this update, the ntpd man page now notes that "ntpd -q" only exits if
used to set the clock with configured servers. (BZ#449750)

ntp users are advised to upgrade to this updated package, which resolves
this issue.

Solution

Before applying this update, make sure all previously-released errata
relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via the Red Hat Network. Details on how to
use the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-11259

Affected Products

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 4 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 4 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 4 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 4 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 4 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 4 s390x
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 4 s390
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian 4 ppc

Fixes

• BZ - 449750 - ntpd -q does not exit when no servers are defined in /etc/ntpd.conf

CVEs

(none)

References

(none)