Does Red Hat Enterprise Linux support NTP Control Messages?

Solution Unverified - Updated -

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5

Issue

  • Does Red Hat Enterprise Linux support NTP Control Messages?

Resolution

NTP Control Messages are used for controlling and monitoring NTP servers and it is supported by NTP implementation in Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

NTP Control Messages

In a comprehensive network-management environment, facilities are
presumed available to perform routine NTP control and monitoring
functions, such as setting the leap-indicator bits at the primary
servers, adjusting the various system parameters and monitoring regular
operations.     

      From Network Time Protocol (Version 3) Specification, Implementation and Analysis

Supporting for these messages is optional so that NTP's major functions, like time synchronization and coordination of time distribution, are not affected regardless the implementation of the control messages.

Support for these messages is not required in order to conform to this
specification

     From Network Time Protocol (Version 3) Specification, Implementation and Analysis

With ntpq, send Control Message commands to NTP server:

# ntpq -c peer -n
     remote           refid      st t when poll reach   delay   offset  jitter
==============================================================================
 192.160.xx.xx       .STEP.          16 u    - 1024    0    0.000    0.000   0.000
 192.50.xx.xx        .STEP.          16 u    - 1024    0    0.000    0.000   0.000
 120.88.xx.xx        .STEP.          16 u    - 1024    0    0.000    0.000   0.000
+172.16.xx.xx       66.187.xx.xx     2 u  456  512  377  273.822    0.173   2.189
*10.5.xx.xx       .CDMA.           1 u  496  512  377  262.065    0.545   2.371

For more details, refer its manual page:

# man ntpq

  • Component
  • ntp

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