Oct 122010
The Network Time Protocol (NTP) is a protocol for synchronizing the clocks of computer systems over packet-switched, variable-latency data networks.
NTP provides Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). No information about time zones or daylight saving time is transmitted; this information is outside its scope and must be obtained separately. In isolated LANs, NTP could in principle be used to distribute a different time scale (e.g. local zone time), but this is uncommon
NTPDATE
ntpdate is a computer program used to synchronize and set computers’ date and time by polling the Network Time Protocol (NTP) server(s).
The accuracy and reliability of ntpdate depends on the number of servers, the number of polls each time it is run and the interval between runs.
