System time running slow

chips2k · n00b Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Posts: 17

Hi All,

I have recently installed gentoo on a home server (Celeron 850, 384MB RAM) . However, I have noticed that the system time is running about 20 mins slow. I've reset the time but it just slows down again. The system is on 24/7 so I don't think it's the battery.

Is there anything that I've done (or not done) that may be the cause. I orginally had Fedora Core 1 installed and I am 90% certain the sytem time was fine.

Any thoughts?

Chips2k

neilhwatson · l33t Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 719 Location: Canada

Learn about using the ntpd daemon. NTP stands for network time protocol. It will synchronize your system clock with Internet time servers. It is very accurate.
_________________
The true guru is a teacher.
Neil Watson

chips2k · n00b Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Posts: 17

Hi neilhwatson,

Thanks for the reply.

I am aware and do use the NTPd daemon (which I currently have disabled so I can find out how much of a problem I have). However, that only fixes the symptom, not the cause.

Many thanks

Chips2k

neilhwatson · l33t Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 719 Location: Canada

A $4 watch keeps more accurate time than a motherboard clock. I do not know why the manufacturers install such bad clocks but it is the rule rather than the exception. I have never seen a motherboard clock that does not drift badly.
_________________
The true guru is a teacher.
Neil Watson

chips2k · n00b Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Posts: 17

Hi neilhwatson,

I tend to disagree. I work in a school where there are around 280 PC's and laptops. None of them have ever had such a big problem with the time (I'm sure I would have heard about it if there were). The computer I'm using now (also a gentoo setup) won't of had it's clock changed since I bulit the computer just over a month ago, and the time is still accurate.

Many thanks

Mark

newjosch · Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 9:22 pm Post subject:

the system-clock does not matter how fast or slow your hardware-clock is running.

system-clock is controlled by the kernel !

either have 'ntpd' runningor have it adjusted with 'adjtimex'

'man adjtimex' gives a very good explanation of the mechanism.

regards

joerg

neilhwatson · l33t Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 719 Location: Canada

You are correct, the system clock and the hardware clock are two separate things. Thanks for pointing out what I missed. :oops:

_________________
The true guru is a teacher.
Neil Watson