====== Network Time Protocol (NTP) ======
**General Information**
Time is important on any system for automated jobs, log files, security, etc. This quick how to will get NTP up and running on a Linux server.
**Checklist**
* Distro(s): Enterprise Linux 6
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===== Install NTP Packages =====
The packages:
* ntp - the ntp daemon service
* ntpdate - a utility to run ad-hoc for time setting
* ntp-doc - ntp documentation
yum install ntp ntpdate ntp-doc
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===== NTP Service On Boot =====
chkconfig ntpd on
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===== Ad-hoc Initial Time Sync =====
ntpdate pool.ntp.org
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===== Edit /etc/ntp.conf and Setup Time Servers =====
Visit http://www.pool.ntp.org/zone/north-america and verify the current ntp servers.
They most likely are still (2015-01-07):
* server 0.north-america.pool.ntp.org
* server 1.north-america.pool.ntp.org
* server 2.north-america.pool.ntp.org
* server 3.north-america.pool.ntp.org
Add the above server lines to /etc/ntp.conf in place of the default servers.
vim /etc/ntp.conf
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===== Start NTP Service =====
Finally, start the NTP daemon service.
/etc/init.d/ntpd start