NTPTIME(8)

💅 NTPTIME(8) — the ntptime girlie's guide 💅

ok so this is ntptime, bestie — it lives in the NTPsec manual, section 8 (that's the sysadmin section, very main character of it). Let me tell you everything about it, no gatekeeping, periodt. 🎀

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✨ NAME ✨

ntptime — read and set kernel time variables. that's it, that's the whole job. iconic behaviour honestly. 🕐

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🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

ntptime [-chr] [-e est_error] [-f frequency] [-j]
        [-m max_error] [-o offset] [-s status]
        [-t time_constant]

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🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

okay so first thing it does: it checks your kernel configuration for the NTP user interface syscalls ntp_gettime() and ntp_adjtime(). like a vibe check on your kernel, fr fr.

• if those syscalls are present → it displays the current timekeeping data. slay. 💖
• if they're not → it displays a disappointment. yes, literally a disappointment, that's the word the page uses, and honestly? relatable. 😭

heads up bestie: for further details, go look at the kernel page file in the HTML documentation in the distribution. it's all in there, iykyk.

you can get a similar display with the ntpq program and its kerninfo command, so if you're already hanging out in ntpq, you're covered. 🫶

ngl this program is useful only with kernels featuring the ntp_adjtime(2) system call or a local equivalent, as described in the "A <kern.html> Kernel Model for Precision Timekeeping" page. (yes, that's the title with the stray quote marks and the angle brackets, i'm not touching it, it's part of the lore. 💀) so if your kernel doesn't have that, this whole thing is giving nothing. check first!

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👑 OPTIONS 👑

• -c — display the execution time of ntptime itself. meta! it's timing the timer. 🔥
• -e est_error — specify the estimated error, in microseconds.
• -f frequency — specify the frequency offset, in parts per million.
• -h — display help information. your lil rescue button. 🫶
• -j — report in JSON rather than plain text. for the script girlies. ✨
• -m max_error — specify the max possible errors, in microseconds.
• -o offset — specify the clock offset, in microseconds.
• -r — display Unix and NTP times in raw format. no filter, no makeup. 💅
• -s status — specify the clock status. the page's exact words: "Better know what you are doing." and like… it means it. please know what you're doing. 🙈
• -t time_constant — specify the time constant, an integer in the range 0-10. that's the range, don't push it.
• -V — print the version string and exit. quick lil flex and dip. 👑

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💀 BUGS 💀

the format for modes and status in the JSON report is less than ideal. that's the official tea. 🍓

so if you're parsing the JSON in a script and the modes/status fields look cursed — they are, it's a known thing, you're not crazy. 😭

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🌈 EXIT STATUS 🌈

one of these bad boys gets returned:

1. 0 (EXIT_SUCCESS) — successful program execution. we love a win. 💖
2. 1 (EXIT_FAILURE) — the operation failed, or the command invocation was not valid. it's giving error era. 😭

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🧚 SEE ALSO 🧚

ok technically there's no separate SEE ALSO section on this page, but the description does point you at these, so:

• the kernel page file in the HTML documentation in the distribution (further details, go read it) 📖
• ntpq and its kerninfo command — gets you a similar display ✨
• the ntp_adjtime(2) system call or local equivalent, and the "A <kern.html> Kernel Model for Precision Timekeeping" page 🕰️

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that's the whole page, bestie, no crumbs left. bye pookie, go read your kernel timekeeping data responsibly 💜🌟

NTPsec · 2026-10-21 · mwah, that's the version and date at the bottom, signing off 🎀💖✨