rdate(8) — Maintenance
Digital
NAME
rdate − network date client
SYNOPSIS
/usr/sbin/rdate [ −s ] [ −v ] [ network ]
DESCRIPTION
The rdate command is invoked at boot time to reset the system date and time to the current network date and time. The rdate program sends a broadcast datagram packet on the specified network or on the system default network if no network is specified. The program will then wait two seconds for responses. After that time, the arithmetic median of the responses is taken.
FLAGS
−sThe system date and time will be set to the median value.
−vThe time values returned by all responding hosts will be reported.
RESTRICTIONS
In order for rdate to determine a network time, at least one of the running hosts on the network must be running the internet time service. Machines with their own battery-backed-up time-of-day clock may not desire to set time in this manner.