Initial directions for starters...

NTP is a time synchronisation protocol
that allows computers to be synchronised
to a time standard. This is usually a national
standard such as NIST, USNO, PTB or GPS.
NTP distributes this time standard - it does
not calculate an average network time.

In order for NTP to work it needs to get
the time from such a standard. This can be
accomplished either via the network from
another NTP server or from a reference clock.
NTP needs a working time standard, otherwise
no synchronisation will take place. That is the
reason why you have to configure NTP. NTP needs
tho know where to get to the time standard.

Most commonly the time is import via the
NT-Protocol from the network. For an initial
list see ftp://louie.udel.edu/pub/ntp/clock.txt
and read doc/notes.txt for setting up your time
servers.

In general you must read:
	README		# what are all these files ?
	RELNOTES	# building xntp in general
	doc/notes.txt	# general network setup
	doc/xntpd.8	# config file and options
	doc/ntpq.8	# debugging tool
	doc/xntpdc.8	# debugging tool

	hints/*		# peculiar systems (pick yours)

Compiling a network based version:
	type "make"

For isolated networks a time reference MUST be
established. This is done by using a reference
clock. A reference clock is special code in the
daemon that allows a clock to be read. These
clocks are usually connected via a serial line
to the time server. See doc/README.refclock for
setting up reference clocks.

For sites that don't have a network connection
and no real reference clock (time code receiver)
there are two other solutions setting up a
reference clock. The first ist to use one of the
modem time code services (NIST-ACTS, USNO, PTB).
This gives still access to the offcial time at the
expense of some phone calls. The other solution is
to declare one computer clock being correct and
to distribute that computers time (LOCAL_CLOCK).

For setting up your own reference clock your need
to read doc/README.refclock.

Compiling a reference clock version:
	read doc/README.refclock
	type "make refconf"
	answer some wierd questions (defaults provided)
	type "make"

For the specification read
	ftp://louie.udel.edu/pub/ntp/doc/rfc1305*.ps

The FAQ is in
	ftp://louie.udel.edu/pub/ntp/doc/faq.Z

The newsgroup is comp.protocols.time.ntp.

For very code specific questions see the COPYRIGHT file.
