[Dapper FL5] Clock applet doesn't syncrhonise with NTP

[Vassilis Pandis]

I am running Dapper Drake FL5 ('Clock' 2.14.0 ) and I installed all updates in the morning. My clock was totally off for some reason so I thought "why not syncrhonise with NTP?", and I clicked "synchronise now" under "adjust date & time". Nothing happened (yes, I was online). If I click "synchronise periodically" I get an error messages that "NTP support is not installed" .

1. Shouldn't I be getting this error message in the "synchronise now" button too instead of guessing what might be wrong?

2. Synaptic shows I have 'ntpdate' installed, which according to its description, is capable of synchronising my machine. Why do I also need 'ntp' ?

[Gary Coady (garycoady)]

1. Perhaps the error message could be rewritten to be clearer - ntpdate does an "instant update", and that is installed - what your system is missing is a program with runs continuously (ntp-server).

2. You don't also need ntp, if you're happy with the date being just slightly incorrect occasionally.

As regards the "Synchronise now" button not working, the bug is in time-admin, it appears to try to run
/etc/init.d/ntpdate restart

However, this file no longer exists - the command to run should be
/etc/network/if-up.d/ntpdate

The file was moved in ntpdate version 1:4.2.0a+stable-8.1ubuntu2

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

Thank you for pointing that ntpdate change

[Vassilis Pandis (pandisv)]

I'm under the impression that bugs #13890 and #37301 are somewhat related to this. Has the fix (which as far as I understand from Gary's post is just changing the command) been committed (just asking, not complaining) ?

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

No, it'll be fixed after the betaCD freeze

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

This upload fixes the issue:

 gnome-system-tools (2.14.0-0ubuntu6) dapper; urgency=low
 .
   * debian/patches/17_ntpdate.dpatch:
     - fix the ntpdate command to use "/etc/network/if-up.d/ntpdate",
       change pointed by Gary Coady <email address hidden> (Ubuntu: #37230)
   * debian/patches/19_fix_ntp_server.dpatch:
     - use the correct Ireland ntp server, patch by
       Gary Coady <email address hidden> (Ubuntu: #38633)
   * debian/patches/64_gksu-in-desktop-files.dpatch:
     - don't run the programs with gksu but use the sudo mode instead,
       fix the issue with the UI running with sudo too (Ubuntu: #23230)
     - use startup notification again since it's required without gksu

[Jo-Erlend Schinstad (joerlend.schinstad-deactivatedaccount)]

This problem still exists in Edgy. When you use Adjust date and time > synchronize now, it doesn't do anything, so one would assume it was synchronized. However, if you check the "keep clock synchronized with internet servers"-box, it informs you that ntp-support isn't installed. You then have to install support for ntp, uncheck the box, synchronize now, then re-check the box. It's rather ugly.