.TH PCFDATE 8 "March 31, 2004"
.SH NAME
pcfdate \- get the time from a radio clock and set the system time
.SH SYNOPSIS
.B pcfdate
.RB [ \-qsuv ]
.RI [ device
\&...]
.SH DESCRIPTION
Get and display the date and time from a
.BR pcfclock (4)
device and optionally set the system time.
.PP
If no device is specified on the command line
.B pcfdate
tries to read the time from
.I /dev/pcfclocks/[0\-2]
and
.IR /dev/pcfclock[0\-2] .
.PP
.B pcfdate
is usually executed at boot time to set the system time.
.PP
Never run
.B pcfdate
via
.BR cron (8)
to set the system time.
.B pcfdate
causes a sudden jump forwards or backwards, which can cause a variety
of problems in a system.  Always use the
.UR http://www.ntp.org/
Network Time Protocol (NTP)
.UE
to gradually adjust the time.  A minimal
.I /etc/ntp.conf
that uses the radio clock as its reference time source typically
contains the following configuration commands:
.RS
.sp
driftfile /etc/ntp.drift
.br
server 127.127.35.0
.br
fudge 127.127.35.0 flag2 1
.br
.RE
.SH OPTIONS
.TP
.B \-q
Do not output the time.
.TP
.B \-s
Set the system time.
.TP
.B \-u
Output Coordinated Universal Time instead of local time.
.TP
.B \-v
Output status information.
.SH FILES
.I /dev/pcfclocks/*
.br
.I /dev/pcfclock*
.SH DIAGNOSTICS
.TP
.B Operation not permitted
Only a privileged user may set the system time.
.TP
.B Resource temporarily unavailable
Another process is accessing the radio clock.
.SH AUTHOR
Andreas Voegele
.SH "SEE ALSO"
.BR pcfclock (4),
.BR settimeofday (2).