Hi,
Well, a little longer post.
NTP, there are different time services, a lot of times called NTP, but in reality different names and protocols and ports
real NTP and SNTP using port 123 (mostly used on 'nix systems) RFC-1305
Daytime protocol, using port 13 (mostly on DOS, windows systems) RFC-867
Time protocol, using port 37 (only few systems use this) RFC-868
The time servers on internet mostly provide all 4 protocols on the 3 ports
rPath uses real NTP port 123, the problem in rPath seems to be that it does not give any error message when it can not reach the time server, so if you do not check the time and compare, you never know the time setting worked or not. This seems dangerous to me.
In my case the mobile network blocks port 123 (mobile networks only have open port 80, and 443, 56 and maybe few others on the low side), but rpath never gives any indication that it does not reach time server. on the other hand the Daytime protocol, port 13 is allowed and works, so my host PC for freeNATs VM can get automatically synchronized with some SW, like
http://www.analogx.com/contents/downloa ... eeware.htm (but the buildt in time server only supports also Daytime protocol on port 13). For this reason when host is synced, and vmware tools sync to VM, all should be ok (hopefully)
Time protocols explained at:
http://tf.nist.gov/timefreq/service/its.htm
Time protocols and also php code to retrieve them at:
http://www.kloth.net/software/timesrv1.php This code could be used in freeNATs to sync with any of the different time protocols, depending what is available at the current installation.
To install Vmware tools in rPath appliance of freeNATs is a bit complicated. Explanations are here
http://communities.vmware.com/message/782259 (did not work for me) and here
http://communities.vmware.com/message/4 ... 1762ADB47F did only partly work for me, see below.
This is what i did do install Vmware tools, seems to work, but i do not know if this install may creates other issues.
Here we go:
you must be in Vmware window working, update from putty session into freeNATs does not allow you to finish install session.
conary update gcc --resolve
conary update kernel
REBOOT
now decompress the vmware tools and start installation
When installation asks multiple times for re-compilation of some drivers, say always ENTER
should successful end, then you will be ask to configure Vmware tools.
say ENTER to all defaults, now this creates question, because on some new time function it says NO as default, not sure if when you say NO all the timing issues are solved.
Vmware install and config ends successful, show even up in rPath services as vmware tools
Could also not find a instruction how to test now the sync function of time between host PC and freeNATs. I adjusted now timezone and time in rpath manually and will wait a couple of days to see if it starts to drift away.
Not related to time, but you should also add following lines to your .vmx file in freeNATs VM:
bios.bootDelay = "10000"
This will now display the BIOS boot options and you can configure the BIOS for your freeNATs VM.
Will keep you informed to see if time now stays stable in freeNATs.
regards, Wolfgang