home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Amiga Format CD 43
/
Amiga Format CD43 (1999)(Future Publishing)(GB)(Track 1 of 2)[!][issue 1999-09].iso
/
-serious-
/
comms
/
other
/
atomic2_0
/
atomic2_0.doc
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1999-06-14
|
9KB
|
273 lines
Atomic2.Doc
Program: Atomic.rexx
Version: 2.0
Author: John Chufar
Email: chufarj@telepath.com
Date: 24 Feb 1999
References: AmigaOS3.1, AREXX, WorkBench, and AmigaDOS Manuals
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUPPORT - Web: "AMIGA ATOMIC CLOCK WEB PAGE"
www.telepath.com/chufarj/atomic.html
Email: mailto:chufarj@telepath.com
SOFTWARE CHANGES
-200 new lines of code (50% larger than 1.5)
-Added new "intelliserve" (TM) Technology
-Added logging
-Added a configuration file
-Added average connect time display option
-Fixed daylight savings time clause
-Added auto-DST set feature
-Added Server Health check
-Added 9 server (stratum-1 servers) redundancy
-Parameters are now OPTIONAL, uses atomic.conf
QUICK START - for experienced users only
- Install using installscript
- Remove any parameters used in startup scripts
old method: s:atomic.rexx n
new method: s:atomic.rexx
WARNING!!!
NEW! NEW! NEW!
- Read the DOCS completely before editing the new atomic.conf file!
- Uses DST field. Set to YES if your timezone EVER is changed. This is a
one-time edit and your system is only compensated when the timeserver DST
field is set at 0200 on the official United States date.
See section 4.2 below for more information.
NEW FEATURES!!!
- "intelliserve" (TM) Technology -- iT
This is a new feature that means over a period of time, you are connected
to the "historically" most responsive server. This will be unique to each
and every user depending on your "route" through the Internet and each
connection made, time of day, etc. You, as a user, do NOT want to have to
tell your computer which server to connect to. You want your computer
to go "get and set" the time as quickly as possible.
"intelliserve" (TM) Technology (iT) provides better computing for you and
will be the way you get other information. iT is like saying "I would like
to go to ANY Aminet site, but preferably the one that connects best for me",
without being required to perform rigorous anaylsis.
iT automatically selects the best servers for you over time and will
eventually, statistically determine your connection methods to best fit
your needs.
How does iT work?
The atomic.conf file contains a list of 9 "Stratum 1" servers. The program
will look at each server and review your atomic.log file for the history of
each server and calculate the average for each.
The first instance will start creating a log file "s:atomic.log" and will
date-time stamp your connection (or lack of a connection with questionalbe
date-time since the EXACT Atomic Time could not yet be loaded). Each
subsequent connection adds to the log file which is analyzed EVERY time you
execute atomic.rexx.
If a server cannot connect, the default configuration provides for 8 other
servers which will each be tried, so there should NEVER be a time when you
cannot get the time. This is redundancy with a multiple of 9!!!
They will be tried in the order of their connection history starting from
the "quickest" to the "slowest".
- Logging
Each event is now logged in the format as follows:
LOGFILE=s:atomic.log
Server CTime(1) Date Actual Time DiffTime(2)
nist1.datum.com 0.38 24 Feb 1999 14:56:54 0 days 00:00:10
(1) Where CTime is the Connection Time in SECONDS.
(2) DiffTime is time difference for that connection (if successful)
Can you edit the log file???? Yes, but doing so will be playing with the
statistics of your connection to the Internet. If you feel a timeout, which
takes about 75 seconds, is an unfair number to average with the others for a
server, then you can delete that line or edit as you wish...
- Easy to edit configuration file
Use an ASCII editor. The configuration file has more info for each field.
The configuration file has entries as follows:
DST='YES'
AVG='NO'
LOGFILE='s:atomic.log'
TIMESERVER.1='time-A.timefreq.bldrdoc.gov'
TIMESERVER.2='time-B.timefreq.bldrdoc.gov'
TIMESERVER.3='time-a.nist.gov'
TIMESERVER.4='time-b.nist.gov'
TIMESERVER.5='utcnist.colorado.edu'
TIMESERVER.6='time.nist.gov'
TIMESERVER.7='time-nw.nist.gov'
TIMESERVER.8='utcnist1.reston.mci.net'
TIMESERVER.9='nist1.datum.com'
Note that the configuration file is in a very specific format.
If an entry is in single quotes, make the changes within the quotes.
I have included the 9 "Stratum 1 Class" timeservers which means they have
DIRECT connections to the time standard.
You may wish to use Stratum 2 Servers for quicker connectivity.
- Docs now use '#' symbol to mark changed areas.
As demonstrated in 3.0 below, the hash '#' mark will make it easier to
"zoom" to the changed areas for experienced users.
=======================================================================
1.0 Why?
Most clocks 'lose' or 'gain' time over the course of days, weeks, etc.
Example - My CASIO Data Bank watch gains about 8 seconds a week.
My Amiga 3000 loses about 4 seconds each week.
2.0 Recommendation:
2.1 - Use this program at least once a month to keep in 'sync' with the
Atomic Clock.
2.2 - Use the example AmiTCP:db/user-startnet file to atuomatically
'access' the clock.
2.3 - Use the "Events" service in Miami to run everytime you log on.
Add it to "Events" in Miami as follows:
(Doing this automatically runs Atomic.rexx everytime you use Miami!)
2.3.1) Start Miami
2.3.2) Select "Events"
2.3.3) Select the "Online - Filename Box" and enter
# 's:atomic.rexx' (no quotes, and the "n" is for NO DST-
change this to y in the summer)
2.3.4) Select "Console name" box and enter:
# CON:2/10/640/300/Atomic Clock/AUTO/CLOSE
# Recommend larger window if displaying averages
# 3.0 Program Operation:
3.1 - Starts with or without DST or AVG display ARGs
3.2 - Recommend using as follows:
# >s:atomic.rexx or >s:atomic.rexx a
# (The 'a' means display average connect time for each server)
# 3.2.1 Now also uses the 'a' option as follows:
# >s:atomic.rexx a or >s:atomic.rexx
# without 'a' ARG, uses AVG field in atomic.conf
# (This displays average connect time for all servers by analyzing the
# current log file = Default time is 0.1)
# Unit of measure is SECONDS
# 3.3 - Optional start using ICON (uses ARGs from atomic.conf)
3.4 - Displays the ATOMIC CLOCK start up screen
3.5 - Checks to see if the TCP: device is available
# 3.5.1 - Reads config file
# 3.5.2 - Analyzes log file
# 3.5.3 - Displays avergae connect time (if AVG field is 'YES'
or if 'a' parameter is passed as ARG) i.e.
>s:atomic.rexx a
3.6 - Reads the Atomic Clock
# 3.6.1 - Checks Server Health
# 3.6.2 - Calculates if Daylight Savings Time or Standard Time
3.7 - Sets your computer to sync with the Atomic Clock
3.8 - Computes your Timezone (based upon locale.prefs)
3.9 - Readjusts your clock based upon timezone
3.10 - Computes and displays the differences in your system clock
# 3.11 - Logs connection in s:atomic.log file
4.0 Other Suggestions:
4.1 - Add to your ToolsDaemon as follows:
-- Program Type - CLI
# -- s:atomic.rexx
# 4.2 - OVERRIDE mode (Applies to DST users ONLY)
--Use a parameter on the day of a DST or ST change to ensure your
timezone is NOT changed until 0200 local, or else the program
will automatically change to DST or ST at 0200 UTC.
NOT OVERRIDING WILL result in a change to your clock causing a 1
hour difference until the 'official' changeover
This may be acceptable for most users.
The duration of your 'inaccuracy' is dependent upon number of
hours your timezone differs from UTC and when you connect before
and after a change.
Atomic.rexx does NOT automatically change your system clock to
DST (or ST) until you connect to a server! In other words, you
should run this program as soon as possible AFTER a UTC change.
5.0 Bug Reports
5.1 - Immediately report all bugs and provide the following:
-- Atomic.rexx version
-- AmigaDOS version
-- TCP program name and version (i.e. AmiTCP 4.2, MIAMI 3.0)
-- Timezone
6.0 Future Enhancements planned???
# 6.1 - Compile a C version
# 6.2 - Write REBOL or Perl version?
Have fun... ;)
John...I REALLY DO like this Amiga!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!