Here is information that may help you quickly configure Network Time. For full information, please refer to the Network Time user’s manual. If you are using System 7, using Balloon Help should also be of great assistance as well.
Time server: Enter the domain name or IP address of a machine on your network that is running the Network Time Protocol (RFC 1305) server or the UDP Time Protocol (RFC 868) server. Using a Network Time Protocol server is the preferred method. If you or your network administrator cannot locate such a server, consult the Network Time manual to find a server in your area.
Accuracy: This setting is used by Network Time when responses from the server are very slow or the network is dropping packets. Specify in seconds the maximum acceptable error in the time retrieved from the server. Usually, Network Time can set the time to within milliseconds of the actual time, so this setting is rarely used.
Time Zone: Select from the pop-up menu the time zone that you live in. If you can’t find your time zone in the menu, select “Add/Change Time Zones…” from the menu and create a time zone entry (see directions below).
Set the time:
At every startup: Network Time will set the time every time you restart your computer computer. Other settings may prevent it from doing so immediately.
Every X hours: Network Time will reset the time after the number of hours specified since the time was last set.
Wait for MacTCP: When this box is checked, Network Time will only set the time automatically if MacTCP has already been opened by another application. This applies to both “At every startup” and “Every X hours”; Network Time will first wait until MacTCP is opened and then decide when it should set the time.
Using only NTP: If this box is checked, Network Time will only attempt to use the Network Time Protocol. If it is unchecked, Network Time will try to use the old Time Protocol if the attempt with NTP fails.
When an error occurs:
Post notification: Network Time will put a dialog box with an error message on the screen if an error occurs when this box is checked.
Retry in X minutes: Network Time will attempt to set the time again in the number of minutes specified if an error occurs.
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Creating a new time zone. Choose “Add/Change Time Zones…” from the time zone pop-up menu.
Select new from the time zone list dialog box.
Zone Name: Choose any name you like for the name of the time zone.
Standard Time: Fill in the offset from Universal Time (Greenwich Mean Time) for your time zone. Select + or - and type the hours, minutes, and seconds in the respective boxes.
Use Daylight Savings Time: Check this box if daylight time is used in your location. More options will appear in the box:
For Daylight Time: This setting should almost always be set to add 1 hour. You probably shouldn’t change it.
Date to Begin or End: You can start or stop daylight savings time:
1. On a particular day of the week in a given month. Using this option, you select whether the transition will occur on the first, second, third, fourth, or last occurrence of a certain day of the week in the month you choose. For instance, in the United States, daylight savings time begins on the first Sunday in April.
2. On a particular day of the week relative to a given date. Using this option, you specify the first occurrence a certain day of the week that falls “before”, “after”, “on or before” or “on or after”a certain date. So for example, daylight savings time in Great Britain ends on the Sunday immediately after October 22.
3. Exactly on a particular date. If daylight savings time always changes on a particular date, you can specify that particular month and date.
Choose from the third menu to determine which option to use.
Time of day to Begin or End: Set the time shown in the box just as you would set the time in other control panels on your Macintosh: Simply click on the hours or minutes, or the AM/PM if your clock is in 12 hour mode. This time is always in current local time, not Universal (Greenwich Mean) Time.
For more information, consult the manual, or contact the author:
