macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install ntplocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install ntpMacPorts ports tree · sysutils/ntp/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install ntp with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, apt, zypper
Network Time Protocol (NTP) Distribution. Version 4.2.8p18 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#ntpnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/nt/ntp/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S ntpArch Linux sync databases · ntp · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
Ubuntu aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install ntpUbuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · ntp · source: archive.ubuntu.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install ntpopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · ntp · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Network Time Protocol (NTP) Distribution
Project links
Commands and aliases
- ntp-keygen
- ntp-wait
- ntpd
- ntpdate
- ntpdc
- ntpq
- ntptime
- ntptrace
- sntp
- update-leap
history
Project history and usage
The NTP package is the classic Network Time Protocol distribution: daemon, query tools, key generation, SNTP utilities, leap-file updater, and compatibility commands for operating a network-synchronized system clock.
Project history
NTP predates most packages in this database. The NTP FAQ says the first NTP implementation started around 1980, after earlier Internet clock-service work, and that the name Network Time Protocol first appeared in RFC 958 in September 1985. David L. Mills authored RFC 958.
The FAQ traces the protocol through RFC 1059 for NTP version 1 in 1988, RFC 1119 for version 2 with symmetric-key authentication, RFC 1305 for version 3 in 1992, and later NTPv4 work. It also notes that `xntp`, written by Dennis Fergusson at the University of Toronto, evolved into the public software distribution.
Adoption history
NTP became foundational Internet infrastructure because clocks affect logs, authentication, distributed systems, filesystems, Kerberos, TLS validation, monitoring, and incident response. The package is less a trendy CLI than a long-lived system service that operating systems either ship directly or replace with compatible descendants such as chrony, systemd-timesyncd, OpenNTPD, or NTPsec.
The Homebrew package remains useful for admins who specifically need the reference-style tools such as `ntpd`, `ntpq`, `ntpdate`, `sntp`, and `ntptime` on macOS or in reproducible package environments.
How it is used
Package users configure servers and peers in `/etc/ntp.conf`, run `ntpd` as a daemon, inspect associations with `ntpq`, generate or manage keys with `ntp-keygen`, perform one-shot synchronization with `ntpdate` or `sntp`, and maintain leap-second data with `update-leap`.
The practical split is operational: small systems often only need client synchronization, while infrastructure operators care about strata, upstream server selection, authentication, drift behavior, and monitoring offset/jitter over time.
Why package nerds care
NTP is package history as infrastructure history. It is one of the quiet protocols that made distributed computing less chaotic, and the brew formula packages the traditional toolchain rather than a newer reimplementation.
Timeline
- Around 1980: first NTP implementation, per the NTP FAQ.
- 1985-09: RFC 958, Network Time Protocol, published by David L. Mills.
- 1988: RFC 1059 specified NTP version 1.
- 1989: RFC 1119 specified NTP version 2.
- 1992: RFC 1305 specified NTP version 3.
- 2010-06: RFC 5905 specified NTP version 4.
Related projects
- xntp
- NTPsec
- OpenNTPD
- chrony
- systemd-timesyncd
Sources
security posture
Risk level: blue
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.
Risk classifier
blue risk · medium confidence · tool
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
Signals
- text:network
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 10 platform targets.
- Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
/etc/ntp.conf
Credential files
Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.
- Unix
/etc/ntp.keys
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
ntp-keygen | cli | global executable | |
ntp-wait | cli | global executable | |
ntpd | cli | global executable | |
ntpdate | cli | global executable | |
ntpdc | cli | global executable | |
ntpq | cli | global executable | |
ntptime | cli | global executable | |
ntptrace | cli | global executable | |
sntp | cli | global executable | |
update-leap | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version4.2.8p18
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://www.ntp.orgnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:ntp |
|---|---|
| Version | 4.2.8p18 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/ntp |
| Homepage | https://www.ntp.org |
| Repository | https://bk.ntp.org/ntp-stable |
| Upstream docs | https://www.ntp.org/documentation |
| License | BSD-2-Clause AND NTP |
| Source archive | https://downloads.nwtime.org/ntp/4.2.8/ntp-4.2.8p18.tar.gz |
| Dependencies | openssl@3 |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | ntp |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Nix95%
ntp
nix profile install nixpkgs#ntp- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ntp
Ubuntu apt95%
ntp 1:4.2.8p15+dfsg-2~1.2.2+dfsg1-4build2
Network Time Protocol daemon/utilities (transitional package)
sudo apt install ntp- Section: universe/net
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: ntpsec
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ntp
pacman95%
ntp 4.2.8.p18-6
Network Time Protocol reference implementation
sudo pacman -S ntp- License: custom
- Architecture: x86_64
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ntp
zypper95%
ntp 4.2.8p18-2.2
Network Time Protocol daemon (version 4)
sudo zypper install ntp- License: BSD-3-Clause AND MIT AND BSD-4-Clause AND GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Productivity/Networking/Other
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: ntp
- 19 dependencies
- 6 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ntp
zypper95%
ntp-dcf77-tools 4.2.8p18-2.2
DCF77 related tools
sudo zypper install ntp-dcf77-tools- License: BSD-3-Clause AND MIT AND BSD-4-Clause AND GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Hardware/Other
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: ntp
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ntp
zypper95%
ntp-doc 4.2.8p18-2.2
Additional Package Documentation for ntp
sudo zypper install ntp-doc- License: BSD-3-Clause AND MIT AND BSD-4-Clause AND GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Documentation/Other
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: ntp
- 4 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ntp
MacPorts95%
ntp
sudo port install ntp- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ntp
Ubuntu apt92%
ntpdate 1:4.2.8p15+dfsg-2~1.2.2+dfsg1-4build2
Network Time Protocol client (transitional package)
sudo apt install ntpdate- Section: universe/net
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: ntpsec
- 1 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Ntpdate
Ubuntu apt92%
sntp 1:4.2.8p15+dfsg-2~1.2.2+dfsg1-4build2
Network Time Protocol client (transitional package)
sudo apt install sntp- Section: universe/net
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: ntpsec
- 1 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Sntp
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment