# 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 ```sh sudo av install brew:ntp ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install ntp ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install ntp ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/ntp/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#ntp ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/nt/ntp/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S ntp ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: ntp from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - Ubuntu apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install ntp ``` Evidence: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: ntp from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install ntp ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: ntp from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:ntp - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 4.2.8p18 - **Source summary:** Network Time Protocol (NTP) Distribution - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** BSD-2-Clause AND NTP - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - ntp-keygen (cli) - ntp-wait (cli) - ntpd (cli) - ntpdate (cli) - ntpdc (cli) - ntpq (cli) - ntptime (cli) - ntptrace (cli) - sntp (cli) - update-leap (cli) - ntp-keygen (alias) - ntp-wait (alias) - ntpd (alias) - ntpdate (alias) - ntpdc (alias) - ntpq (alias) - ntptime (alias) - ntptrace (alias) - sntp (alias) - update-leap (alias) ## Dependencies - openssl@3 ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 4.2.8p18 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.ntp.org - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## 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 Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## 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 - Unix: /etc/ntp.conf ## Credential files - Unix: /etc/ntp.keys ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** ntp - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - ntp: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/nt/ntp/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - ntp - 1:4.2.8p15+dfsg-2~1.2.2+dfsg1-4build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: ntp from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Network Time Protocol daemon/utilities (transitional package) | https://www.ntpsec.org - pacman - ntp - 4.2.8.p18-6: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: ntp from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Network Time Protocol reference implementation | https://www.ntp.org/ - zypper - ntp - 4.2.8p18-2.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: ntp from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Network Time Protocol daemon (version 4) | http://www.ntp.org/ - zypper - ntp-dcf77-tools - 4.2.8p18-2.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: ntp-dcf77-tools from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | DCF77 related tools | http://www.ntp.org/ - zypper - ntp-doc - 4.2.8p18-2.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: ntp-doc from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Additional Package Documentation for ntp | http://www.ntp.org/ - MacPorts - ntp: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/ntp/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - ntpdate - 1:4.2.8p15+dfsg-2~1.2.2+dfsg1-4build2: installed executable or alias match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: ntpdate from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Network Time Protocol client (transitional package) | https://www.ntpsec.org - Ubuntu apt - sntp - 1:4.2.8p15+dfsg-2~1.2.2+dfsg1-4build2: installed executable or alias match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: sntp from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Network Time Protocol client (transitional package) | https://www.ntpsec.org ## Related links - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [openssl@3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/openssl-3/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [chrony](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/chrony/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, ntp, system, time-sync, time-synchronization. - [apcupsd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/apcupsd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, daemon, system. - [collectd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/collectd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, daemon, system. - [dbus](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dbus/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, daemon, system. - [detach](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/detach/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, daemon, system. - [direvent](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/direvent/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, daemon, system. - [dwatch](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dwatch/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, daemon, system. - [fwupd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fwupd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, daemon, system. - [nut](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nut/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: cli, daemon, network, openssl, openssl-3. - [syslog-ng](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/syslog-ng/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, daemon, openssl, openssl-3, system. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/ntp.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/ntp.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph