IPFire's system time can be synchronized with an internet time server. For providing a precise time source to the local network, IPFire can also host a NTP-server itself, but this is not activated by default. You can activate this via the web-interface.

These options provide the time the local network and also force a synchronisation on boot time.

You can also specify when IPFire should synchronize its time with the given internet time server.

Available options are:

  • Hour, day, week and month.

This was chosen so that the time is synchronized once a day.

Those who prefer to set their time manually, the following command on the Console can be used on the IPFire:

ntpdate 0.pool.ntp.org

If an error message will appear here, then even the switching off and on of the time server with a:

/etc/init.d/ntp stop
/etc/init.d/ntp start

might be helpful.

Should this also not lead to success, the time can also be setting up manually, with a:

date --set "05/13/2010 09:45:00"
(The following format should be used mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm:ss)

If the time should then be passed to the BIOS, enter:

hwclock --systohc

into the Console.

Using IPFire as a time source for Windows

First you enable this setting:

Now configure Windows the time server (IPFire's) address.

When configured, Windows will look like this:

Using IPFire as a time source for macOS

On the IPFire WUI enable Provide time to local network (Services -> Time Server) as pictured above.

On the Mac go to Date & Time (System Preferences -> Date & Time -> Date & Time tab).

Click Set date and time automatically and then enter the IPFire address.