nerdexam
Linux_Foundation

LFCS · Question #31

What is true about the ntpdate command?

The correct answer is C. It queries one or more NTP time servers and adjusts the system time accordingly. The ntpdate command is a utility used to manually synchronize the local system's time by querying one or more Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers.

Submitted by amina.ke· Apr 18, 2026Operation of Running Systems

Question

What is true about the ntpdate command?

Options

  • AIt is the primary management command for the NTP time server.
  • BIt updates the local system's date (i.e. day, month and year) but not the time (i.e. hours, minutes,
  • CIt queries one or more NTP time servers and adjusts the system time accordingly.
  • DIt sends the local system time to one or many remote NTP time servers for redistribution.
  • EIt can be used by any user to set the user clock independently of the system clock.

How the community answered

(36 responses)
  • A
    6% (2)
  • B
    3% (1)
  • C
    89% (32)
  • D
    3% (1)

Why each option

The `ntpdate` command is a utility used to manually synchronize the local system's time by querying one or more Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers.

AIt is the primary management command for the NTP time server.

`ntpdate` is for one-time client synchronization, not the primary management command for an NTP server, which typically involves `ntpd` or `chronyd`.

BIt updates the local system's date (i.e. day, month and year) but not the time (i.e. hours, minutes,

`ntpdate` adjusts the full system time, including hours, minutes, and seconds, not just the date components.

CIt queries one or more NTP time servers and adjusts the system time accordingly.Correct

The `ntpdate` command's primary function is to query one or more specified NTP servers and then adjust the local system's time, making a one-time, immediate synchronization.

DIt sends the local system time to one or many remote NTP time servers for redistribution.

`ntpdate` is a client-side tool that receives time from servers; it does not send the local system time for redistribution by remote NTP servers.

EIt can be used by any user to set the user clock independently of the system clock.

`ntpdate` requires root privileges to modify the system clock and does not manage independent user clocks, which typically don't exist in a practical sense.

Concept tested: NTP client synchronization with ntpdate

Source: https://manpages.debian.org/testing/ntpdate/ntpdate.8.en.html

Topics

#ntpdate command#time synchronization#NTP client#system clock

Community Discussion

No community discussion yet for this question.

Full LFCS Practice