Re: [PATCH 1/1] ntp: advertise correct TAI offset during leap second

From: John Stultz
Date: Sat May 05 2012 - 15:27:41 EST


On 05/05/2012 03:02 AM, Richard Cochran wrote:
On Tue, May 01, 2012 at 08:16:05AM +0200, Richard Cochran wrote:
On Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 12:48:22PM -0700, John Stultz wrote:
On 04/27/2012 11:17 PM, Richard Cochran wrote:
Wait a minute. If user space manages this variable, then shouldn't the
kernel leave it alone?
Right. That's why I'm asking. I actually haven't spent much time
looking at how the tai value provided via adjtimex is handled, and I
want to make sure its ok if we modify it from the kernel.
We *are* already modifying it in kernel, but at the wrong time.

I don't know either what ntpd does, but I will find out.

[ But if ntpd just uses adjtimex() to use the kernel as storage for
variables, then that is really stupid. ]
I took a look at ntp-4.2.6p5, and ntpd unconditionally sets the TAI
offset using MOD_TAI when it thinks the offset has changed.

But I think it won't hurt if the kernel changes the offset
automatically, since ntpd will just try and set the same value again.
Assuming that it doesn't happen right before the tick that adjusts the leapsecond. :)
But that's a pre-existing bug and not a reason to block your patch that improves things.

Thanks for the extra due-diligence here!

thanks
-john

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