


PC/setclock, version 5.0

A program to obtain a clock reading from a network time service
and set the PC date and time accordingly.


Usage:

setclock [time-server]

where "time-server" is either a character-string name or an
internet address of a network host that provides an IP time
service.  Setclock sends a request, using the standard IP time
service protocol, to "time-server".  If the name "time-server" is
omitted, setclock sends requests to a default list of internet
addresses of the known time servers. This list is stored within
setclock and can be set or changed with the customizer.  Setclock
takes the first response, converts the calendar clock reading
found therein to the local date and time and displays it.
Finally, setclock calls the standard PC/DOS entry points to set
the system date and time.

If no time server responds, or the network is not operational,
setclock displays a message to that effect and leaves the current
date and time settings of PC/DOS unchanged.

Setclock is designed for use either as a stand-alone command or 
as a command invoked by an autoexec.bat batch file.  There are 
two advantages to using setclock in an autoexec.bat batch file.  
First, DOS does not ask the user to type the date and time on 
every bootload operation.  Second, it provides an immediate test 
of whether or not the network connection is operational.  If 
setclock receives at least one response, it returns to DOS with 
the DOS variable ERRORLEVEL=0; otherwise ERRORLEVEL=1.


Customization:

The following parameters of setclock can be customized with the
custom command:

    1)  Local standard time offset, in minutes before GMT.  West
        of GMT the value is positive, east of GMT the value is
        negative.  For EST the value is +300.  For SET the value
        is -60.  

    2)  Local standard time designation string.  Three letters,
        such as EST, EDT, or SET.

    3)  Internet addresses of up to five time servers.  The 
        servers  are polled at two second intervals in the order 
        they were set by the customizer, so one may place 
        preferred services nearer the head of the list.




25 October 1984.  This document is in file setclock.txt
