You can use anonymous ftp to copy client software from either of the two following sites.

• NIST anonymous FTP Archive (time.nist.gov)

"The two addresses point to different machines, both of which are operated by NIST. They have identical performance from the point of view of a user; which one you choose to use is mostly a matter of which one is "closer" to you in a network sense. The machine time.nist.gov is located at NCAR in Boulder, Colorado, which is a primary network backbone site. The machine time-a.timefreq.bldrdoc.gov is located at the NIST facility in Boulder next to the clock room."
Judah Levine
Time and Frequency Division
NIST Boulder

The software can be used to access the following services:

1. ACTS

The ACTS service transmits time information using standard telephone lines and modems. The transmitting hardware can compensate for the transmission delay between NIST and your system. Directory /pub/acts contains more information on how to use this service and the accuracy that you can expect using the measured-delay mode. This directory also contains example software that you can use to access this service using a standard PC or several other popular computers.

2. Network Time

Directory /pub/daytime contains several programs that you can use to synchronize computers that are connected to the internet. The programs use our enhancements to the standard "daytime" and "time" protocols to obtain information from our server. In addition to UTC(NIST), the messages contain advance notice of leap seconds and of the transitions to and from daylight saving time (using the formula that is standard in the US). We have written several different versions of this software for a number of common hardware and software environments. A generic program in C is also provided that will assist you in developing client software that can provide access to this information from other environments.

3. lockclock

Directory /pub/lockclock contains a prototype daemon program that can be used to synchronize the time of a moderately-sized workstation to UTC(NIST) using periodic calls to our ACTS time service. This software is experimental and the files in this directory are under development.

Directories /etc and /bin contain files that are needed for the operation of the anonymous file transfer system. They are not generally useful.

For questions or additional information, please contact:
Time and Frequency Division
Mail Stop 847
National Institute of Standards and Technology
325 Broadway
Boulder, Colorado 80303
e-mail: time@time.nist.gov

CLOCKS and TIME, NIST Time Software

UBR, Inc. Data from the NIST file read.me and Dr. Judah Levine. Updated 2 Sep 1999.