ntpd does not start up properly if the server entry in /etc/ntp.conf is in the XX.XX.XX.XX notation. (i.e. the number notation. e.g. 130.199.3.24) It seems to require that the server entry be in the text name notation in order for the deamon to startup properly. The signature of the bug is, that if the server entry in /etc/ntp.conf is in the number notation, then an ntptrace to the deamon will result in a *timeout*. If the server entry in /etc/ntp.conf is in the text notation, (i.e. horus.s3.bnl.gov) then the server starts up and an ntptrace to the daemon respons properly and after a few minutes the system is sync'ed to a master clock. I hope this report is clear enough. Cheers Steve.
I'm not sure about ntptrace, but I don't think there is a problem in 4.0.99k at least. /etc/ntp.conf has: 207.175.42.166 (our internal clock server) as the server line. strace fragment of the running ntpd: --- SIGALRM (Alarm clock) --- sigreturn() = ? (mask now []) select(7, [4 5 6], NULL, NULL, NULL) = ? ERESTARTNOHAND (To be restarted) --- SIGALRM (Alarm clock) --- sigreturn() = ? (mask now []) gettimeofday({981403334, 984939}, NULL) = 0 sendto(4, "\343\0\6\360\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\21\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0"..., 48, 0, {sin_family=AF_INET, sin_port=htons(123), sin_addr=inet_addr("207.175.42.166")}}, 16) = 48 select(7, [4 5 6], NULL, NULL, NULL) = 1 (in [6]) gettimeofday({981403334, 986060}, NULL) = 0 select(7, [4 5 6], NULL, NULL, {0, 0}) = 1 (in [6], left {0, 0}) recvfrom(6, "$\4\6\357\0\0005E\0\0\33\266\317\257+\266\276)\204\230"..., 500, 0, {sin_family=AF_INET, sin_port=htons(123), sin_addr=inet_addr("207.175.42.166")}}, [16]) = 48 select(7, [6], NULL, NULL, {0, 0}) = 0 (Timeout) gettimeofday({981403334, 987017}, NULL) = 0 gettimeofday({981403334, 987146}, NULL) = 0 gettimeofday({981403334, 987350}, NULL) = 0 select(7, [4 5 6], NULL, NULL, NULL) = ? ERESTARTNOHAND (To be restarted) It is clearly connecting to the host.