Description of problem: When -x is included, the /etc/rc.d/init.d/ntpd script will run ntpdate to set the time before starting ntpd. In ntpdate fails, then the script will add a -g option. If the user-supplied options already include -g, then there will be two, and consequently ntpd refuses to start (that is new behavior sometime between 4.2.0 and 4.2.4). Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): ntpd 4.2.4 installed on an FC5 system from ntp-4.2.4-3.i386.rpm built by me from ntp-4.2.4-3.fc6.src.rpm obtained from Fedora project (hence I said FC6 as the version for this bug). How reproducible: easy Steps to Reproduce: 1. Configure /etc/ntp/step-tickers or server address in /etc/ntp.conf to be an unreachable address, and set /etc/sysconfig/ntp to: OPTIONS="-g -x" 2. /etc/rc.d/init.d/ntpd start Actual results: > /etc/rc.d/init.d/ntpd start ntpd: Synchronizing with time server: [FAILED] Starting ntpd: ERROR: only one panicgate option allowed ntpd - NTP daemon program - Ver. 4.2.4 USAGE: ntpd [ -<flag> [<val>] | --<name>[{=| }<val>] ]... [snipped usage text] Options are specified by doubled hyphens and their name or by a single hyphen and the flag character. please send bug reports to: http://bugs.ntp.isc.org, bugs [FAILED] Expected results: Even though ntpdate will fail, ntpd should start and run, rather than quitting. It will complain about the unreachable server, but if the server later becomes reachable, ntpd will being peering with it. Additional info: The fix I recommend is for the /etc/rc.d/init.d/ntpd script to check if there already is a -g option present before adding one. Note that there are two places in the start cause of that script where a -g is added.
Created attachment 147951 [details] Proposed patch
Thanks, will be in next release.
Fixed in ntp-4.2.4p0-1.fc6.