If you like to keep the clock on your computer synchronized with the internet time servers, and you are running Ubuntu Linux, there is an easy way to do it.
When you right-click on the clock in the upper right panel, there should be an option called Adjust Date & Time. We found that we don’t have that option in our installation of Ubuntu (version 9.1). However, there is a workaround we will use here.
Open a Terminal window, and type the following at the prompt:
sudo time-admin
NOTE: You need to use ‘sudo’ so you can gain root access to be able to change the options.
The Time and Date Settings dialog box displays. Select Keep synchronized with Internet servers from the Configuration pop-up list.
A dialog box may display telling you that NTP support is not installed. Click Install NTP support to be able to synchronize your system clock with Internet time.
Once NTP support has been installed a Changes applied dialog box displays. Click Close.
The Time and Date Settings dialog box displays again. Click the Select Servers button, which is now available.
The Time servers dialog box displays. Select a server from the list by scrolling and clicking the check box next to the desired server. Click Close.
You are returned to the Time and Date Settings dialog box. Click Close. Your system clock should now be synchronized with the Internet time servers.
by Lori Kaufman
Very cool, didn't know about that but it will definitely come in handy!