Domain Time Dialup Monitor (DTDialup) is a companion program for Domain Time Server, for use in situations where the service does not have full-time access to its time source, but uses Dial-Up Networking instead. DTDialup monitors the connected state of the machine, and signals the Domain Time II Server to synchronize when a connection is established.

Contact your Symmetricom representative to obtain a free copy of this utility.

Clients have dial-up awareness built in, but servers do not because they are expected to be online continuously. DTDialup works alongside Domain Time Server to trigger a sync as soon as a dial-up connection is established. When the DTDialup service starts, it modifies the Domain Time Server configuration as follows:

1. Disables Domain Time Server's accuracy-seeking algorithms (default is enabled).

2. Tells Domain Time Server not to get time from an external source (default is to use an external source).

3. Tells Domain Time Server to serve the time to clients whether or not the server's time has been verified (default is to refuse this).

Installing DTDialup on a slave server will have no effect, since slaves replicate settings from the master, and always refuse to serve the time until their own clocks have been set.

DTDialup checks the server settings every time it starts, and makes the appropriate changes, including restarting Domain Time Server if necessary to allow it to start serving the time immediately.

It then starts checking for a RAS dial-up connection. If you are offline, DTDialup checks every 5 seconds, waiting for you to go online. When DTDialup detects that you have gone online, it then waits an additional 15 seconds, and, if you are still online, signals the Domain Time Server to synchronize. The additional wait is to give your connection time to initialize, authorize, and establish new routes.

When DTDialup signals Domain Time Server to synchronize, it performs the following actions:

1. Tells Domain Time Server to get its time from an external source (using whatever sources and protocols you have specified on the control panel applet).

2. Sends a CPL signal to inform Domain Time Server that a synchronized is wanted.

3. Waits a few seconds, then turns the use-external-source checkbox off again.

While you are online, DTDialup checks every 5 minutes, waiting for you to go offline. The 5-minute interval is used to prevent unnecessary checks due to redials or jittery connections. Once you are offline, DTDialup goes back to checking every 5 seconds for you to go online again.

The net effect is that, approximately 15-20 seconds after any successful dialup, the Domain Time Server will synchronize with your selected time source, but not more than once during any 5-minute period.