InetTime                                          version 0.04 (08-Nov-96)
========

Application for Acorn TCP/IP or compatible internet stack

This is a module that has been written to fulfil a facility present
in KA9Q/!TCPIP, but not freely available (until now) for users of
FreeNet and Acorn Internet. It is allows the user to request the time
on the internet/intranet from another computer running a similar time
service as to that provided on port 37/udp by this client & server.

Version 0.03 also has an implementation of a daytime server, which
runs on port 13/udp - a menu option has been provided to test this.

Added in version 0.04 - pressing SHIFT before choosing the "Check..."
menu option, or SHIFT-clicking SELECT on the iconbar icon will request
the time and set the computer's real time clock on receiving the reply.

_____________________________________________________________________________

!!! NOTE !!!

You may NOT change this application or use ANY part of it in other
products without my prior written approval. You may spread it freely
(with *ALL* files included), but may not do so for any profit. This
software is provided 'as is'. Using it is entirely at your own risk.
_____________________________________________________________________________


Use
---

When loaded, an icon for the application installs on the iconbar,
and as the time server is started. It needs the internet stack to
be loaded beforehand otherwise it will refuse to initialise, as the
stack is important for its operation, and useless without it. If
you see the error "Address already in use" then it means that the
program was unable to start the time server because the port
had been reserved for use by another program.

A click of SELECT on the iconbar makes a request to the machine
in order to request the time from the machine configured in the
writable icon in the window opened by a click of ADJUST.

Click SELECT on its iconbar icon and it makes a request, with
a timeout value of ten seconds to the machine defined in the
configuration window. Click ADJUST on the same icon to change
the machine name which ntp.demon.co.uk is the default option.

If there is no immediate response, then you will have to wait
for the ten seconds to elapse until you can try to ask again.
If you do not wait, then you will hear a warning bleep instead.

The program will only work if you are online to the internet,
unless you configure the server to be localhost (127.0.0.1)
*and* have the loopback interface configured up and running.

The program requires a DNS resolver module (InetDB by Adam
Goodfellow, or DNSResolve by Stewart Brodie) to be loaded. I am
told that the program works on top of the ANT suite, although
whichever module you use there may be a slight blocking delay
while the name to address resolution takes place. If this bothers
you then consider adding this to your InetDBase:Hosts file.

# Demon Internet
158.152.1.76	dismayl.demon.co.uk	ntp.demon.co.uk


Quit
----

If the program is quit from the menu, then it will kill itself.
On the other hand if the program is quit from the task manager
(or otherwise by choosing either exit or shutdown on the menu)
then the program will re-initialise if the desktop is re-entered.
This is to allow for the program to be installed before the
desktop is started by having it loaded into RMA by *RMLoad.


Credits
-------

Thanks to Stewart Brodie and Neil Tarrant for initial testing.


Future versions
---------------

Ideas for futher versions are welcomed to the e-mail
address below, as well as user's feedback in general.


References
----------

Postel, J. Time protocol. DARPA Network Working Group Report RFC-868,
USC Information Sciences Institute, May 1983.

Postel, J. Daytime protocol. DARPA Network Working Group Report RFC-867,
USC Information Sciences Institute, May 1983.


Richard Sargeant		email:	sargeant@arcade.demon.co.uk
