# rdate

A protocol to retrieve the date and time from a time server.

It will query a &URL; of an RFC 868 time server.

The syntax is `rdate://servername`, and the date will be returned in the format `DDD MMM DD HH:MM:SS YYYY`

Network operations require time synchronised information to ensure optimal network performance.

Computer clocks are notorious for drifting. So it's a very good idea to set up time synchronisation. You will need root privileges to do this.

See the manual: date and netdate.

See : Time Synchronisation Server .