NTP, the Network Time Protocol, is used to keep computer clocks accurate by synchronizing them over the Internet or a local network, or by following an accurate hardware receiver that interprets GPS, DCF-77, NIST or similar time signals.
ntpdate is deprecated. Please use sntp instead for manual or scripted NTP queries/syncs.
Not much attention given to such a useful package. This keeps your clock accurate by automatically updating over the network. Opposed to rdate being manual.