htpdate ☆
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Description:
Synchronize time with remote web servers
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Networking
Tags: time-sync http networking system-utility ntp
Install: brew install htpdate
About:
Htpdate is a command-line utility that synchronizes the system clock by extracting time information from the HTTP headers of remote web servers. Unlike NTP, it operates over standard HTTP requests, making it effective for environments where NTP ports are blocked by firewalls. It calculates the time offset from multiple servers to ensure accuracy and can be used as a lightweight alternative for time synchronization.
Key Features:
  • Works through HTTP proxies and firewalls
  • Supports HTTPS for secure time queries
  • Uses multiple servers for robust time calculation
  • Lightweight with no daemon required
Use Cases:
  • Synchronizing time on servers behind strict firewalls that block NTP
  • Setting the clock on embedded systems or restricted networks
  • Verifying system time accuracy as a secondary check
Alternatives:
  • ntpdate – Uses NTP protocol; faster and more precise but often blocked by firewalls
  • rdate – Uses RFC 868 protocol; simpler but less accurate and rarely supported on modern servers
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Sep 12, 2025 10:33am 0 VERSION_BUMP 3155b16b
Sep 13, 2024 9:53pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 2a5c0cca
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