$50,000 Question

[Bent]

I've got a question for any of you software type people. Myself being more of a build it outta wood type, I need some help that our "I.T." here at work can't (or won't) solve.
I am a manager at a cabinet shop, 80+ hourly employees. Here's the problem. We use a computerized time keeping system (Tractivity) that logs time by the clock on the computer system. All of the clocks in the plants are those that are automatally set via satalite signal. They are all in synk, so are all our cell/radio phones. People tend to start work by the slowest clock and stop by the fastes one. there seems to always be 3 - 4 minutes difference. When multiplied out this adds up to a pretty healthy amount of lost production in a year. About 50 Grand. I would be willing to update the system clock twice daily for that salary.
But anyway what I'm trying to get at is; is there a software/hardware pkg. available that would do for the system clock what our $30 wall clocks do? If so where can I get my hands on it?

Thanks,
Tim

 

[F. F.]

http://www.worldtimeserver.com/atomic-clock/

 

[Ghost]

Could be......

that the "I.T." does not want that software in there for a couple reasons. Anyone chim in If I'm wrong here. But some software like that has spy software built into it. Not only does it keep your clock in time but it tells them where the computers are going. Plus it may interfear with some of the software in the system too. You know conflicts that like to crash systems. I'm no expert but just some stuff the "I.T." people that handle our systems tell us.

 

[ChiXJeff]

Tim, what you're looking for is an NTP utility.

Network Time Protocol. http://www.ntp.org

Pretty much every O/S in the world now has the ability to update the clock from a common source. U**x comes with an xntpd daemon, it just has be configured. Check http://www.tucows.com or the various other download sites for Windows or Mac. Heck, even Netware can set itself via NTP.

For your application, you're going to want to sync all of your systems to the same time source.

If your IT department can't solve this, then you seriously need a new IT department. Won't solve it is a different issue.

ChiXJeff

 

[GSequoia]

Tim, I have just the answer for you! A good quick, easy, non-instrusive way to make every clock in the office the exact same time!

I'll give you a deal, I'll tell you the answer for $45,000.

 

[Loose_Nuts_Enterprises]

Remove all the clocks, put in bright colored flashing lights, turn up the a/c and black out the windows. That's how they do it in Vegas to keep everyone productive.

Dan

 

[Bent]

OK,
so now it is painfully obvious why I did'nt post this on the SOCAL page!

Thanks for the options. As far as any risks that may go along with this type of set up, thats something I'm not able to assess. All I see is $$$$.



Sequoia, That $45,000 job ..... Micky's big hand is on....

 

[RichP]

Funny, I just did this today

Had a problem with a MS win2k Domain Controller and two MS win2k servers. The DC could not get thru the K12 firewall but the Linux mail server can so I configured and kicked off the ntp daemon on the linux smtp/www server as a time server. It is syncing off the naval observatory clock, I think I have three in the config file, then pointed the win2k boxes at it. Now they are all happy and sync'd up. Solved an RPC problem thats been plaguing me for the past three months too ever since one of those MS security patches 'fixed' something.

 

[JJ13]

damn ...3 or 4 minutes that is pickin the white outa the Chicken Sh!t. MAybe after you solve the problem you could take the extra 50 grand and import some cheap laborers to stand watch and whip your workers when they stop working to do unimportant things like breathe, and use the bathroom. Better yet they don't need bathrooms, thats gotta be a lot of money in water you could save. Or instead of doing away with the bathrooms you could quit buying bum wipe, and sugggest they use the used up sandpaper to wipe there arse when they are done doing there business. This would accomplish two things, money saved on toilet paper, and you would be damn sure they were using up the sand paper before getting a new piece (cause I wouldn't wanna wipe with a fresh piece of 80 grit). Just messin with ya BTW. I used to wear a big stopwatch on my hardhat so the guys that worked for me would know I wasn't lying when I said ther break was over 5 minutes ago.

 

[Bent]

JJ you're right! If I was to go at this making a big deal out of this and say "I'm a tight arse and you are 12 1/2 seconds late. Go get me my whip!" I'd be an ass. I'd be accusing. I'd be shooting myself in the foot, besides, I'm fresh out of Kevlar socks. But none the less,1+1+1 is three. If I can fix a clock and generate the equivilent of one more paid position, who am I helping?

BTW, cheap labor, ain't. I hate it when you get what you pay for. Especially when they said they'd pick the white out for free!
T. A. BENT