eh? -q does the query without setting the clock ... You meant -u?
Perhaps, depends on what you mean by *use*. Retrieving the time, or setting the box's clock as well? You're correct though that ntpdate refuses to set the time if there's an ntpd running IIRC. I doubt that has to do with ports though.
Well, there's an error message given about a bind() failure ... Which doesn't happen when using -u to use an unpriv'd port ...
[EMAIL PROTECTED]:~$ sudo ntpdate bigben.clix.net.nz
25 Jun 18:21:31 ntpdate[13429]: the NTP socket is in use, exiting
[EMAIL PROTECTED]:~$ sudo ntpdate -u bigben.clix.net.nz
25 Jun 18:31:41 ntpdate[14296]: adjust time server 203.167.224.60 offset 0.000001 sec
