# ntp_check

Check an NTP server: reachability and clock offset relative to local system time. Uses NTPv3 client packet over UDP. offset_seconds > 0 means server is ahead of local clock.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `ntp_check`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/ntp-check

## Facts

- Tool: `ntp_check`
- Server: Mcp Nettools (`aaronckj/mcp-nettools`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/aaronckj/mcp-nettools
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "ntp_check",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why ntp_check is rated Low

ntp_check retrieves diagnostic information about NTP server reachability and clock offset without modifying any state. It is purely a query/lookup operation analogous to ping or DNS lookup (other Read tools on this server). The tool has minimal blast radius—an agent cannot cause damage by querying NTP servers. Classification as Read is appropriate.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool performs network diagnostics query: 'Check an NTP server: reachability and clock offset relative to local system time.' Uses read-only NTPv3 client packet over UDP to retrieve server status and timing information."

## Use case

AI agents call ntp_check to retrieve information from Mcp Nettools without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Mcp Nettools:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "ntp_check": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Mcp Nettools (234)

- `http_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/http-delete.md
- `check_mqtt` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-mqtt.md
- `check_rdp` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-rdp.md
- `http_post` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/http-post.md
- `ping` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/ping.md
- `port_scan` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/port-scan.md
- `speedtest` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/speedtest.md
- `traceroute` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/traceroute.md
- `wake_on_lan` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/wake-on-lan.md
- `arp_table` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/arp-table.md
- `bgp_lookup` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/bgp-lookup.md
- `cert_check` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/cert-check.md
- `cert_check_bulk` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/cert-check-bulk.md
- `check_actual_budget` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-actual-budget.md
- `check_adguard` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-adguard.md
- `check_alertmanager` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-alertmanager.md
- `check_anythingllm` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-anythingllm.md
- `check_appwrite` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-appwrite.md
- `check_archivebox` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-archivebox.md
- `check_audiobookshelf` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-audiobookshelf.md
- `check_authelia` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-authelia.md
- `check_authentik` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-authentik.md
- `check_baikal` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-baikal.md
- `check_bazarr` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-bazarr.md
- `check_beszel` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-beszel.md
- `check_bitwarden` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-bitwarden.md
- `check_bookstack` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-bookstack.md
- `check_calibre_web` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-calibre-web.md
- `check_cassandra` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-cassandra.md
- `check_changedetection` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-changedetection.md
- …and 204 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=aaronckj-mcp-nettools · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/aaronckj-mcp-nettools