In the Apple environment, the ntpq command is a powerful tool for querying and monitoring the Network Time Protocol (NTP) server. NTP is used to synchronize the time on computers and network devices. By using the ntpq command, you can gather information about the NTP server, check the status of the time synchronization, and troubleshoot any issues related to time synchronization.

The ntpq command provides various options to query and control the NTP server. It allows you to display detailed information about the NTP peers, associations, and reference clocks. Additionally, you can use the ntpq command to monitor the offset and jitter values, which indicate the accuracy and stability of the time synchronization.

To use the ntpq command in the Apple environment, you need to have the NTP package installed. You can install it using the package manager Homebrew by running the following command in the Terminal:

brew install ntp

Once the NTP package is installed, you can use the ntpq command to interact with the NTP server.

Examples:

1. Displaying the NTP peers:

   ntpq -p

   This command will show a list of NTP peers along with their reachability, delay, offset, and jitter values.

2. Checking the status of the time synchronization:

   ntpq -c sysinfo

   This command will provide information about the NTP server, including its version, reference ID, stratum, and leap status.

3. Monitoring the offset and jitter values:

   ntpq -c kerninfo

   This command will display the kernel time variables, including the offset and jitter values.