With appropriate configuration, you can get ntpd to settle down and consider itself to be fully synchronized in a matter of seconds after startup. You just hav

With appropriate configuration, you can get ntpd to settle down and consider itself to be fully synchronized in a matter of seconds after startup. You just have to configure an adequate number of upstream time servers, add judicious use of iburst, and you should be good to go. On my laptop, I usually get good timesync within ten to fifteen seconds of startup.