sntpc is a simple network time protocol client It was written to deal with time on virtual hosts on MS virtual server which has a horrible virtual hardware clock. It will not make any efforts to slowly adjust the time, just set the time hard from an NTP source, either once or in a given interval. To use it in a virtual environment, set the clocksource to "pit". This will make the time go (mostly) backwards. Use the -b option to prevent sntpc to make time jump backwards.