Hi g!

 On 2012.10.03 at 05:09:32 +0000, g wrote next:

> in unix, there is a file, name of which i do not recall, used as a
> 'clock factor' and controls the 'tick rate' for the system clock.
> 
> is such a file used in scientific linux and what is it's name?
> 

It's called /etc/adjtime

The way it works is documented in adjtimex (2) call. During system boot,
contents of file is used for adjtimex call to remind freshly boot kernel
about correct tick rate (usually by means of calling "hwclock"), and on
shutdown new correction to tick rate is written there.

Additionaly, ntp daemons use that call and do correction job, too.

-- 

Vladimir