Network Time (ntp)

Our ntp servers are:

 Castle 69.55.230.2
 I2B    69.55.229.2

1. see if its connected:

[root@quar1 /vz/private]# ntpq -pn

ntpq: read: Connection refused

not running

2. start it:
[root@quar1 /vz/private]# service ntpd start
Starting ntpd: [ OK ]

3. Query the NTP Server to see if it is paired
[root@quar1 /vz/private]# ntpq -pn remote refid st t when poll reach delay offset jitter
10.1.4.5 66.187.233.4 2 u 4 64 1 0.317 876558. 0.000

4. [root@quar1 /vz/private]# date
Thu Oct 11 10:58:05 PDT 2012

time is 11:13

that output from ntpq is deceiving- we're syncing connected. you want to see a * or + next to it (ex on mail):

5. mail /usr/local/www/scripts# ntpq -pn

    remote           refid      st t when poll reach   delay   offset jitter
    ==============================================================================
    *66.187.233.4    .CDMA.           1 u  550 1024  377   75.159   -0.613 0.100
     217.204.76.170  0.0.0.0         16 u    - 1024    0    0.000    0.000 4000.00
     64.112.189.11   0.0.0.0         16 u    - 1024    0    0.000    0.000 4000.00
     66.69.112.130   0.0.0.0         16 u    - 1024    0    0.000    0.000 4000.00
    +80.85.129.25    193.79.237.14    2 u  624 1024  377  147.067   -0.291 0.149

(btw, if at least one is not + or * our ENTIRE network is off since all boxes sync to mail. edit /etc/ntp.conf to add servers)

see: http://doc.ntp.org/4.1.1/ntpq.htm

so its not connecting to our ntpd on mail (10.1.4.5)

and this is likely cause of the large time gap (offset 876558.) so we fix it:

6. [root@quar1 /vz/private]# date -s "11:17:00"
   Thu Oct 11 11:17:00 PDT 2012

7. [root@quar1 /vz/private]# ntpq -pn

    remote           refid      st t when poll reach   delay   offset jitter
    ==============================================================================
     10.1.4.5        66.187.233.4     2 u 1029   64    0    0.000    0.000 4000.00

no offset but not connected. give it some time...

8. [root@quar1 /vz/private]# sleep 300; ntpq -pn

    remote           refid      st t when poll reach   delay   offset jitter
    ==============================================================================
    *10.1.4.5        66.187.233.4     2 u   44   64   37    0.304  19234.8 0.649

Yay, done.