NTP Configuration

These instructions illustrate the steps to change the CML server’s NTP server.

Your CML server must be able to reach an NTP server to maintain accurate time, which is vital for correct operation of the overall system, including licensing and the stability of the labs’ virtual machines. You must set a custom NTP server if your deployed CML server cannot reach the default server, ntp.ubuntu.com, or if your organization’s procedures require you to use a specific NTP server. Your CML server must be able to resolve and reach the configured NTP server over UDP/123.

Procedure

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Log into the System Administration Cockpit as the system administrator account. See Logging into the System Administration Cockpit.

Click Overview in the navigation bar on the left side of the page.

In the Configuration group, click the System time value, displayed in blue, to open the time settings dialog.

In the Set time dropdown, select the Automatically using specific NTP servers option to use non-default NTP servers, or Automatically using NTP to use the default NTP server.

Set each specific NTP source’s DNS name or IP address in the edit box, using the + button to add additional time sources and the x button to remove them.

Click the Change button to apply the new configuration.

You can verify that the correct NTP servers are being used and see which one is being used for synchronization by entering the following two commands, using the Terminal in the navigation bar:

timedatectl status

timedatectl show-timesync

The first command’s output should say System clock synchronized: yes, and the second command’s Frequency value should be nonzero if communication with the server is established and ongoing.

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