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Configuring clock synchronization using NTP

Written by
Updated at May 23, 2024

You can set up time synchronization on Yandex Compute Cloud VMs with public servers via NTPv4.

The VM time is synced to correctly work with other servers and applications, process data in real time, store exact time data in system logs, etc.

NTP servers recommended for syncing:

  • ntp0.NL.net
  • ntp2.vniiftri.ru
  • ntp.ix.ru
  • ntps1-1.cs.tu-berlin.de

Note

The list of recommended servers may change. Yandex Cloud notifies you 72 hours before you need to make changes to a VM configuration.

To set up time synchronization:

  1. Prepare your cloud.
  2. Prepare your infrastructure.
  3. Set up synchronization.
  4. Check synchronization.

If you no longer need the resources you created, delete them.

Getting started

Sign up for Yandex Cloud and create a billing account:

  1. Go to the management console and log in to Yandex Cloud or create an account if you do not have one yet.
  2. On the Yandex Cloud Billing page, make sure you have a billing account linked and it has the ACTIVE or TRIAL_ACTIVE status. If you do not have a billing account, create one.

If you have an active billing account, you can go to the cloud page to create or select a folder for your infrastructure to operate in.

Learn more about clouds and folders.

The cost of clock synchronization using NTP includes fees for computing resources and VM disks (see Yandex Compute Cloud pricing).

Prepare the infrastructure

  1. If you do not have a VM, create one.
  2. Attach a public IP address to the VM.

Set up synchronization

On Linux-based VMs, enable a DHCP client with the 42 (Network Time Protocol Servers) option. The DHCP client automatically applies the list of time synchronization servers sent by the DHCP server. In Compute Cloud images, operating systems are preset properly.

In the system settings, specify the backup time synchronization servers to use if the DHCP server is unavailable.

Note

The systemd-timesyncd service may conflict with ntpd if they are running simultaneously. To see what services are running, use the ps -eF command. You can either delete the ntpd service or use it to set up time synchronization (see the Linux (ntpd) tab).

To set up time synchronization:

  1. Connect to the VM over SSH.

  2. Open the /etc/systemd/timesyncd.conf file by running the following command in the terminal:

    sudo nano /etc/systemd/timesyncd.conf

  3. Specify the addresses of the recommended servers in the FallbackNTP= parameter of the [Time] section, e.g.:

    FallbackNTP=ntp0.NL.net ntp2.vniiftri.ru ntp.ix.ru ntps1-0.eecsit.tu-berlin.de

  4. Set UseNTP=true in the systemd.network configuration file. It is usually located in the /etc/systemd/network/ or /var/lib/systemd/network/ directory.

    You can also use the networkd.conf file in the /etc/systemd/ directory.

  5. Restart the time synchronization service:

    sudo systemctl restart systemd-timesyncd

On Linux-based VMs, enable a DHCP client with the 42 (Network Time Protocol Servers) option. The DHCP client automatically applies the list of time synchronization servers sent by the DHCP server. In Compute Cloud images, operating systems are preset properly.

In the system settings, specify the backup time synchronization servers to use if the DHCP server is unavailable.

Note

The ntpd service may conflict with systemd-timesyncd if they are running simultaneously. To see what services are running, use the ps -eF command. You can either delete the systemd-timesyncd service or use it to set up time synchronization (see the Linux (systemd) tab).

To set up time synchronization:

  1. Connect to the VM over SSH.

  2. Install ntpd by running the following command in the terminal:

    sudo apt-get install ntp

  3. Open the /etc/ntp.conf file:

    sudo nano /etc/ntp.conf

  4. Specify the recommended server addresses. Comment out default server addresses with # at the beginning of the relevant line, for example:

    # Use servers from the NTP Pool Project. Approved by Ubuntu Technical Board
# on 2011-02-08 (LP: #104525). See http://www.pool.ntp.org/join.html for
# more information.
# server 0.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org
# server 1.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org
# server 2.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org
# server 3.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org
server ntp0.NL.net
server ntp2.vniiftri.ru
server ntp.ix.ru
server ntps1-0.eecsit.tu-berlin.de

  5. Restart the time synchronization service:

    sudo service ntp restart

To set up time synchronization:

  1. Connect to the VM via RDP.

  2. Run cmd or PowerShell as an administrator.

  3. Stop the Windows Time service by running the following command:

    net stop w32time

    Result:

    The Windows Time service is stopping.
The Windows Time service was stopped successfully.

  4. Specify the recommended server addresses, e.g.:

    w32tm /config /syncfromflags:manual /manualpeerlist:"ntp0.NL.net ntp2.vniiftri.ru ntp.ix.ru ntps1-0.eecsit.tu-berlin.de"

    Result:

    The command completed successfully.

  5. Specify that the VM is a reliable time source:

    w32tm /config /reliable:yes

    Result:

    The command completed successfully.

  6. Start the Windows Time service:

    net start w32time

    Result:

    The Windows Time service is starting.
The Windows Time service was started successfully.

Check the synchronization

Run this command:

timedatectl

Result:

...
System clock synchronized: yes                        
              NTP service: active   
...

Run this command:

sudo ntpq -p

Result:

     remote           refid      st t when poll reach   delay   offset  jitter
==============================================================================
+ntp0.nl.uu.net  .GPS.            1 u  111  128  377   41.220    1.662   0.214
+ntp2.vniiftri.r .MRS.            1 u   99  128  377    7.540    1.697   0.417
*ntp.ix.ru       .GPS.            1 u   45  128  377    4.343    1.456   0.296
+ntps1-0.eecsit. .PPS.            1 u   36  128  377   30.128    1.258   0.265

Run the command below and specify the VM name:

w32tm /query /computer:<VM_name> /configuration

Result:

...
[TimeProviders]
...
NtpServer: ntp0.NL.net ntp2.vniiftri.ru ntp.ix.ru ntps1-0.eecsit.tu-berlin.de (Local)
...

How to delete the resources you created

To stop paying for the resources you created, delete the VM.

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