ntp error message but ntpdate works

[kenken_3]

Hi,

I have a few redhat ES4 linux boxes and I have confiured the ntp. However, I encountered a funny error message. When I try to start the ntp service, it always tells me:

shutdown ntpd: OK
ntpd: synchronizing with time server [Failed]
starting ntpd: OK.

the time is not synchronized though it is only has 1 mins difference.

However, when I tried the ntpdate -b ntpserver1. It works and the time synchronized immediately.

very strange. Anyone knows how to solve this?

thanks

[~sesh]

It seems like ntpdate works fine when you try to synchronize by specifying an ntp server. The error may be because the default ntp server cannot be accessed.

Check the /etc/ntp.conf file & look at the default NTP server. If necessary change the server to the one that works.

Good luck!

[malik_3]

hi
did you see /etc/ntp.conf file and are you sure that your ntp server is correct? if not you have to describe as well as it

[Vitaly Karasik_1]

in RHEL for some reason ntpdate and ntpd use different servers during start:
1) ntpd from /etc/ntp.conf
2) ntpdate from /etc/ntp/step-tickers


So I guess you have a problem in /etc/ntp.conf.

[kenken_3]

the ip address I used in "ntpdate -b ntpserver1" is the first server ip address in my /etc/ntp.conf.

However, it always tells me the synchronizing failed. However, once I stop the ntpd daemon and run it manully with ntpdate -b server1, everying works fine.

really strange

[kenken_3]

Hi Vitaly,

I have attached my ntp.conf in my first post. However, when I try to put the my ntp servers into /etc/ntp/step-tickers and restart the ntpd daemon. Everything works this time.

anyone could explain this?

[Ivan Kuznetsov · Accepted solution]

Hello!

As Vitaly wrote above, RHEL4 uses /etc/ntp.conf for ntpd and /etc/ntp/step-tickers for one-time startup sync.

Startup script firstly tries to set time with ntpdate using /etc/ntp/step-tickers as time servers list. Then it starts ntp daemon which use /etc/ntp.conf. If time servers in /etc/ntp/step-tickers are wrong/unaccessible you will see 'synchronizing with time server [Failed]' message.

You can run 'ntpdate -dqvu `cat /etc/ntp/step-tickers`' manualy and see more diagnostics

[Ivan Kuznetsov]

Most probably 'ntpdate -b ntpserver1' fails because the udp port 123 is busy by runnng ntpd. You can add '-u' option to use unprivileged udp port

[kenken_3]

what Ivan said is right. I need to put ntp servers into step-tickets.