How to verify and correct drifting time on Nutanix platform

Time, accurate time – to be more precise is very important in modern IT systems. There is no difference in Nutanix AOS. Heaving reliable time source in your network is a key to avoid unpleasant surprises such as data inconsistency. In addition, heaving consistent time across the board helps in analysis and troubleshooting.

Time sync Schema

Time sync Schema

First, configure NTP server using Prism UI

Configure NTP server on Nutanix

Configure NTP source server on Nutanix

Log in to one of the CVMs and run

allssh ssh root@192.168.5.1 date

to check time on AHV

nutanix@NTNX-15SM65300246-A-CVM:10.4.91.56:~$ allssh ssh root@192.168.5.1 date
Executing ssh root@192.168.5.1 date on the cluster
================== 10.4.91.56 =================
FIPS mode initialized
Tue Dec 15 02:46:57 PST 2015
================== 10.4.91.57 =================
FIPS mode initialized
Tue Dec 15 02:48:20 PST 2015
================== 10.4.91.58 =================
FIPS mode initialized
Tue Dec 15 02:49:04 PST 2015
nutanix@NTNX-15SM65300246-A-CVM:10.4.91.56:~$

check what is the source time server your AHV hosts are getting time from

nutanix@NTNX-15SM65300246-A-CVM:10.4.91.56:~$ allssh ssh root@192.168.5.1 ntpq -p
Executing ssh root@192.168.5.1 ntpq -p on the cluster
================== 10.4.91.56 =================
FIPS mode initialized
     remote           refid      st t when poll reach   delay   offset  jitter
==============================================================================
 us.pool.ntp.org                 16 u   90 1024    0    0.000    0.000   0.000
================== 10.4.91.57 =================
FIPS mode initialized
     remote           refid      st t when poll reach   delay   offset  jitter
==============================================================================
 us.pool.ntp.org                 16 u   26 1024    0    0.000    0.000   0.000
================== 10.4.91.58 =================
FIPS mode initialized
     remote           refid      st t when poll reach   delay   offset  jitter
==============================================================================
 us.pool.ntp.org                 16 u  625 1024    0    0.000    0.000   0.000
nutanix@NTNX-15SM65300246-A-CVM:10.4.91.56:~$

Stop ntpd daemon

nutanix@NTNX-15SM65300246-A-CVM:10.4.91.56:~$ allssh ssh root@192.168.5.1 service ntpd stop
Executing ssh root@192.168.5.1 service ntpd stop on the cluster
================== 10.4.91.56 =================
FIPS mode initialized
Shutting down ntpd: [  OK  ]
================== 10.4.91.57 =================
FIPS mode initialized
Shutting down ntpd: [  OK  ]
================== 10.4.91.58 =================
FIPS mode initialized
Shutting down ntpd: [  OK  ]
nutanix@NTNX-15SM65300246-A-CVM:10.4.91.56:~$

Update time from time servers

nutanix@NTNX-15SM65300246-A-CVM:10.4.91.56:~$ allssh ssh root@192.168.5.1 ntpdate -u us.pool.ntp.org
Executing ssh root@192.168.5.1 ntpdate -u us.pool.ntp.org on the cluster
================== 10.4.91.56 =================
FIPS mode initialized
15 Dec 03:28:10 ntpdate[16907]: adjust time server 208.75.88.4 offset -0.014000 sec
================== 10.4.91.57 =================
FIPS mode initialized
15 Dec 03:28:20 ntpdate[14812]: adjust time server 208.75.88.4 offset -0.001235 sec
================== 10.4.91.58 =================
FIPS mode initialized
15 Dec 03:28:30 ntpdate[12209]: adjust time server 208.75.88.4 offset -0.019629 sec
nutanix@NTNX-15SM65300246-A-CVM:10.4.91.56:~$

Start NTP demon again

allssh ssh root@192.168.5.1 service ntpd start

Now, clock on AHV is fine

nutanix@NTNX-15SM65300246-A-CVM:10.4.91.56:~$ allssh ssh root@192.168.5.1 date
Executing ssh root@192.168.5.1 date on the cluster
================== 10.4.91.56 =================
FIPS mode initialized
Tue Dec 15 03:30:39 PST 2015
================== 10.4.91.57 =================
FIPS mode initialized
Tue Dec 15 03:30:40 PST 2015
================== 10.4.91.58 =================
FIPS mode initialized
Tue Dec 15 03:30:41 PST 2015
nutanix@NTNX-15SM65300246-A-CVM:10.4.91.56:~$

You can check time on AOS by execute NCC checks script. NCC – Nutanix Cluster Check is set of checks  used to check overall cluster health and identify other possible problems. This allows the user to be more proactive instead of reactive and fix possible issues ahead of time. This tool will not only check for Nutanix operating system (NOS) problems but also for any hypervisor related issues.

To run NCC, log in to Nutanix CVM and run command

nutanix@NTNX-15SM65300246-A-CVM:10.4.91.56:~$ ncc
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type | Name                | Impact | Short help                                      |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| M    | cassandra_tools     | N/A    | Plugins to help with Cassandra ring analysis    |
| M    | config_based        | N/A    | All config based plugin                         |
| M    | file_utils          | N/A    | Utilities for manipulating files on the cluster |
| M    | fix_failures        | N/A    | Fix failures                                    |
| M    | health_checks       | N/A    | All health checks                               |
| M    | help_opts           | N/A    | Show various options for ncc.                   |
| M    | insights_collectors | N/A    | Plugin to start the insights collectors         |
| M    | log_collector       | N/A    | Collect logs on all CVMs.                       |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
nutanix@NTNX-15SM65300246-A-CVM:10.4.91.56:~$ ncc  health_checks run_all

 

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Artur Krzywdzinski

Artur is Consulting Architect at Nutanix. He has been using, designing and deploying VMware based solutions since 2005 and Microsoft since 2012. He specialize in designing and implementing private and hybrid cloud solution based on VMware and Microsoft software stacks, datacenter migrations and transformation, disaster avoidance. Artur holds VMware Certified Design Expert certification (VCDX #077).

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Pablo Arango

Hello, just one question,

How to update the exsiting NTPs with 2 sources?

service ntpd stop
ntpdate –u NTP1 , NTP2 —> using colon, or semicolon
service ntpd start

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