ntpdate not updating system time in XenServer VM

Question

We have a Debian webserver that I am trying to use ntpdate to keep the time in sync.

When I run

ntpdate ntp0.cs.mu.oz.au

I receive

16 Sep 10:55:36 ntpdate[21626]: step time server 128.250.36.2 offset 318.914011 sec

With no errors, which should be a good thing, I think...

When I check the time again though, it's not changed.

I am also unable to set the time manually using

date --set 11:00:00

So I have a feeling there are other issues.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Update

Sorry for the bum steer guys, this machine is a XenServer VM, which I managed to forget.

After updating the Host clock, the VM time is now correct.

Thanks for your replies. Thanks.

Solution 1

I have been through this before.

Try (on domU):

echo 1 > /proc/sys/xen/independent_wallclock

and try updating the time again.

Solution 2

Try by this procedure:

Stop the ntpd service first:

service ntpd stop

Now update the local time

ntpdate "server name"

and after this start the service:

service ntdp start

Solution 3

Try running ntpdate on an unprivileged port (in case you are running ntpd), otherwise it will refuse make any changes.

ntpdate -u ntp0.cs.mu.oz.au

Solution 4

Did the time change when you set the new time using date?

Try and check the machine hardware clock. (man hwclock)

View more solutions

Comments

[Admin]

Not related to the original request, but... note that ntp0.cs.mu.oz.au has now been discontinued and stopped responding to queries. I suggest using au.pool.ntp.org instead.

[Kyle Brandt]

With date are you running it as root?

[LukeR]

yep, eveything is run as root.

[LukeR]

How long should it take? It doesn't appear to have changed in the last .5 hour. I'm still seeing the same offset 318.9... secs

[LukeR]

no. I am unable to set the date with either ntpdate or date

[LukeR]

no dice. still no changes