Network Time Protocol

Syncing your clock to Virginia Tech's time servers

Virginia Tech hosts four Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers:

• ntp-1.vt.edu (198.82.247.51) (2001:468:c80:2101:0:14b:a768:154f)
• ntp-2.vt.edu (198.82.247.71) (2001:468:c80:4101:0:1b6:a45f:ab40)
• ntp-3.vt.edu (198.82.247.108) (2001:468:c80:6101:0:111:7c3a:677)
• ntp-4.vt.edu (198.82.247.131) (2001:468:c80:8101:0:178:d2dd:db75)

The current status of the NTP servers can be found at cns.vt.edu.

Using Gnome

1. Right click on the clock in the top right hand corner of your desktop and select Adjust Date & Time.
2. You may have to enter your password to continue.
3. From the Configuration drop-down list, select Keep synchronized with Internet servers.
4. You may need to click Install NTP support.
5. Click Select Servers.
6. Type ntp-1.vt.edu
7. Click the Add button.
8. Type ntp-2.vt.edu
9. Click the Add button.
10. Type ntp-3.vt.edu
11. Click the Add button.
12. Type ntp-4.vt.edu
13. Click the Add button.
14. Click the Close button.
15. Click the Close button again.

Using ntpd

Backup your /etc/ntp.conf:

# cp /etc/ntp.conf /etc/ntp.conf.bak

Add the following lines to /etc/ntp.conf:

server ntp-1.vt.edu
server ntp-2.vt.edu
server ntp-3.vt.edu
server ntp-4.vt.edu

Using ntpdate

Change the contents of /etc/cron.daily/ntpdate to:

ntpdate ntp-1.vt.edu ntp-2.vt.edu ntp-3.vt.edu ntp-4.vt.edu

Using chrony

Backup your /etc/chrony/chrony.conf:

# cp /etc/chrony/chrony.conf /etc/chrony/chrony.conf.bak

Add the following lines to /etc/chrony/chrony.conf:

server ntp-1.vt.edu
server ntp-2.vt.edu
server ntp-3.vt.edu
server ntp-4.vt.edu

Using dnsmasq

This is will send the ntp addresses over dhcp. Add the following line to /etc/dnsmasq.conf:

dhcp-option=option:ntp-server,198.82.247.51,198.82.247.71,198.82.247.108,198.82.247.131