How to configure NTP Client on Solaris 11

In this tutorial, we will learn how to configure NTP Client on Solaris 11 operating system.

While time passes by, the computer’s internal clocks tend to drift which can lead to inconsistent time issues, especially on servers and client’s logs files or if you want to replicate servers’ resources or databases. The Network Time Protocol (NTP) is a protocol used to synchronize the clocks of computers over a network. NTP uses a hierarchical architecture of time sources, which can be either local or external.

Table of Contents

Steps Involved in Configuration of NTP on Solaris 11:

Create ntp.conf file
Make changes to ntp.conf file
Enable ntp servcie
Test server connectivity
Check time synchronization

Step 1: Become an administrator

Become an administrator or login as a user having Administrative rights.

$ sudo su
OR
$ su -

Step 2: Create ntp.conf file [If not present]

If ntp.clinet file is not present then copy the ntp.client file to use as a template for the ntp.conf file.

# cd /etc/inet
# cp ntp.client ntp.conf

create ntp.conf file from NTP Client template

Otherwise take backup of existing ntp.clinet file (Not necessary but recommended)

# cd /etc/inet
# cp -p ntp.conf ntp.conf_bkp

Step 3: Edit the ntp.conf file.

Open the ntp.conf file and make changes as below

# cd /etc/inet
# pfedit ntp.conf

NOTE: It is recommended to use pfedit to edit the ntp.conf file.

ntp.conf file contents — ntp.conf file changes

Step 4: Enable ntp client service

Enable ntp client service (ntpd daemon) and verify it is working

Open the ntp.conf file and make changes as below

# svcadm enable ntp
# svcs | grep ntp

We have used the pool.ntp.org project for our NTP servers. You may checkout The pool.ntp.org project site here.

Step 5: Check ntp server connection

Check if ntp server added in ntp.conf file is reachable or not by running below command

# ntpdate -qd server 0.in.pool.ntp.org

You will get output similar to below –

Step 6: Check time

Now its time to check the date and time

As you can see above time has now been synchronized with ntp server. Enjoy.

It is not recommended by Oracle to manually sync the time using ntpdate command. Try to ignore that. However, you can run the ntpdate command with the –q and –d options as it does not set the time.

You may read the official Oracle Doc to know more.