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HowTo: Configure time synchronization with an NTP server

The following instructions describe how to set up a specific time zone for a VCS instance so that it can be automatically calibrated: CentOS instances use native commands to set up the time zone, while Ubuntu instances use an external time server to set up the time zone.


CentOS VCS instances​

  • Step 1. Connect to the VCS instance.

  • Step 2. Enter the following command to set the time zone to Taiwan.

sudo timedatectl set-timezone Asia/Taipei
  • Step 3. Enter the following command to query the time zone of the VCS instance.
date


Ubuntu VCS instances (18.04 version)​

  • Step 1. Connect to the VCS instance.

  • Step 2. Enter the following command to update the package.

sudo apt-get update
  • Step 3. Enter the following command to install the NTP package.
sudo apt-get install -y ntp
  • Step 4. Enter the following command to modify the configuration file ➡️ and then type "i" to enter edit mode, you will see the following screen:
sudo vim /etc/ntp.conf

➡️ Type "#" in front of the content in the red box below to hide a default data.

➡️ Enter the external NTP server in the same format as below ➡️ press the "esc" key to exit edit mode when finished ➡️ enter ":wq!" to save the file and leave

  • Step 5. Enter the following command to restart NTP to update the settings.
sudo systemctl restart ntp

Ubuntu VCS instances (16.04 version)​

  • Step 1. Connect to the VCS instance.

  • Step 2. Enter the following command to install the NTP package.

sudo apt-cache policy ntp
sudo apt install -y ntp=1:4.2.8p4+dfsg-3ubuntu5
  • Step 3. Enter the following command to modify the configuration file ➡️ and then type "i" to enter edit mode, you will see the following screen:
sudo vim /etc/ntp.conf

➡️ Type "#" in front of the content in the red box below to hide four default data.

➡️ Enter the external NTP server in the same format as below ➡️ press the "esc" key to exit edit mode when finished ➡️ enter ":wq!" to save the file and leave

  • Step 4. Enter the following command to restart NTP to update the settings.
sudo systemctl restart ntp