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Synchronize the system time across the cluster

Contributors netapp-aherbin netapp-lenida netapp-dbagwell netapp-thomi
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Synchronizing the time ensures that every node in the cluster has the same time, and prevents CIFS and Kerberos failures.

A Network Time Protocol (NTP) server should be set up at your site. Beginning with ONTAP 9.5, you can set up your NTP server with symmetric authentication. For more information, see documentation for managing the cluster time (cluster administrators only).

You synchronize the time across the cluster by associating the cluster with one or more NTP servers.

  1. Verify that the system time and time zone is set correctly for each node.

    All nodes in the cluster should be set to the same time zone.

    1. Use the cluster date show command to display the current date, time, and time zone for each node.

      cluster1::> cluster date show
Node         Date                Time zone
------------ ------------------- -----------------
cluster1-01  01/06/2015 09:35:15 America/New_York
cluster1-02  01/06/2015 09:35:15 America/New_York
cluster1-03  01/06/2015 09:35:15 America/New_York
cluster1-04  01/06/2015 09:35:15 America/New_York
4 entries were displayed.

    2. Use the cluster date modify command to change the date or time zone for all of the nodes.

      This example changes the time zone for the cluster to be GMT:

      cluster1::> cluster date modify -timezone GMT

  2. Use the cluster time-service ntp server create command to associate the cluster with your NTP server.

    • To set up your NTP server without symmetric authentication enter the following command: cluster time-service ntp server create -server server_name

    • To set up your NTP server with symmetric authentication, enter the following command: cluster time-service ntp server create -server server_ip_address -key-id key_id

      Note Symmetric authentication is available Beginning with ONTAP 9.5. It is not available in ONTAP 9.4 or earlier.

      This example assumes that DNS has been configured for the cluster. If you have not configured DNS, you must specify the IP address of the NTP server:

      cluster1::> cluster time-service ntp server create -server ntp1.example.com

  3. Verify that the cluster is associated with an NTP server: cluster time-service ntp server show

    cluster1::> cluster time-service ntp server show
Server               Version
-------------------- -----------
ntp1.example.com     auto
Related information

System administration