Manually update NTP servers in SDDC Manager

Products

• VMware Cloud Foundation

Issue/Introduction

This KB article provides manual steps to update NTP servers manually in each component in VCF stack

Environment

VMware Cloud Foundation 4.x

Resolution

Execute the steps in below order:

1. vCenter
2. ESXi
3. NSX-T
4. VRSLCM
5. SDDC Manager

Configure NTP on vCenter:

• Login to vCenter Appliance Management Page as root at : https://vcenter_FQDN:5480 
• Go to Time > Edit > Update new NTP server > Save 

Configure NTP on ESXi Hosts: 

• Login to the vCenter UI at : https://vcenterFQDN
• Select each host > Configure > Time Configuration > Network Time Protocol > Update new NTP servers > save 

                            OR 

• Login to the ESXi UI at : https://esxiFQDN
• Go to Manager > System > Time & Date > Edit NTP Settings > Update new NTP servers > Save 

Configure NTP on NSX-T managers

• SSH into the SDDC Manager and grab the current configuration with the following command:
  • curl -u 'admin:' https://nsx_vip_fqdn/api/v1/node/services/ntp -k
• Then update the command with the new NTP servers and run the following: 
  • curl -u 'admin:' -X PUT -H 'Content-type: application/json' https://nsx_vip_fqdn/api/v1/node/services/ntp -d '{"service_name":"ntp","service_properties":{"servers":["ntp_ip"]}}' -k
• Verify the change has been made with the first command: 
  • • curl -u 'admin:' https://nsx_vip_fqdn/api/v1/node/services/ntp -k

Configure NTP on VRSLCM: 

• Follow the Steps in the Doc linked here

Configure NTP on SDDC Manager: 

• SSH into the SDDC Manager and get the current configuration with the following command: 
  
  • curl localhost/inventory/system-info
• Then  update the configuration with the following: 
  • curl -X PATCH -H "Content-Type: application/json" localhost/appliancemanager/ntp/configuration -d '{"ntpServers":["ntp_ip","ntp_ip"]}'
• Verify the change has been made with the first command: 
  • curl localhost/inventory/system-info

Additional Information

Impact/Risks:
Components will not be able to fetch Time if the below checks are not done before executing these steps :
 

• Verify the new NTP server is reachable from the VMware Cloud Foundation components.
• Verify the time skew between the new NTP servers and the VMware Cloud Foundation components is less than 5 minutes.
• Verify all VMware Cloud Foundation components are reachable from SDDC Manager.
• Verify all VMware Cloud Foundation components are in an Active state.