Time Synchronization Services test warning "Configuration is not working normally".

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• Performing Time Synchronization Services test from vSphere client via ESXi host>Configure>System>Time Configuration>Test Services gives warning as "Configuration is not working normally" after configuring NTP on an ESXi 8.0 U2

         

• The test result in the following text area will show a message like the following example:
  
  Service analysis started on host: ExampleHost
Test started at: YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ
Time Service is administratively enabled.
Verifying NTP service.
NTP server: ExampleIPAdress resolves IPv4: ExampleIPAddress
Virtual NIC vmkX : Admin: Up
IP Interface: vmkX IPv4 Address: STATIC ExampleIPAdress
IP Interface: vmkX connected to 1XX on distributed vswitch
IP Network Stack: defaultTcpipStack
Firewall Rule: ntpClient allows traffic on port: 123
Firewall Rule: ntpClient allows all IPs
ntpd is running, PID: 2XXXXX
Kernel clock type: ntp
NTP is not synced
NTP never was synchronized.
Service analysis completed.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x

Cause

Post ESXi 8.0 Update 2 NTP client might reject certain server packets as poorly formatted or invalid. For example, if a server sends packets with a ppoll value of 0, the NTP client on ESXi does not synchronize with the server.

Resolution

This issue is fixed in ESXi 8.0 Update 3b, Build: 24280767. To download this build go to Broadcom Support Portal

Release Notes: VMware ESXi 8.0 Update 3b Release Notes

Additional Information

To troubleshoot NTP issue, refer to Troubleshooting NTP on ESX and ESXi 6.x / 7.x / 8.x