Fedora 40 : NTP Server

Introduction

This guide covers the installation and configuration of an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server on Fedora 40 using the 5W1H approach. We will explore the What, Who, Where, When, Why, How, Consequences, and Conclusion of setting up an NTP server.

Overview Configure NTP Server Configure NTP Client

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• Overview
• Configure NTP Server
• Configure NTP Client

Overview

What

This guide covers the installation and configuration of an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server on Fedora 40 using the 5W1H approach. We will explore the What, Who, Where, When, Why, How, Consequences, and Conclusion of setting up an NTP server.

Who

This guide is intended for system administrators and IT professionals responsible for maintaining server infrastructure and ensuring accurate timekeeping across networked devices.

Where

The setup process can be carried out on any server running Fedora 40 that is intended to act as the central time source for other networked devices.

When

Setting up an NTP server should be done during a planned maintenance window to avoid any potential disruptions to network services.

Why

Implementing an NTP server on your network offers several advantages:

Pros	Cons
Ensures accurate timekeeping across all network devices	Initial setup complexity
Improves log file accuracy	Requires network access for all devices
Reduces time drift in distributed systems	Potential single point of failure if not properly configured

How

Follow these steps to set up an NTP server on Fedora 40:

server 0.centos.pool.ntp.org iburst
server 1.centos.pool.ntp.org iburst
server 2.centos.pool.ntp.org iburst 
server 3.centos.pool.ntp.org iburst
                

sudo systemctl start ntpd
sudo systemctl enable ntpd
                

Step 1	Update your system: sudo dnf update -y
Step 2	Install the NTP package: sudo dnf install -y
Step 3	Edit the NTP configuration file: sudo nano /etc/ntp.conf
Step 4	Configure your server as an NTP server by ensuring the following lines are included in the file:
Step 5	Start and enable the NTP service:
Step 6	Verify NTP is synchronized by running: ntpq -p

Consequences

Setting up an NTP server on Fedora 40 can have the following consequences:

Positive	Accurate timekeeping across networked devices. Improved consistency and reliability in distributed systems. Enhanced security by reducing time-related discrepancies.
Negative	Potential configuration complexity for administrators. Dependency on network connectivity for time synchronization. Risk of a single point of failure if redundancy is not implemented.

Conclusion

Setting up an NTP server on Fedora 40 is crucial for maintaining accurate and synchronized time across all devices in a network. While the initial setup can be complex and requires careful configuration, the long-term benefits of accurate timekeeping, improved log file accuracy, and enhanced security make it a worthwhile endeavor for any organization. By following this guide, system administrators can ensure their network infrastructure remains reliable and well-coordinated.

Configure NTP Server

Install Chrony to Configure NTP Server for Time Synchronization.

Step [1]Install and Configure Chrony.

                     
[root@bizantum ~]# dnf -y install chrony
[root@bizantum ~]# vi /etc/chrony.conf
# line 3: change servers to synchronize (replace to your own timezone NTP server)
# need NTP server itself to sync time with other NTP servers
#pool 2.centos.pool.ntp.org iburst
pool ntp.nict.jp iburst
# line 27 : add network range to allow to receive time synchronization requests from NTP Clients
# specify your local network and so on
# if not specified, only localhost is allowed
allow 10.0.0.0/24
[root@bizantum ~]# systemctl enable --now chronyd
                    
                

Step [2]If Firewalld is running, allow NTP service. NTP uses [123/UDP].

                    
[root@bizantum ~]# firewall-cmd --add-service=ntp
success
[root@bizantum ~]# firewall-cmd --runtime-to-permanent
success
                    
                

Step [3]Verify it works normally.

                    
[root@bizantum ~]# chronyc sources
MS Name/IP address         Stratum Poll Reach LastRx Last sample
===============================================================================
^* ntp-k1.nict.jp                1   6    17     4   -753us[ +741us] +/- 7012us
^- ntp-b2.nict.go.jp             1   6    17     4   -943us[ -943us] +/-   11ms
^+ ntp-a2.nict.go.jp             1   6    17     6  +1108us[+2602us] +/- 9162us
^- ntp-b3.nict.go.jp             1   6    17     5  -1067us[-1067us] +/-   10ms

                    
                

Configure NTP Client

Configure NTP Client.

Step [1]Client configuration is mostly the same with Server's one, however NTP Clients does not need to receive time synchronization requests from other hosts, so it does not need to specify the ACL line [allow ***].

                     
[root@node01 ~]# dnf -y install chrony
[root@node01 ~]# vi /etc/chrony.conf
# line 3 : change to your own NTP server or others in your timezone
#pool 2.centos.pool.ntp.org iburst
pool dlp.bizantum.lab iburst
[root@node01 ~]# systemctl enable --now chronyd
# verify status
[root@node01 ~]# chronyc sources
MS Name/IP address         Stratum Poll Reach LastRx Last sample
===============================================================================
^* dlp.bizantum.lab                 2   6     7     0  +6273ns[-1740us] +/- 7852us
                    
                

Step [2]To Install NTPStat, it's possible to display time synchronization status.

                     
[root@node01 ~]# dnf -y install ntpstat
[root@node01 ~]# ntpstat
synchronised to NTP server (10.0.0.30) at stratum 3
   time correct to within 9 ms
   polling server every 64 s