You can set the ILOM clock manually or to synchronize with a Network Time Protocol (NTP) server.
The Chassis Monitoring Module (CMM) is equipped with a battery-backed real-time clock (RTC). Therefore, when the CMM is rebooted, the time is saved. Alternatively, you can configure the CMM to obtain the time from and external NTP server or manually set the time from the ILOM interface. In systems with two CMMs that are configured as redundant pairs, the Standby CMM will synchronize with the Active CMM clock, using the Active CMM clock as an NTP server to establish the time for the CMM's ILOM clock setting.
ILOM on the blade SP does not have a battery-operated real-time clock (RTC). When ILOM first receives power, the time starts at Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 UTC 1970. ILOM's time is set unconditionally by the system BIOS upon BIOS POST. If ILOM is configured to use NTP and the NTP server is accessible, ILOM will retrieve the NTP time within a few minutes of booting. If NTP is not used, ILOM's clock will be set as it was initialized by the BIOS.
ILOM's time is not maintained through warm boots. Therefore, if ILOM reboots while the host does not, ILOM's time will only be advanced from 1970 if NTP is configured and working.
When the SP ILOM reboots, the clock is set to Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 UTC 1970. The SP ILOM reboots as a result of the following:
A complete system unplug/replug power cycle
An IPMI command; for example, mc reset cold
A command-line interface (CLI) command; for example, reset /SP
ILOM web interface operation; for example, from the Maintenance tab, select Reset ILOM
An ILOM firmware upgrade
After an SP ILOM reboot, the clock is changed by the following:
When the host is booted – The host's BIOS unconditionally sets ILOM's time to that indicated by the host's RTC. The host's RTC is set by the following operations:
When the host's CMOS is cleared as a result of changing the host's RTC battery or inserting the CMOS-clear jumper on the motherboard. The host's RTC starts at Jan 1 00:01:00 2002.
When the host's operating system sets the host's RTC. The BIOS does not consider time zones. Solaris and Linux software respect time zones and will set the system clock to UTC. Therefore, after the OS adjusts the RTC, the time set by the BIOS will be UTC. Microsoft Windows software does not respect time zones and sets the system clock to local time. Therefore, after the OS adjusts the RTC, the time set by the BIOS will be local time.
When the user sets the RTC using the host BIOS Setup screen.
Continuously via NTP if NTP is enabled on ILOM – NTP jumping is enabled to recover quickly from an erroneous update from the BIOS or user. NTP servers provide UTC time. Therefore, if NTP is enabled on ILOM, the clock will use UTC.
Via the CLI, ILOM web interface, and IPMI .
If none of the above conditions are met, the SP will try to synchronize to the CMM using the CMM as an NTP server.