How to Update Network Time Protocol (NTP)

Perform this task on each node.

1. Become superuser on the cluster node.

2. Edit the /etc/inet/ntp.conf file.

   The scinstall(1M) command copies a template file, ntp.cluster, to /etc/inet/ntp.conf as part of standard cluster installation. But if an ntp.conf file already exists before Sun Cluster software is installed, that existing file remains unchanged. If cluster packages are installed by using other means, such as direct use of pkgadd(1M), you need to configure NTP.

   1. Remove all entries for private hostnames that are not used by the cluster.

      If the ntp.conf file contains non-existent private hostnames, when a node is rebooted, error messages are generated on the node's attempts to contact those private hostnames.

   2. If you changed any private hostnames after Sun Cluster software installation, update each file entry with the new private hostname.

   3. If necessary, make other modifications to meet your NTP requirements.

      The primary requirement when you configure NTP, or any time synchronization facility, within the cluster is that all cluster nodes be synchronized to the same time. Consider accuracy of time on individual nodes secondary to the synchronization of time among nodes. You are free to configure NTP as best meets your individual needs, as long as this basic requirement for synchronization is met.

      See Sun Cluster 3.0 12/01 Concepts for further information about cluster time. See the ntp.cluster template for guidelines on how to configure NTP for a Sun Cluster configuration.

3. Restart the NTP daemon.

   # /etc/init.d/xntpd stop # /etc/init.d/xntpd start

4. Do you intend to use Sun Management Center to configure resource groups or monitor the cluster?

   • If yes, go to "Installing the Sun Cluster Module for Sun Management Center".

   • If no, install third-party applications, register resource types, set up resource groups, and configure data services. See the documentation supplied with the application software and the Sun Cluster 3.0 12/01 Data Services Installation and Configuration Guide.