Changing an NTP Server on an MPE/MRA Device

To change an NTP server on an MPE/MRA device:

  1. From the CMP server:
    1. Set the MPE/MRA device to forced standby.
    2. SSH to the standby server.
    3. Become the root user by using su or sudo.
    4. Enter su - platcfg.
  2. In platcfg:
    1. Select Policy Configuration.
    2. Select Routing Configuration.
    3. Select Display Routes.
    4. Write down the routes.
  3. In platcfg:
    1. Select Policy Configuration.
    2. Select Initial Configuration.
    3. Modify the NTP Server Value to the correct value.
    4. Click OK.
  4. Click Save.
  5. At the menu prompt:
    1. Select Routing Config.
    2. Select Display Routes.

      Note: Make sure the route is the one you wrote down in 2d. If it is not the same, you will need to use Add Route and Delete Route to make the route the same as the one you wrote down in 2d.

  6. To generate the NTP health report, open the platcfg utility, got to Policy Configuration and select Verify Initial Configuration.
  7. In the command line interface, use # ntpq -pn to ensure that the server is reaching the new NTP server.

    For example:
    [root@mpe230002~]# ntpq -pn
    remote  refid st t when poll reach delay offset jitter
    =============================================================
    *144.2..102.525 .GPS  1u 145 1024 377 250.602  0.802  3.222
    Where * indicates the connection to the NTP server is correct.
    Note: If the offset is very large, you might have to execute the procedure Process for Very Large NTP Offset to manually adjust it. If not, continue with this procedure.

  8. Check that >prod.state is:

    ...prod.state (RUNID=00)...
            ...getting current state...

    Where:

    Current state: A product under procmgr in a START state. If the current state is not Active, stop executing this procedure and call Oracle Support.

  9. In the current active server, enter # netstat -nap | grep 3868 | wc to obtain a count of diameter connections.
  10. In the CMP server, select the cluster and use switch force standby to failover the MPE/MRA device.
  11. In the new active MPE/MRA device:
    1. Use # netstat -nap | grep 3868 | wc to determine if the diameter connections have been re-established.

      Note: If not, use the CMP interface to switch force standby again and call Oracle Support.

    2. If Diameter link has been re-established and the modified server with the new NTP is working properly, log into Linux as root on the current standby server.
    3. Enter su - platcfg.
  12. Select Policy Configuration, then click Initial Configuration:
    1. Modify the NTP server value and click OK.
    2. Click Save.
  13. When the platcfg menu returns, select Routing Config.
  14. Select Display Routes.

    Note: Make sure it is the same with the routes written down in step 2d. If it is not the same, you need to use Add Route and Delete Route to make it the same.

  15. Exit platcfg and wait two minutes before proceeding to next step.
  16. Use the command: #ntpq -pn to ensure that the server is reaching the new NTP server.

    Note: It the offset is very large, you also need to execute extra steps. See Process for Very Large NTP Offset for more information.

  17. Execute prod.state to ensure that the Current state is Active.

    Note: If the current state is not Active, stop executing this procedure and call Oracle Support.
    Note: If you cancel the forced standby for the server in CMP interface, there might be some alarms raised, but they should be automatically cleared.