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Asked: 2024-09-26T23:33:56+05:30 In:

How can I synchronize the system time with a network time server using timedatectl on Ubuntu 18.04?

I’ve been wrestling with my Ubuntu 18.04 system for a bit, and I could really use some help. So, here’s the deal: I’ve noticed that my system time is way off. I mean, it’s not just a couple of minutes—sometimes it’s hours behind! I’ve tried manually setting the time a few times, but it never seems to stick for long. I know there’s got to be a better way to do this, especially since I’ve heard about using network time servers.

I stumbled upon this command called `timedatectl`, but honestly, I’m a bit lost on how to use it effectively. I’d love to know how to synchronize my system time with a network time server using this command. But I’m not just looking for a straightforward command dump; I really want to understand the process. What are the steps I need to follow to get this set up?

Also, are there any prerequisites I should be aware of? My network connection seems fine, so I’m assuming that part is good. But still, I’m worried there might be some background settings I’ve overlooked. Also, I’ve seen some configurations that mention the time zone—do I need to set that up specifically before syncing, or is that something that gets handled automatically with the synchronization?

Additionally, what happens if I encounter any errors during the process? Are there common pitfalls or mistakes I could make that would mess things up? And once it’s all synced up, how can I ensure that it stays that way going forward? I’ve heard that some people have issues with their system time drifting again, so I want to avoid that.

So yeah, if anyone can walk me through the steps in a casual way, or even share some tips or scripts that could help, I would really appreciate it! I’m looking to make my system keep accurate time once and for all. Thanks a ton!

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    2 Answers


    1. Fixing Your Ubuntu 18.04 System Time

      Dealing with system time issues can be super frustrating, but don’t worry—let’s walk through this together!

      Step 1: Check Your Current Time Settings

              Open a terminal (CTRL + ALT + T) and run:
        timedatectl

      This command gives you a snapshot of your current time, time zone, and whether your system is syncing with a network time server.

      Step 2: Set Your Time Zone

      Before syncing, it’s a good idea to set the correct time zone. You can check available time zones by running:

              timedatectl list-timezones

      Once you find your time zone, set it like this:

              sudo timedatectl set-timezone

      Replace <your-timezone> with your actual time zone name (like America/New_York).

      Step 3: Enable NTP Synchronization

      NTP stands for Network Time Protocol, and it will keep your clock in sync. You can enable it with:

              sudo timedatectl set-ntp true

      This tells your system to start syncing with network time servers.

      Step 4: Verify Everything’s Working

      Run the timedatectl command again and check if NTP is active. Look for a line that says something like NTP synchronized: yes.

      Common Pitfalls

      • If you’re still having issues, check your firewall settings to make sure NTP isn’t blocked.
      • Sometimes, just a simple reboot can help if things feel stuck!

      What If You Get Errors?

      If you see errors when running commands, take a moment to read them. They often give clues. For instance, if you cannot set the time zone, you might need to check your syntax or permissions.

      How to Keep Your Time Accurate

      After setting up NTP, your time should stay accurate. Just remember that it’s a good idea to check the time occasionally to make sure everything’s still in sync.

      Final Tip

      If you want to double-check your NTP servers, you can look at the config in:

              /etc/systemd/timesyncd.conf

      Feel free to adjust it if needed, but default servers normally work well.

      Good luck, and I hope you get your system time sorted out! It’s annoying when time drifts, but with these steps, you should be golden!



    2. To synchronize your Ubuntu 18.04 system time using `timedatectl`, you first need to ensure that your system is set to use a network time protocol (NTP) server. You can check the current time settings by running the command timedatectl in your terminal. This will display your current time, time zone, and whether NTP is enabled. If NTP is not enabled, you can enable it by executing sudo timedatectl set-ntp true. This tells your system to synchronize its time with reliable network time servers automatically. Remember to check your current time zone with the command timedatectl set-timezone Your/Timezone. Make sure to replace “Your/Timezone” with your actual time zone, such as “America/New_York”. Setting the correct time zone is crucial as it ensures that your system time matches your local time, and it is handled independently of NTP synchronization.

      If you encounter errors during this synchronization process, common pitfalls include not having NTP-enabled or incorrect time zone settings. If your time does not sync after these commands, verify your Internet connection, as NTP requires network access. To maintain accurate time going forward, your system should automatically synchronize with the NTP servers as long as `systemd-timesyncd` is running. You can check its status with systemctl status systemd-timesyncd to ensure that it is active. Additionally, if you want to run a manual synchronization at any point, you can use sudo timedatectl set-time "YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS" followed by a forced sync using sudo systemctl restart systemd-timesyncd. This approach will help you keep your system time accurate without frequent manual adjustments.


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