Configuring the NTP client

The NTP client enables the appliance or virtual machine to synchronize its internal clock with an NTP server on your network or on the internet.

To configure the NTP client you must be logged in to the command line as the root user.

1. Edit the /etc/ntp.conf file.
2. Search for the lines beginning server.

   server 0.rhel.pool.ntp.org
   server 1.rhel.pool.ntp.org
   server 2.rhel.pool.ntp.org
   

3. Replace the server entries with the IP address or hostname of the NTP server or servers with which you want to synchronize. For example:

   server ntp.tideway.com
   server 172.17.1.24
   

4. Save the file.
5. Configure the NTP client service to start at run level 3 when the appliance boots. Enter:

   [root@localhost] # /sbin/chkconfig --levels 3 ntpd on
   [root@localhost] #
   

6. Check to ensure that this change has been made correctly. Enter the following command and ensure that the output is the same as that shown:

   [root@localhost] # /sbin/chkconfig --list ntpd
   ntpd            0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:off   5:off   6:off
   [root@localhost] #
   

7. Start the service. Enter:

   [root@localhost] # /sbin/service ntpd start
   Starting ntpd:                                             [  OK  ]
   [root@localhost] #
   

   The NTP client is now running and needs no further attention.

Rebaseline the appliance after configuring the NTP client

If you use appliance baseline, you must rebaseline the appliance after making this change. To rebaseline the appliance, as the tideway user, enter the following command:

/usr/tideway/bin/tw_tripwire_rebaseline

For more information about tripwire and baselining the appliance, see Baseline configuration.