Network Time Protocol (NTP) automatically synchronizes the system time of the RevPi with a time server.

Synchronization is handled by the systemd-timesyncd service.

Active NTP synchronization ensures:

  • accurate timestamps in logs

  • correct execution of time-controlled processes

  • automatic correction of the system time

Checking NTP Status #

Using timedatectl, you can display the current synchronization status.

▷ Log in to the RevPi via a terminal.

▷ Check the current settings:

timedatectl status

Enabling NTP #

▷ Enable NTP synchronization:

timedatectl set-ntp true

Alternatively, synchronization can be enabled via Cockpit.

If you want to disable NTP synchronization, see Configuring the RTC without NTP Synchronization.

Configuring a Custom NTP Server #

▷ Open the configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/timesyncd.conf

▷ Replace the NTP= entry by the IP address of the desired NTP server, e.g.:

NTP=172.16.59.134

▷ Save the file and close the editor.

▷ Restart the service:

sudo systemctl restart systemd-timesyncd

Correcting a Large Time Offset #

If the system time differs significantly from the actual time, synchronization may fail.

▷ Disable NTP synchronization:

timedatectl set-ntp false

▷ Set the time manually to an approximate value:

timedatectl set-time "YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS"

▷ Enable NTP synchronization again:

timedatectl set-ntp true

Troubleshooting #

Problem Cause Solution

Time is not synchronized.

NTP disabled.

Enable NTP: timedatectl set-ntp true

NTP synchronized: no

No connection to the NTP server.

Check the network connection and the NTP server.

Time remains incorrect.

Large time offset prevents synchronization.

Approximate the time manually and enable NTP again:
timedatectl set-ntp false
timedatectl set-time "YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS"
timedatectl set-ntp true

NTP service is not running.

Service stopped or faulty.

Check status: systemctl status systemd-timesyncd

Custom NTP server is not used.

Configuration not applied.

Restart the service: sudo systemctl restart systemd-timesyncd

Further Resources #