Time Management
Manage platform time and configure time sources. After configuration, all hosts on the platform synchronize their time with the specified time sources.
Related Definitions
Time Management uses the following concepts:
- Internal time source: Uses a management node or host as the time source for the platform. Other nodes on the platform synchronize their time with the internal time source.
- External time source: Uses a node outside the platform as the time source. Platform nodes synchronize their time with it either directly or through an internal time source.
- Time synchronization: The process of adjusting the time of a platform node to match the time source.
How It Works
The platform uses Network Time Protocol and clock adjustment algorithms to keep local clocks synchronized with time sources. The basic process is as follows:
- Select a time source: Select a configured internal or external time source as the time reference.
- Obtain timestamps: Each platform node communicates with the time source to obtain timestamp information.
- Calculate the time difference: Each platform node calculates the difference between its local time and the time source.
- Adjust the local clock: Each platform node adjusts its local clock based on the calculated time difference.
- Synchronize periodically: Each platform node periodically communicates with the time source to prevent clock drift and maintain synchronization.
Advantages
Time Management provides the following advantages:
- Precision: Uses accurate clock adjustment algorithms for precise time synchronization.
- Automation: Periodically calibrates time without manual intervention.
- Reliability: Supports multiple time sources to improve synchronization reliability and stability.
- Visibility: Displays the relationship between time sources and platform time configuration in a topology, together with the current platform time and time zone.
Use Cases
Time Management is commonly used in the following scenarios:
- Network management: Provides accurate timestamps for logs collected from different network devices to support troubleshooting.
- Billing systems: Provides consistent timekeeping to ensure accurate billing records.
- Coordinated processing: Provides a common time reference so that multiple systems process the same complex event in the correct order.
Modify Time Source Configuration
About this task
The following time synchronization modes are supported:
- Internal: Configure only internal time sources. Other platform nodes synchronize with the internal time sources. You can add up to two internal time sources.
- External: Configure only external time sources. Platform nodes synchronize directly with the external time sources. You can add up to two external time sources.
- Internal and External: Configure both internal and external time sources. The internal time sources first synchronize with the external time sources, and then other platform nodes synchronize with the internal time sources. You can add up to two internal time sources and two external time sources.
Procedure
- In the navigation pane, choose .
- On the Time Configuration page, click Modify Configuration.
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In the Modify Configuration dialog, configure the following options:
Option Description NTP Mode Select Internal, External, or Internal and External. Time Source Add time sources for the selected NTP mode. You can add up to two internal time sources and two external time sources. An external time source can be specified by an IP address or domain name. 
Note:
- Before modifying time sources, make sure that the management nodes are connected.
- Modifying time sources might cause inconsistent platform node times, deviations or errors in monitoring data, and interruptions to running tasks. Evaluate the impact before making changes.
- Review the configuration and click OK.
Synchronize Time
If the system time differs significantly from the time source, force a synchronization to correct the time immediately instead of waiting for gradual adjustment.
Procedure
- In the navigation pane, choose .
- On the Time Configuration page, click Sync Time.