[ntp:questions] Strange NTP problem on AMD Geode LX cards.

Steve Kostecke kostecke at ntp.org
Tue Oct 6 20:10:32 UTC 2009


On 2009-10-03, Rob <nomail at example.com> wrote:

> Steve Kostecke <kostecke at ntp.org> wrote:

>> In my experience with ntpd "warm restarts" have never been a problem.
>>
>> YMMV
>
> I am talking about the problem where after a couple of restarts you
> observe that the offset between local time and the external servers is
> actually increasing, not for just a moment but for a long time, before
> it loses sync and steps back in to the correct time.
>
> This has been observed by many users.

s/many/some/

> Not by you, apparently.

Not across the 15, or so, Linux systems or the half dozen, or so,
FreeBSD systems I've had under my control of have had access to at
various times.

Most of those systems do/did run constantly. But a couple of them
were/are laptops.

>>> It seems that the official standpoint is to ignore or deny these
>>> problems, but that doesn't mean they cease to exist.
>>
>> There is no policy of denial.
>
> ... but saying "don't see it here, YMMV" is not much different from
> it.

Not at all.

I've personally never observed the behavior you describe. But I'm not
questioning your report, either.

In fact, no one is questioning the veracity of your, or anyone elses',
claims. The simple fact is problems that can't be duplicated are rather
difficult to fix.

>> If you wish to report this problem please do so via the NTP bug
>> tracking system at http://bugs.ntp.org/.
>>
>> Before submitting your report please do the following:
>>
>> 1. Upgrade to the current ntp stable _or_ dev release
>>
>> 2. Enable _full_ statistics collection and run ntpd until the problem
>> occurs
>>
>> 3. Attach logs which substantiate your issue to your bug report
>
> I am just a user. I install a Linux system from a distributor which
> includes a recent version of ntpd. I try to get it configured
> correctly, maybe experimenting with some of the features I read about
> in the documents. Then I run into problems, that often magically go
> away when waiting long enough for things to settle down.

If your OS vendor is shipping 4.2.4x then you are using a "recent
enough" version of NTP.

> When I need to find out how to get a new version, compile and install
> it without disturbing the existing environment in the distribution,

It's not that difficult to do if you are open to learning.

You can always ask for help here in the news-group on on #ntp at
irc.freenode.net.

> find out how to enable statistics and logging

Statistics logging for the current stable release is documented at
http://doc.ntp.org/4.2.4/monopt.html

Many OSes include statistics logging configuration lines in their sample
ntp.conf files. If yours doesn't either ask here in the news-group or on
#ntp at irc.freenode.net.

> Extended testing and data collection will have to be done by
> developers or by those that want to spend one or several days on this
> issue.

If you have an issue that is specific to a piece of hardware that you
own, you're in the best position to run some tests. The next best option
is to give a developer access to that system.

-- 
Steve Kostecke <kostecke at ntp.org>
NTP Public Services Project - http://support.ntp.org/




More information about the questions mailing list