Multiple servers synchronize time using the Network Time Protocol (NTP). Its purpose is to maintain accuracy of clocks for an individual node. The node periodically synchronizes its clock with a reference server.
Using NTP checks, you can create monitoring for Network Time Protocol servers. This check helps alert teams of NTP server outages, which might affect the behavior in a server. NTP also helps maintain accurate Time Synchronization in timestamp-based conflict resolution.
This brief guide will discuss NTP check setup, and provide step-by-step instructions on its use.
- Check States
- Pausing a Check
- Viewing Alert Data
- Email Alert
- Dashboard and Alerts
- Other Alert Forms
- Finalizing Your Check
Adding Your First NTP Check
To add a new NTP Check, click Monitoring>Checks from the left-hand side of the screen, followed by the Add New button. Enter a Name for your NTP check, then use the slider to indicate the interval for running the NTP check - anywhere between 1 minute to an hour.
Finally, enter the domain or IP to monitor.
Users may also assign a Port number as an Optional value (the default is 123).
For a detailed explanation of every parameter, please review the Uptime Checks Field Explanation Support Article.
When your Uptime.com account was created, you entered the email address for the Default individual to notify in the event of a failed check. You can also assign a Contact to your NTP check to send alert data to specific individuals, or structure smart escalations.
Failed Checks
The NTP check monitors the offset of the target server with our probe, recording and issuing alerts when the clock is delayed by more than 1000 milliseconds (1 second). An alert is also issued to the contacts or integrations associated with the NTP check.
Viewing Alert Data
Uptime.com issues an alert email, or alert details to the location specified for a given contact. Users are also encouraged to utilize Uptime.com Real Time Analysis to confirm findings and analyze alert data over time. When an NTP check fails, the following alerts may be issued:
Email Alert
An email containing all associated alert data, including time of failure and locations reported as down, is sent to the address associated with the contact assigned to the NTP check. This email also includes a link to the check’s Real Time Analysis page, a chronological timeline of the events and alerts that have been issued to this check.
Dashboard and Alerts
Your Uptime.com dashboard contains a list of Recent Alerts. Clicking an alert or check will take you to the alert details screen, which contains the technical data associated with the alert. At the bottom is a link to Real Time Analysis for a chronological list of recent alerts and associated details.
Alternatively, users may click Reports > Alerts and locate the downtime alert for the NTP check from the list of recent alerts.
Other Alert Forms
Users can elect to receive phone, SMS, or push notification alerts. The number of SMS messages/phone calls you receive may be limited based on the monitoring plan you’ve selected for your account. For a list of each integration partner Uptime.com works with, along with setup instructions, click here.
Finalizing Your Check
Before finalizing your check, utilize the Run Test button to verify your settings are returning the expected results. To run a test, select from any of the probe server locations available to your account from the Location dropdown and click Run Test.
Required fields in the NTP check include:
- Name of check
- Check frequency (1 minute to 1 hour)
- Check Type
- Domain or IP
Other Commands
In addition to the check itself, you can schedule routine maintenance downtime, or control how long it takes to escalate downtime events.
Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the Uptime Checks Field Explanation Support Article. We’ve also included a notes section in this Check for any additional information you’d like to save for future reference.
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