How do I enable time synchronization of VMware Aria Automation

You can enable time synchronization on your VMware Aria Automation deployment by using the VMware Aria Automation appliance command line.

You can configure time synchronization for your standalone or clustered VMware Aria Automation deployment by using the Network Time Protocol (NTP) networking protocol. VMware Aria Automation supports two, mutually exclusive, NTP configurations:

NTP configuration Description

NTP configuration	Description
ESXi	This configuration can be used when the ESXi server hosting the VMware Aria Automation is synchronized with an NTP server. If you are using a clustered deployment, all ESXi hosts must be synchronized with an NTP server. For more information about configuring NTP for ESXi, see KB article 57147 Configuring Network Time Protocol (NTP) on an ESXi host using the vSphere Web Client. Note: If your VMware Aria Automation deployment is migrated to a ESXi host that is not synchronized to an NTP server, you can experience clock drift.
systemd	This configuration uses the `systemd-timesyncd` daemon to synchronize the clocks of your VMware Aria Automation deployment. Note: By default, the `systemd-timesyncd` daemon is enabled, but configured with no NTP servers. If the VMware Aria Automation appliance uses a dynamic IP configuration, the appliance can use any NTP servers received by the DHCP protocol.

ESXi

This configuration can be used when the ESXi server hosting the VMware Aria Automation is synchronized with an NTP server. If you are using a clustered deployment, all ESXi hosts must be synchronized with an NTP server. For more information about configuring NTP for ESXi, see KB article 57147 Configuring Network Time Protocol (NTP) on an ESXi host using the vSphere Web Client.

Note: If your VMware Aria Automation deployment is migrated to a ESXi host that is not synchronized to an NTP server, you can experience clock drift.

systemd

This configuration uses the systemd-timesyncd daemon to synchronize the clocks of your VMware Aria Automation deployment.

Note: By default, the systemd-timesyncd daemon is enabled, but configured with no NTP servers. If the VMware Aria Automation appliance uses a dynamic IP configuration, the appliance can use any NTP servers received by the DHCP protocol.

Procedure

Log in to the VMware Aria Automation appliance command line as root.
Enable NTP with ESXi.
1. Run the vracli ntp esxi command.
2. (Optional) To confirm the status of the NTP configuration, run the vracli ntp status command.
  
  You can also reset the NTP configuration to the default state by running the vracli ntp reset command.
Enable NTP with systemd.
1. Run the vracli ntp systemd --set FQDN_or_IP_of_NTP_server command.
  
  Note: You can add multiple systemd NTP servers by separating their network addresses with a comma. Each network address must be placed inside single quotation marks. For example, vracli ntp systemd --set 'ntp_address_1','ntp_address_2'.
2. (Optional) To confirm the status of the NTP configuration, run the vracli ntp status command.

Results

You have enabled time synchronization for your VMware Aria Automation appliance deployment.

What to do next

The NTP configuration can fail if there is a time difference of above 10 minutes between the NTP server and the VMware Aria Automation deployment. To resolve this problem, reboot the VMware Aria Automation appliance.