Enable Time Synchronization for Automation Orchestrator

You can enable time synchronization on your Automation Orchestrator deployment with the Automation Orchestrator Appliance command line.

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

NTP configuration	Description
ESXi	This configuration can be used when the ESXi server hosting the Automation Orchestrator Appliance 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 on configuring NTP for ESXi, see Configuring Network Time Protocol (NTP) on an ESXi host using the vSphere Web Client. Note: If your Automation Orchestrator 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 Automation Orchestrator deployment. Note: By default, the systemd-timesyncd daemon is enabled, but configured with no NTP servers. If the Automation Orchestrator Appliance uses a dynamic IP configuration, the appliance can use any NTP servers received by the DHCP protocol.

NTP configuration

Description

ESXi

This configuration can be used when the ESXi server hosting the Automation Orchestrator Appliance 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 on configuring NTP for ESXi, see Configuring Network Time Protocol (NTP) on an ESXi host using the vSphere Web Client.

Note: If your Automation Orchestrator 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 Automation Orchestrator deployment.

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

Procedure

Log in to the Automation Orchestrator 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.
Enable NTP with systemd.
1. Run the vracli ntp systemd --set FQDN_or_IP_of_systemd_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 Automation Orchestrator 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 Automation Orchestrator deployment. To resolve this problem, reboot the Automation Orchestrator Appliance.