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    NTP and stratum issue

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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    • johnpozJ
      johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
      last edited by

      Dude your not hitting the same server it looks to me.. You forwarding traffic?

      On pfsense change your host to your pfsense IP and do rv, and do same thing from localhost

      They should be exactly the same

      ntpq> host localhost
      current host set to localhost
      ntpq> rv
      associd=0 status=0618 leap_none, sync_ntp, 1 event, no_sys_peer,
      version="ntpd 4.2.8p4@1.3265-o Mon Oct 26 14:28:17 UTC 2015 (1)",
      processor="amd64", system="FreeBSD/10.1-RELEASE-p25", leap=00, stratum=3,
      precision=-18, rootdelay=13.319, rootdisp=59.874, refid=192.168.9.40,
      reftime=da319e93.4960f3d0  Fri, Jan  1 2016 18:55:47.286,
      clock=da31a29e.32685bb3  Fri, Jan  1 2016 19:13:02.196, peer=20504, tc=8,
      mintc=3, offset=0.475810, frequency=-55.601, sys_jitter=0.230866,
      clk_jitter=0.087, clk_wander=0.002
      ntpq> host 192.168.9.253
      current host set to 192.168.9.253
      ntpq> rv
      associd=0 status=0618 leap_none, sync_ntp, 1 event, no_sys_peer,
      version="ntpd 4.2.8p4@1.3265-o Mon Oct 26 14:28:17 UTC 2015 (1)",
      processor="amd64", system="FreeBSD/10.1-RELEASE-p25", leap=00, stratum=3,
      precision=-18, rootdelay=13.319, rootdisp=60.129, refid=192.168.9.40,
      reftime=da319e93.4960f3d0  Fri, Jan  1 2016 18:55:47.286,
      clock=da31a2ae.87be472a  Fri, Jan  1 2016 19:13:18.530, peer=20504, tc=8,
      mintc=3, offset=0.475810, frequency=-55.601, sys_jitter=0.230866,
      clk_jitter=0.087, clk_wander=0.002
      ntpq>

      An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
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      • F
        fatsailor
        last edited by

        ummm - yeah I am. The weird thing is that 'ntpdate -ud 10.1.1.1' and 'ntpq -c rv 10.1.1.1' return different results on a client box when pointed to the pfsense box.

        I know ntpdate is being depreciated but this is just a bit nuts.

        I've clients, e.g. the Freenas box, that won't accept the pfsense box as a time server because of the stratum issue. I'm wondering if this is a software version mismatch issue?

        This is all done on the pfsense box

        ntpq> host localhost
        current host set to localhost
        ntpq> rv
        associd=0 status=0615 leap_none, sync_ntp, 1 event, clock_sync,
        version="ntpd 4.2.8p4@1.3265-o Mon Oct 26 14:28:17 UTC 2015 (1)",
        processor="amd64", system="FreeBSD/10.1-RELEASE-p25", leap=00, stratum=2,
        precision=-23, rootdelay=24.781, rootdisp=585.121, refid=204.9.54.119,
        reftime=da31a54c.232af4c7  Fri, Jan  1 2016 20:24:28.137,
        clock=da31a561.e76f2bd6  Fri, Jan  1 2016 20:24:49.904, peer=58444, tc=6,
        mintc=3, offset=28.685194, frequency=18.604, sys_jitter=117.371580,
        clk_jitter=7.981, clk_wander=0.000
        ntpq> host 10.1.1.1
        current host set to 10.1.1.1
        ntpq> rv
        associd=0 status=0615 leap_none, sync_ntp, 1 event, clock_sync,
        version="ntpd 4.2.8p4@1.3265-o Mon Oct 26 14:28:17 UTC 2015 (1)",
        processor="amd64", system="FreeBSD/10.1-RELEASE-p25", leap=00, stratum=2,
        precision=-23, rootdelay=24.781, rootdisp=585.436, refid=204.9.54.119,
        reftime=da31a54c.232af4c7  Fri, Jan  1 2016 20:24:28.137,
        clock=da31a576.73554a5e  Fri, Jan  1 2016 20:25:10.450, peer=58444, tc=6,
        mintc=3, offset=28.685194, frequency=18.604, sys_jitter=117.371580,
        clk_jitter=7.981, clk_wander=0.000
        ntpq>

        This is done on a Freenas box

        ntpq> host 10.1.1.1
        current host set to 10.1.1.1
        ntpq> rv
        assID=0 status=0615 leap_none, sync_ntp, 1 event, event_clock_reset,
        version="ntpd 4.2.8p4@1.3265-o Mon Oct 26 14:28:17 UTC 2015 (1)",
        processor="amd64", system="FreeBSD/10.1-RELEASE-p25", leap=00,
        stratum=2, precision=-23, rootdelay=25.191, rootdisp=67.854,
        refid=204.9.54.119,
        reftime=da31a5c9.235647a3  Fri, Jan  1 2016 20:26:33.138,
        clock=da31a622.b3b0f7cd  Fri, Jan  1 2016 20:28:02.701, peer=58444,
        tc=6, mintc=3, offset=-0.122, frequency=18.603, sys_jitter=22.813403,
        clk_jitter=12.192, clk_wander=0.000
        ntpq> q
        [root@freenas] ~# ntpdate -ud 10.1.1.1
        1 Jan 20:28:46 ntpdate[15064]: ntpdate 4.2.4p5-a (1)
        transmit(10.1.1.1)
        receive(10.1.1.1)
        transmit(10.1.1.1)
        receive(10.1.1.1)
        transmit(10.1.1.1)
        transmit(10.1.1.1)
        transmit(10.1.1.1)
        10.1.1.1: Server dropped: strata too high
        server 10.1.1.1, port 123
        stratum 16, precision -6, leap 11, trust 000
        refid [10.1.1.1], delay 0.02571, dispersion 24.01199
        transmitted 4, in filter 4
        reference time:    00000000.00000000  Thu, Feb  7 2036  1:28:16.000
        originate timestamp: da31a64e.39fe35ff  Fri, Jan  1 2016 20:28:46.226
        transmit timestamp:  da31a64f.3a2ea971  Fri, Jan  1 2016 20:28:47.227
        filter delay:  0.02571  0.04134  0.00000  0.00000
                0.00000  0.00000  0.00000  0.00000
        filter offset: 0.023948 -0.00004 0.000000 0.000000
                0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000
        delay 0.02571, dispersion 24.01199
        offset 0.023948

        1 Jan 20:28:48 ntpdate[15064]: no server suitable for synchronization found
        [root@freenas] ~#

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        • johnpozJ
          johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
          last edited by

          you are using an older version of ntpdate.. Why don't you just update it?

          Current dev version is 4.3.88 it is syncing fine to pfsense ntp server

          user@clean:~$ ntpdate -d pfsense.local.lan
          1 Jan 21:46:42 ntpdate[29545]: ntpdate 4.3.88@1.2483 Mon Dec 28 22:23:20 UTC 2015 (1)
          Looking for host pfsense.local.lan and service ntp
          192.168.9.253 reversed to pfSense.local.lan
          host found : pfSense.local.lan
          transmit(192.168.9.253)
          receive(192.168.9.253)
          transmit(192.168.9.253)
          receive(192.168.9.253)
          transmit(192.168.9.253)
          receive(192.168.9.253)
          transmit(192.168.9.253)
          receive(192.168.9.253)
          server 192.168.9.253, port 123
          stratum 3, precision -18, leap 00, trust 000
          refid [192.168.9.253], delay 0.02600, dispersion 0.00003
          transmitted 4, in filter 4
          reference time:    da31c5f2.447ed54e  Fri, Jan  1 2016 21:43:46.267
          originate timestamp: da31c6a8.e20bc1c1  Fri, Jan  1 2016 21:46:48.882
          transmit timestamp:  da31c6a8.e1e17584  Fri, Jan  1 2016 21:46:48.882
          filter delay:  0.02606  0.02605  0.02606  0.02600
                  0.00000  0.00000  0.00000  0.00000
          filter offset: 0.000203 0.000183 0.000202 0.000250
                  0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000
          delay 0.02600, dispersion 0.00003
          offset 0.000250

          1 Jan 21:46:48 ntpdate[29545]: adjust time server 192.168.9.253 offset 0.000250 sec
          user@clean:~$

          An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
          If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
          Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
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          • F
            fatsailor
            last edited by

            Thanks for the help! I love being the first to find version mismatch bugs.

            Rather than update the entire office of OSX clients and Freenas servers to a newer version of ntpdate, I think we're just going to make ntpdate an alias to 'ntpd -qg -c <special config="">' or something along those lines. That way we don't have to worry about dependencies etc.

            I'll probably file a bug with Freenas also so someone else doesn't waste an afternoon chasing this one down.</special>

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            • johnpozJ
              johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
              last edited by

              Dude but isn't 4.2.4p5 really really freaking old??  didn't 4.2.4p5 come out in like Aug of 2008??  What version of os x and freebsd are you running that that would be the ntp version?

              So help validate this, I grabbed an OLD version for windows - couldn't find the exact 4.2.4p5 but p8 pretty close, and yeah fails..

              oldversionntp.png
              oldversionntp.png_thumb

              An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
              If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
              Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
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              • S
                slu
                last edited by

                @fatsailor:

                stratum 16, precision -6, leap 11, trust 000

                See exactly the same with a older CentOS (guess 6.4) Server, Debian 7/8 works.

                pfSense Gold subscription

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                • johnpozJ
                  johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                  last edited by

                  Yeah it looks like there is a issue between versions of ntp..  What version of ntp is the centos box running

                  An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                  If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                  Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                  SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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                  • S
                    slu
                    last edited by

                    @johnpoz:

                    What version of ntp is the centos box running

                    Don't know which version was affected, now it is a CentOS 6.7 with ntp.x86_64 4.2.6p5-5.el6.centos.2 and it working as expected.

                    pfSense Gold subscription

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                    • D
                      David_W
                      last edited by

                      ntpdate is rather bitrotted and has been on the pathway to deprecation for some time.

                      Depending on the usage case, sntp or ntpd -gq should be used - the link in the previous paragraph gives some background and implementation considerations.

                      FreeBSD base system only abandoned ntp 4.2.4 in the second half of 2015.

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                      • C
                        charliem
                        last edited by

                        @fatsailor:

                        Rather than update the entire office of OSX clients and Freenas servers to a newer version of ntpdate, I think we're just going to make ntpdate an alias to 'ntpd -qg -c <special config="">' or something along those lines. That way we don't have to worry about dependencies etc.

                        I'll probably file a bug with Freenas also so someone else doesn't waste an afternoon chasing this one down.</special>

                        It was reported here that choosing certain parameters in NTP access restrictions would work around this bug in older ntpdate client versions.  I haven't tested myself, but if it works then you wouldn't have to touch each client.

                        Yes, 'ntpd -gq' is the right approach going forward, but it may not be practical to upgrade client machines.

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                        • johnpozJ
                          johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                          last edited by

                          So looking at that thread.. And a simple test with old ntpdate, its the KOD packet that is killing the old version for some reason..

                          If you uncheck the Kiss-o'-death, then ntpdate from old client works… If you have it enabled then it fails with stratum 16, and leap 11

                          edit:  Seems if kod is enabled, it also places a limited in the restrictions, which is a conflict when you have no monitor set as well, which is in the conf file but don't see anyway in the gui to edit that.

                          Jan 5 04:05:38 ntpd[11014]: restrict: 'monitor' cannot be disabled while 'limited' is enabled

                          If you uncheck kod, then the kod is removed from the conf as well as the limited.

                          disable monitor
                          statsdir /var/log/ntp
                          logconfig =syncall +clockall +peerall +sysall
                          driftfile /var/db/ntpd.drift
                          restrict default nomodify nopeer notrap
                          restrict -6 default nomodify nopeer notrap

                          If you check the kod option in access restrictions you get
                          disable monitor
                          statsdir /var/log/ntp
                          logconfig =syncall +clockall +peerall +sysall
                          driftfile /var/db/ntpd.drift
                          restrict default kod limited nomodify nopeer notrap
                          restrict -6 default kod limited nomodify nopeer notrap

                          nokodworks.png
                          nokodworks.png_thumb
                          kodsetting.png
                          kodsetting.png_thumb

                          An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                          If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                          Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                          SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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                          • D
                            David_W
                            last edited by

                            @johnpoz:

                            And a simple test with old ntpdate, its the KOD packet that is killing the old version for some reason..

                            If you uncheck the Kiss-o'-death, then ntpdate from old client works… If you have it enabled then it fails with stratum 16, and leap 11

                            In this case, kiss-of-death is working as intended, but ntpdate earlier that some time during the 4.2.7 cycle fails to understand it.

                            Dave Hart posted an excellent analysis of this scenario in the comp.protocols.time.ntp newsgroup.

                            I found:
                            discard average 6 minimum 0
                            got my ntp servers working with old ntpdate binaries and kiss-of-death enabled.

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                            • johnpozJ
                              johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                              last edited by

                              why wouldn't you update vs downgrade..  I show it working with current ntpdate.

                              An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                              If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                              Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                              SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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                              • D
                                David_W
                                last edited by

                                @johnpoz:

                                why wouldn't you update vs downgrade..  I show it working with current ntpdate.

                                It's a compatibility thing. Nothing here runs ntp older than 4.2.8p4 (4.2.8p5 has just released), but there are circumstances where older remote clients need to run against my servers.

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                                • H
                                  HeMaN
                                  last edited by

                                  Thank you for this topic. Was pulling my hair out why my Thecus nas was the only device not able to sync with time my pfsense box.
                                  All test done from my windows pc showed no issues. Looking on the nas I found out it is not using ntpd / ntpq but ntpdate (ntpdate 4.2.4p8 to be exact)

                                  throug a long way of searching came to this topic.

                                  After setting "ACL - Custom Access Restrictions" in pfSense for the IP of my NAS and disabeling KOD, all is working fine

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                                  • johnpozJ
                                    johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                                    last edited by

                                    Glad the topic was of use of you HeMan.. When I saw this show up as something new it - was at first ah shit some spammer necro an old thread ;)  Nice to see it was someone actual used the info contained in old threads for what they are meant for ;)

                                    An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                                    If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                                    Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                                    SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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