Time always slow 2.4.5
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I have a new install on a small custom NUC. I have installed the same version on another device of the exact type without issues and have deployed.
However with this unit, it is always slow --> for every 20 seconds in real life, it only moves 5 seconds
Its not the BIOS battery as I can unplug the power for an hour and install Pop OS and the time matches correctly. I have checked directly on the BIOS and compared time and it was in sync. So I dont think its the battery - or could it?
I have tried a clean format several times just in case I didnt do it properly.
I have set the NTP correctly in settings and manually set the date via console as --> date 202005ddhhmm
Any help would be much appreciated.
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@funktified said in Time always slow 2.4.5:
However with this unit, it is always slow --> for every 20 seconds in real life, it only moves 5 seconds
The system time ?
Don't understand how the system 'moves' 4 times slower as "real time" ...@funktified said in Time always slow 2.4.5:
I have set the NTP correctly in settings and manually set the date via console as --> date 202005ddhhmm
If the BIOS has a good time/date, it would be ok after system start. NTP normally adds or removes some mille condes later on.
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@Gertjan
Yes it is the pfSense system time and yes I have rebooted several times and will do it again now just to be sure.It is always about 4x slower than Real Life time - so therefore everything is off in terms of reporting and speed measurements etc.
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If initially, the time is ok, and NTP is working : maybe it's slowing the system down because your are not syncing with the correct time zone, but one that's "in the past" for you.
Me, being in the 'Paris' time zone, If I selected the real GMT time, or 'London' as my time zone, I would loose 2 hours after some re syncing duration.
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My location is Melbourne Australia and therefore I had set the NTP as:
0.au.pool.ntp.org ==> Australia/MelbourneUpdated the date via Shell Console to crrect time ==> date yyyymmddhhmm
Time updates correctly for the System but the ticks are just so much slower.
Ill see if I can screen record and will upload what I mean.
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Here is a 1 minute grab showing what I have tried.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1t7Eo1ykHaHKNLUUI75EqOCHVot1FqAMd?usp=sharing
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Installed 2.4.4 and still no good. This issue occurs whether the system is connected to LAN/WAN or not it doesnt make any difference.
Tried changing the battery - argh, its been spot welded! Pry welds off battery and attach to fresh CR2032 - ok.. now I've just screwed the battery argh!!!
TBC
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Ok, got a new battery - unplugged power cord several times and BIOS is definitely keeping time (ie. the same as before) and even let the NUC sit for 5 minutes with BIOS keeping time correctly.
Booted pfSense 2.4.4 and tested time - still persistently slow whereby the system time progressed 3 seconds for every 10 seconds in real life or approx.
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I have found that the time resyncs correctly after a reboot and then immediately slows even after I let the time fall behind about 10 minutes!
What could cause the system time to fall behind after booting?
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Hey funktified. This is a strange one indeed.
Are you able to boot the maschine from another linux Live-DVD/USB? Just to check behaviour under different OS and to rule out a hardware issue. Have you changed any bios setting? I have no clue though, which one could cause such symtoms :)
Cheers
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I have reset the BIOS and have installed Windows 10 and sync the time with Windows and it syncs without issue. I disconnected the LAN to test and the time is definitely working as expected. When Windows was originally installed before Internet sync, it was slower by 2 minutes and even then the seconds moved inline with normal time.
Just to be sure, I downloaded Ubuntu 20.04 Desktop and run in Live mode from USB and sure enough, time ticks normally despite being 14 hours slow. Sync via Internet to correct time and disconnected and tested for 10 minutes - time is in sync to the second.
It seems to only be in pfSense / FreeBSD no matter which version.
I am also trying to source the latest BIOS for the unit.
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Phew ... that's weird. The only thing that remains a potential root cause accordign to my feeling indeed is aforementioned timezone settings, maybe a variance in OS and bios and ... running out of ideas too.
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This is really annoying...
I downloaded FreeBSD 12.1 and did a Live mode and time was similar to Ubuntu being 14 hours behind (probably because it was UTC time), but once I set the date and measured every 10 seconds it does the same as before and slows.
Confirming this is only on FreeBSD platform.
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Which nuc are you using?
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Its a custom Leader SN4-PLUS NUC sourced in Australia and I cannot identify what the board is. This is the second unit and I know with the first unit I did not have any time issues whatsoever. That is, exactly the same hardware bought within a few days of each other (so same batch I would assume).
Sorry, I cannot point you to a page as there is none that I can find, however the specs are:
- Intel Celeron N3350
- 4GB
- 64GB Storage
- Windows 10 Professional
- 4x Serial RS232
- 2x RJ45
- HDMI, Mini DP
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Mh. I just watched the video. The only thing I saw was that you were not having a WAN connection. Does it also show these symptoms if you have a connection to internet?
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It doesnt matter whether its connected or not - whether ports re0 or re1 is connected on any platform it will always run slow. I even run pfSense 2.4.5 for a week, I think date only moved 2 hours according to the system!
Correction: it will always run slow on any version of FreeBSD it appears - not any other platforms
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If I understand you correctly, you got two devices. One of which works flawlessly and one of which shows this strange behaviour. Since NUCs are not too hard to deal with if it comes to swapping ssd, I'd swap the one installed in the bad one to the good one, boot it up and check the goods ones behaviour under the very same circumstances. If it still works OK I'd go back to the reseller and request a replacement.
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Good idea, however have 2 issues with that unfortuantely:
- The other NUC is in production
- the eMMC I think is Soldered
EItherways, its not easy for me to remove the one in production and I dont have a spare M.2 as it has a spare slot. Maybe Ill try converting this M2 to a SATA and try to install on that.
Be back once installed
BTW @three thanks for your time in bouncing ideas
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That's what I mean:
https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/connectivity/real-time-clocks.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real-time_clockon the MOBO
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@funktified I think you have a hardware issue with the RTC module, bad part. I'd return. That's what your battery feeds when the unit is off and between updates. But if you've already broken the old battery off, I think you're SOL.
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The RTC includes a crystal oscillator (in fact, it is the clock of the synchronous base) that keeps the time, when there is no NTP update.........
Well, it could be faulty on the motherboard.like this:
https://handsontec.com/index.php/product/32-768khz-quartz-crystal/
There are many forms, you can’t fix it, so submit an RMA request.
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@provels said in Time always slow 2.4.5:
But if you've already broken the old battery off, I think you're SOL.
Yup... I think I definitely have wacked the original OEM battery!
@DaddyGo said in Time always slow 2.4.5:
There are many forms, you can’t fix it, so submit an RMA request.
I will try this approach as to what provels suggested and see if I can get an RMA.
Thank you everyone for the help and will update if there is a solution apart from RMA/paper wight.
Just in case it could be of use in the future, I had created this thread on FreeBSD forum: https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/time-slow-on-minipc.75602/
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You welcome
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Just an update - my awesome Account Manager pushed the RMA through and now works perfectly.
So definitely something with that board that caused the issue.
Thank you again eveyone for your contributions.
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I am glad it worked out for you. And thanks for coming back and letting us know.
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Frenetic news, THX.
If already, we talk in the forum...
Pls, allow me to draw your attention to something.
I see that a Realtek ethernet controller (2 pcs.) is integrated into the NUC (https://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?re(4))Realtek is not a good choice for pfSense it has serious drawbacks.
True supported, but there will always be problems with it, if you are looking for a bit on this topic in the forum, it is not specifically recommended. (for example IPS netmap support)The next time you invest in a SOHO category pfSense box, choose Netgate dedicated devices (it's not advertising, they're really good) or this: PcEngines APU boards, : https://www.pcengines.ch/apu4d4.htm
(my favorite and there are more than 40 of them)or
https://www.netgate.com/solutions/pfsense/sg-5100.html
Both the APU and Netgate devices have a enthusiastic support group on the forum.Intel ethernet controllers work flawlessly with NGFW, such as I350 / I340 / I210-AT / I211.
https://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?igb(4)Also, keep in mind that, Intel has a vulnerability: https://meltdownattack.com/, this is somewhat resolved, but does not affect AMD and ARM CPUs, for example.
Of course, if these are available in your country (AU).
Thanks for reading through my experience and if I can help you with anything, I am at your disposal.
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@DaddyGo Thank you very much for your tips. I agree with regards to getting original Netgate/Intel products and would have preferred the SG-3100, however they were and are currently not readily available in Australia, and if they were, we cant trust our main postal carrier to deliver on time.
We also compromised, that for its purpose as a SOHO that doesnt require mission critical (excluding Chronic HypoNet Syndrome inducing tantrums in (pre)adolescents) access and the current econmic uncertainty, this solution will do until next year when we can upgrade again in addition to its readily available warranty.
Thank you nonetheless and will keep your comments for future reference.
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@funktified said in Time always slow 2.4.5:
however they were and are currently not readily available in Australia, and if they were, we cant trust our main postal carrier to deliver on time.
Just out of curiosity... Did you check with any of the 8 sellers that show for au?
https://www.netgate.com/partners/locator.html#australiaI clicked on the premier listed one website, they show they have 3100's and ship within 24 hours.. And says they ship express post (next day)..
I see this mentioned as an excuse quite often.. Just curious if users actually check is all..
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@johnpoz said in Time always slow 2.4.5:
Just curious if users actually check is all..
Yes... No... No I did not... Blocked location and cookies in browser only showed EU blue and green dots ... shhh gentle ID-10-T Alert!
Region default showed All and only EU with my browser initially and I therefore assumed they were the only sellers when I quickly searched and didnt find Oceania/AUNZ - only realised you can select a region to actually find more even with blocked location although I didnt think Oceania/AUNZ was grouped in Asia.
At least its given me a greater appreciation of the Netgate community and that RTC is somewhat important on FreeBSD platforms!
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Its quite possible netgate could put in better effort in making sure users can get their products in other parts of the world.
But I run into multiple threads of users saying they are doing diy builds because the netgate is not available in their regions, etc. But when I look there always seems to be multiple places to get them in that area ;)
But not actually living in that area of the world, its hard to know if maybe that listed company is just shitty, or their prices are too high? Exchange rates and electronics can be tricky as well.. And how companies set prices for things with exchange rates always seems odd to me.. Examples of this are easy to see in just soho type routers.. You might find product X selling for $100 USD... But then you find it for 100 quid somewhere in the UK.. .But if it costs 100 USD, with the exchange rate shouldn't it only cost like £80..
So to me, for example price of 3100 here in the states is $400, so with the current exchange rate to AUD shouldn't it be like 600 AUD... But that one site I checked showed $750 AUD... That doesn't seem right??? But maybe has to do with taxes or tariffs or whatever - maybe that company just looking to make a nice profit.. What is always curious to me is what did they buy it for..
For sure not an economic major - but to me if exchange rate of currency is X to Y... Then cost of goods should follow that exchange rate.. Sure there could be differences in cost to manufacture in different regions of the globe.. So A made in A might cost X, while A made in B might only cost C in region B.. But I doubt that is what is going on all the time, I think most of the time you see these differences in cost that don't follow the exchange rate is companies up to shenanigans :)
Price of something is always going to follow what the market will bear ;)
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@johnpoz said in Time always slow 2.4.5:
So to me, for example price of 3100 here in the states is $400, so with the current exchange rate to AUD shouldn't it be like 600 AUD... But that one site I checked showed $750 AUD... That doesn't seem right??? But maybe has to do with taxes or tariffs or whatever - maybe that company just looking to make a nice profit.. What is always curious to me is what did they buy it for..
Just to throw in another thought: US prices are often/always without any further taxes. Prices e.g. in Germany when you don't run a strict B2B shop for companies only always include VAT. Don't know if the shop you checked auto-included VAT, import taxes and/or shipping - just sayin' :)
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^ exactly.. US is horrible in trying to make shit look cheaper by leaving out any taxes that might be imposed ;)
Just give the price of the gawd damn thing - what is my out of pocket cost.. But no you make it look cheaper by leaving off the tax.. And then find out its 10% more, etc..
You go to the store and there is a bottle of booze listed for 24.99 on the shelf, but then you go to pay for it and there is sales tax and excise tax, and convenience tax, and whatever - and it ends up being 32$... Just put 32$ on the freaking shelf ;)
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@johnpoz said in Time always slow 2.4.5:
You go to the store and there is a bottle of booze listed for 24.99 on the shelf, but then you go to pay for it and there is sales tax and excise tax, and convenience tax, and whatever - and it ends up being 32$... Just put 32$ on the freaking shelf ;)
Completely off-topic, but I like the banter.. this kinda reminds me of Bali eating out as a foreigner... Food + Service Tax + Tips + Peak Christmas Season Tax + Corkage.... plus foot rub, donkey ride, bracelet, coconut bag, photo, photo with snake, photo with monkey, photo with some random... then the tip to the driver once you get back to your accommodation, only to find the cleaners are waiting!
But if I were to onsell the 3100 based on US prices of $399 as a small quantity reseller. Id assume I would have to buy this from Netgate USA with a max 15% discount and my ballpark calculations would be not including shipping:
$399 - $60 discount = USD$339
add Shipping on bulk order = USD$???
$339 * $1.51 (2020-May-30 xe.com) = AUD$510
$515 + 10% GST for import = $561
$561 + 20% FX variance/margin/storage = $675
$675 + 10% wholesale GST = $745It sounds about right and for me as a VAR, I get that wholesale GST back when I sell to the client. I guess Australia has simplified the taxes compared to other countries.
@JeGr said in Time always slow 2.4.5:
Don't know if the shop you checked auto-included VAT, import taxes and/or shipping - just sayin' :)
Yup, those prices are exlcuding, so add another 10% on top of $750. So its a nice margin to be sitting on based on the above assumptions.
Bintang anyone? Im sure its a rebranded Heinekan.