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    How do I know my clients are using PFSense as NTP server?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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    • O
      oscar.atkins
      last edited by

      Hi all,

      As the title says, how do I know/find out whether my clients are using PFSense box (their gateway) as the NTP server?

      I have configured NTP on the PFSense box but I need to somehow find out if my clients are using it.

      For example, I have an Ubuntu client box, in which I see two options for date and time; Manual and From Internet. Since it has internet access, I assume it is getting date and time from the internet. I don't want that, I want them to use my PFSense as the time server and I don't know how to check.

      Could anyone please help?

      Thanks

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      • KOMK
        KOM
        last edited by

        Unless you're serving the NTP server address as a DHCP option, your clients have no way of knowing to get their time from pfSense.  They either have to be explicitly told to use your time server, or you might be able to use a NAT rule to redirect their NTP traffic to pfSense.

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        • JKnottJ
          JKnott
          last edited by

          As the title says, how do I know/find out whether my clients are using PFSense box (their gateway) as the NTP server?

          Run packet filter to watch NTP traffic to see where it's going to/from.

          PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
          i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
          UniFi AC-Lite access point

          I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

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          • NogBadTheBadN
            NogBadTheBad
            last edited by

            @oscar.atkins:

            Hi all,

            As the title says, how do I know/find out whether my clients are using PFSense box (their gateway) as the NTP server?

            I have configured NTP on the PFSense box but I need to somehow find out if my clients are using it.

            For example, I have an Ubuntu client box, in which I see two options for date and time; Manual and From Internet. Since it has internet access, I assume it is getting date and time from the internet. I don't want that, I want them to use my PFSense as the time server and I don't know how to check.

            Could anyone please help?

            Thanks

            Run sudo ntpq -p on the ubuntu server.

            It may be using the ubuntu ntp servers.

            https://help.ubuntu.com/lts/serverguide/NTP.html

            Andy

            1 x Netgate SG-4860 - 3 x Linksys LGS308P - 1 x Aruba InstantOn AP22

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