Cron based NTPD watchdog

ssheikh

I hacked up this small script to restart NTPD if it is found stopped.

/* $Id$ */
/*
    watchdog_ntpd
    written for pfSense (http://www.pfSense.com)
    Shahid Sheikh

    This is a quick hack to check if ntpd is running.
    If not, this restarts it.
*/

require_once("service-utils.inc");
require_once("system.inc");

if (!(is_service_running("ntpd"))) {
    log_error("NTPD was found dead.");
    system_ntp_configure(true);
}
?>

saved it as /etc/watchdog_ntpd.

chmod +x /etc/watchdog_ntpd

Added to the config.xml in the <cron>…</cron> section:


                <minute>0</minute>
                        <hour>*/3</hour>
                        <mday>*</mday>
                        <month>*</month>
                        <wday>*</wday>
                        <who>root</who>
                        <command></command>/usr/bin/nice -n20 /etc/watchdog_ntpd

Using the Cron package makes managing the Cron jobs easier. I prefer to use it instead of tinkering with the xml file.

Adjust the frequency of running the check as needed. I have mine set to every 3 hours.

Shahid

ggzengel

"principle of cause and effect"
If nobody here which change the cause, we have to fight with the effect.

Thanks for the script.