ECS: OBS: How to add or remove an NTP server

Summary: This article shows how to modify the ECS NTP configuration.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

Important Note: A new feature has been released in xDoctor 4-8.104.0 and above. This knowledge base (KB) is now automated with xDoctor to quickly attempt to add or remove NTP server. If the script is unable to add or remove NTP server, it provides a detailed summary of its findings.  
For more information, follow the article ECS ObjectScale: How to run KB Automation Scripts (Auto Pilot) (log in to Dell Support as a registered user may be required.)
 
  1. To find the NAN IP, you can use the IP identified in the alert or from getclusterinfo -i for your target with this script.
Command: 
# getclusterinfo -i
Example: 
admin@ecsnode1:~> getclusterinfo -i

Registered Racks
================

Ip Address        epoxy   seg mac             seg color    seg id    NAN Hostname
===============   =====   =================   ==========   =======   ============
169.xxx.1.1      False   00:00:00:00:00:00   red          1         provo-red.nanlocal
Node private      Node              Public                                BMC
Ip Address        Id       Status   Mac                 Ip Address        Mac                 Ip Address        Private.4(NAN)    Node Name
===============   ======   ======   =================   ===============   =================   ===============   ===============   =========
192.xxx.219.1     1        MA       00:00:00:00:00      0.0.0.0           00:00:00:00:00      192.xxx.xxx.101   169.xxx.1.1       provo-red
192.xxx.219.2     2        SA       00:00:00:00:00      0.0.0.0           00:00:00:00:00      192.xxx.xxx.102   169.xxx.1.2       sandy-red
192.xxx.219.3     3        SA       00:00:00:00:00      0.0.0.0           00:00:00:00:00      192.xxx.xxx.103   169.xxx.1.3       orem-red
192.xxx.219.4     4        SA       00:00:00:00:00      0.0.0.0           00:00:00:00:00      192.xxx.xxx.104   169.xxx.1.4       ogden-red
192.xxx.219.5     5        SA       00:00:00:00:00      0.0.0.0           00:00:00:00:00      192.xxx.xxx.105   169.xxx.1.5       layton-red
192.xxx.219.6     6        SA       00:00:00:00:00      0.0.0.0           00:00:00:00:00      192.xxx.xxx.106   169.xxx.1.6       logan-red
192.xxx.219.7     7        SA       00:00:00:00:00      0.0.0.0           00:00:00:00:00      192.xxx.xxx.107   169.xxx.1.7       lehi-red
192.xxx.219.8     8        SA       00:00:00:00:00      0.0.0.0           00:00:00:00:00      192.xxx.xxx.108   169.xxx.1.8       murray-red
Status:
M - Master, S - Slave
E - Epoxy
I - Initializing, U - Updating, A - Active
P - On, O - Off
! - Warning/Error list:
    1 -(W) Hostname set to default hostname set by installer


169.xxx.2.1      False   00:00:00:00:00:00   green        2         tucson-green.nanlocal
Node private      Node              Public                                BMC
Ip Address        Id       Status   Mac                 Ip Address        Mac                 Ip Address        Private.4(NAN)    Node Name
===============   ======   ======   =================   ===============   =================   ===============   ===============   =========
192.xxx.219.1     1        MA       00:00:00:00:00      0.0.0.0           00:00:00:00:00      192.xxx.219.101   169.xxx.2.1       provo-green
192.xxx.219.2     2        SA       00:00:00:00:00      0.0.0.0           00:00:00:00:00      192.xxx.xxx.102   169.xxx.2.2       sandy-green
192.xxx.219.3     3        SA       00:00:00:00:00      0.0.0.0           00:00:00:00:00      192.xxx.xxx.103   169.xxx.2.3       orem-rgreen
192.xxx.219.4     4        SA       00:00:00:00:00      0.0.0.0           00:00:00:00:00      192.xxx.xxx.104   169.xxx.2.4       ogden-green
192.xxx.219.5     5        SA       00:00:00:00:00      0.0.0.0           00:00:00:00:00      192.xxx.xxx.105   169.xxx.2.5       layton-green
192.xxx.219.6     6        SA       00:00:00:00:00      0.0.0.0           00:00:00:00:00      192.xxx.xxx.106   169.xxx.2.6       logan-green
192.xxx.219.7     7        SA       00:00:00:00:00      0.0.0.0           00:00:00:00:00      192.xxx.xxx.107   169.xxx.2.7       lehi-green
192.xxx.219.8     8        SA       00:00:00:00:00      0.0.0.0           00:00:00:00:00      192.xxx.xxx.108   169.xxx.2.8       murray-green
Status:
M - Master, S - Slave
E - Epoxy
I - Initializing, U - Updating, A - Active
P - On, O - Off
! - Warning/Error list:
    1 -(W) Hostname set to default hostname set by installer
  1. Run the automation command from the control node with xDoctor 4-8.104.0 and later.
 
Note: --target-rack is supported for this action, this script was included with the xDoctor4.8.104.0 release, which features version 3.0 of the Ansible automation scripts.
 
Command: 
# sudo xdoctor autopilot --kb 273244 --target-rack <rack color>
Example: (This example is working on rack 1.) 
admin@ecsnode1:~> sudo xdoctor autopilot --kb 273244 --target-rack red

Using /etc/ansible/ansible.cfg as config file
VERSION: 3.0
Playbook tasks: 66
Role tasks: 28
Total tasks: 94 across 1 host(s)


Option for automation script:

  1. Select the Option that you want to do, Add an NTP server to the configuration, or Remove an NTP server from the configuration.
Example: 
TASK [Ask user if they want to add or remove an NTP server] **************************************************************************************************************************************************
[Ask user if they want to add or remove an NTP server]
******************************************************************************
Please select one of the following options to add or remove an NTP server:
******************************************************************************
(1) Add an NTP server to the configuration.
(2) Remove an NTP server from the configuration.

(0) Exit
******************************************************************************
  1. Change NTP server configuration:
-> (1) Add an NTP server IP or FQDN

TASK [Ask for NTP server IP or FQDN if adding] ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************
[Ask for NTP server IP or FQDN if adding]
******************************************************************************
Enter the IP or FQDN of the NTP server:
******************************************************************************
:127.0.0.1

...

TASK [NTP server was successfully added or removed summary] **************************************************************************************************************************************************
ok: [169.xxx.1.6] => {
    "msg": [
        "*******************************************************************************",
        "*******************************************************************************",
        "The IP or FQDN address 127.0.0.1 was successfully added to the NTP server list.",
        "*******************************************************************************",
        "*******************************************************************************"
    ]
}
  1. Change NTP server configuration:
->(2) Remove an NTP server from the configuration.

TASK [Prompt user to select NTP server to remove] ************************************************************************************************************************************************************
[Prompt user to select NTP server to remove]
******************************************************************************
Enter the letter of the NTP server you want to remove:
******************************************************************************
(a) 127.0.0.1
(b) x.x.x.x

(0) Exit
******************************************************************************
(a)

ok: [169.xxx.1.6] => {
    "msg": [
        "*******************************************************************************",
        "*******************************************************************************",
        "127.0.0.1 was successfully removed from the NTP server list.",
        "*******************************************************************************",
        "*******************************************************************************"
    ]
}


How to add IPs to NTP:

Run the command below once for the NTP server IP to be added. Repeat the command for each NTP server (or separate with space).
Command: 
# sudo setrackinfo -a NTPServer <NTP_Server_IP>
Example: 
# sudo setrackinfo -a NTPServer 10.3.4.5

Check the results using getrackinfo -r 
# getrackinfo -r
Rack Master Info
================
ChassisID = 00:01:02:63:1d:1e
RackID = 1
RackName = red
epoxy = False

Basic Config:
-------------
        EcsManagedBmc = no
        RackInstallServer = no

Network Config:
---------------
        DNSSearch =  corp.dell.com dell.com
        DNSServer =  x.x.x.x y.y.y.y
        NTPServer =  x.x.x.x

System Config:
--------------
        NANDomain = nan
        NANNetwork = 169.xxx.0.0/16
        NANVlan = 4
        PublicVlan = 1
        RackFirstNode = 1
        RackLastNode = 24
        RackNetwork = 192.xxx.xxx.0/24
        RackSwitchCommunityName = public
        RackVlan = 0


How to remove IPs from NTP configuration:

Use the command below to remove one or more NTP IPs:
Command: 
# sudo setrackinfo -d NTPServer <NTP_Server_IP>
Example: 
# sudo setrackinfo -d NTPServer 10.3.4.5

Additional Information

For DNS configuration, see article ECS: How to add or remove a DNS server.

Affected Products

ECS Appliance

Products

ECS, ECS Appliance Gen 3, ECS Appliance Hardware Series, ECS Appliance Software with Encryption, ECS Appliance Software without Encryption
Article Properties
Article Number: 000273244
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 14 Aug 2025
Version:  6
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