VxRail: How to set up ESXi as NTP server for VMs

Summary: VxRail Manager uses the time that is set on ESXi host number 1 (regardless of whether the time is correct or not). You can also configure VMs to sync with ESXi host time. In vSphere ESXi 7.0 U3 and later versions, configuration files for NTP and PTP (/etc/ntp.conf and /etc/ptp.conf) can no longer be edited directly as they are read-only and changes do not persist after reboot. The esxcli system ntp command has to be used instead. ...

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Instructions

Reference: vSphere ESXi 7.0 U3 and later versions configuration files for NTP and PTP can no longer be editedThis hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies.

In order to have VMs running on the host syncing with host time, first configure the ESXi host to synchronize with a reliable NTP server.

See Configure Network Time Protocol (NTP) on the ESXiThis hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies. 


Next, configure the guest VM to synchronize time with ESXi host: 

1) In the VM's configuration

  • Go to Edit Settings > Options > VMware tools.
  • Tick the synchronise guest time with host box.
  • Wait for five minutes for the VM to synchronize time with ESXi host.


2) Test if the VMs are synchronizing properly with ESXi's time by checking the following:

  • On Windows or Linux guests, open the clock on the VM.
  • From vCenter, open the ESXi's clock.
  • Click the ESXi, and then go to Configuration tab.
  • In the Time Configuration on the left frame, you see "General: Date & Time." Click Refresh to compare the ESXi's time with the VM's clock.
  • ESXi’s time and the VM’s clock should be a perfect match.

Additional Information

Refer to this video:

Affected Products

Converged Infrastructure, Enterprise Hybrid Cloud, VxRail, VxRail Appliance Series, VxRail Software
Article Properties
Article Number: 000201317
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 15 Sept 2025
Version:  5
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