VMware Communities: VDR: Correct time configuration

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13 Replies Last post: Jun 11, 2009 2:06 AM by kot99

VDR: Correct time configuration

Jun 3, 2009 3:48 AM

a.p. 15 posts since
May 18, 2007

Located in Germany, I installed a vSphere environment (all GA versions) with the appropriate time config.
Hosts, Virtual Center and the Data Recovery VM are set to Europe/Berlin (GMT +2:00).

After connecting to the appliance in vCenter, it shows a 4 hour difference in the time configuration tab. E.g. at Noon it says 4PM and displays a warning about more than 5 minutes difference between the vShpere-Client and the Recovery appliance!?
Backup runs ok, however the logs have the wrong time stamp.

Is there anything I missed in the configuration or is this just a bug?

Thanks
André

Reply Re: VDR: Correct time configuration Jun 3, 2009 10:44 PM

cm-vc 76 posts since
Sep 19, 2005

I have the same problem. Im located in Denmark.

Reply Re: VDR: Correct time configuration Jun 3, 2009 11:17 PM

pharmer 11 posts since
Jul 23, 2007

We have the exact same problem with the New Zealand timezone.

Our VC4 server, ESX hosts, SQL database, Active directory controllers and vSphere client as well as the VDR appliance all have correct time and regional settings

The VDR plugin however continues to report a major discrepancy (5 hours 47 minutes out) even though the VDR plugin says it is in the right timezone

I have tried different client platforms, re-import of the VDR appliance, new VC server etc - all with same result

Add this to the already reported logon problems to the VDR appliance and strange snapshot failures (even though manual snapshots work) - means VDR cannot be considered even for small production backup

Just my 2c

Reply Re: VDR: Correct time configuration Jun 4, 2009 12:34 AM

in response to: pharmer

Roelofz 13 posts since
Aug 15, 2006

Same here, just started the appliance, real time is 9:19 AM, Appliance time is 1:19 PM, 4 hours difference.

Located in the netherlands, GMT02:00

Regards,

Roelof

Reply Re: VDR: Correct time configuration Jun 4, 2009 1:48 AM

5ynack 3 posts since
Jun 4, 2009

Shutdown vm, then change settings to enable "Synchronize guest time with host" under VMware Tools options.

No more time warning for me

Reply Re: VDR: Correct time configuration Jun 4, 2009 3:29 AM

in response to: 5ynack

cm-vc 76 posts since
Sep 19, 2005

On which machine - the VDR appliance? - I tried that, that didnt help me.

Reply Re: VDR: Correct time configuration Jun 4, 2009 7:10 AM

in response to: cm-vc

GarethWilson 34 posts since
Feb 21, 2007

i have the same problem (GMT) if i look on the vdr console and type "date" it reports the correct time yet the VDR secrtion of VC says a completely different time

Reply Re: VDR: Correct time configuration Jun 4, 2009 4:20 PM

in response to: 5ynack

pharmer 11 posts since
Jul 23, 2007

Setting "Synchronize guest time with host" on the VDR appliance does not help in my case

From the commandline, the VDR appliance already reports correct timezone and clock

The plugin still reports 5 hours+ discrepancy

Reply Re: VDR: Correct time configuration Jun 5, 2009 1:54 PM

in response to: pharmer

Mirko Huth 40 posts since
Jun 16, 2006

Had the same issue. I resolved it on my mschine by doing the following on the vdr macine:

1. Check "System clock uses UTC"

2. Choose one of the etc/GMT (e.g. gmt+1 for germany) entrys instead of the country/city entrys.

3. Reboot the vm

Reply Re: VDR: Correct time configuration Jun 8, 2009 3:54 AM

in response to: Mirko Huth

a.p. 15 posts since
May 18, 2007

Mirko,

thanks for the hint. I am at least able to reproduce the issue.

To get a correct time in the plug-in I need to do the following:
1. Set timezone to etc/GMT+1 and check "System clock uses UTC"
2. Reboot the appliance
3. Set timezone back to "Europe/Berlin" and uncheck "System clock uses UTC"
4. Set the correct date and time in the appliance using the date command.

Well, this is a workaround only. It seems there is a little bug somewhere which has to be fixed.

André

Reply Re: VDR: Correct time configuration Jun 8, 2009 4:24 AM

in response to: a.p.

mcwill 396 posts since
Mar 13, 2006

We had a similar problem and solved it by enabling ntp within the VDR app, it's stopped by default.

If you check you will find that /etc/ntp.conf is already setup to use the centos.pool.ntp.org hosts, you can leave this as is but I changed ours to 0-2.uk.pool.ntp.org

Start ntpd...

/etc/init.d/ntpd start

Set ntpd to run automatically at boot...

chkconfig --level 345 ntpd

You can check that ntp is running correctly by...

ntpq -p

Hope this helps,
Iain

Reply Re: VDR: Correct time configuration Jun 11, 2009 1:56 AM

in response to: mcwill

kot99 8 posts since
Jun 10, 2009

This is strange, but none of solutions above helped me

Plugin reports 5 hours+ discrepancy...any other solutions ???

Reply Re: VDR: Correct time configuration Jun 11, 2009 2:03 AM

in response to: kot99

GarethWilson 34 posts since
Feb 21, 2007

a.p. posted the solution below and this worked fine for me

To get a correct time in the plug-in I need to do the following:
1. Set timezone to etc/GMT+1 and check "System clock uses UTC"
2. Reboot the appliance
3. Set timezone back to "Europe/Berlin" and uncheck "System clock uses UTC"
4. Set the correct date and time in the appliance using the date command

e.g. login to the VDR appliciance command line - set the current time and date to June 10th 2009, 11:16pm, type date 100623162009 where 10 is the 10th june, 06 is the month june, 2316 is 11:16pm and 2009 is the year

Reply Re: VDR: Correct time configuration Jun 11, 2009 2:06 AM

in response to: GarethWilson

kot99 8 posts since
Jun 10, 2009

everything is fine now

ntp just need some time to sync...

thanks.

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