Linux / VMWare time out of synch

[markman]

Hi, we have VMWare sat on Ubuntu Linux that was set up by an external company. Now it runs fine the main problem we have is that the time on the virtual Windows Server is set to sync with Linux (somehow?) and is running and hour or so out. This means our Censornet box won't authenticate pupils which isn't a bad thing but this in turn makes the teachers whinge even more than usual!

I am not a Linux user so I am completely lost here, anyone have ideas on where the time will be synching and what do I need to do. I am phoning the compnay later but I know the techie has left that set it up and I have a feeling he has done it as an experiment!!

[jinnantonnix]

Hi, we have VMWare sat on Ubuntu Linux that was set up by an external company. Now it runs fine the main problem we have is that the time on the virtual Windows Server is set to sync with Linux (somehow?) and is running and hour or so out. This means our Censornet box won't authenticate pupils which isn't a bad thing but this in turn makes the teachers whinge even more than usual!

I am not a Linux user so I am completely lost here, anyone have ideas on where the time will be synching and what do I need to do. I am phoning the compnay later but I know the techie has left that set it up and I have a feeling he has done it as an experiment!!

First, make sure all your times zones are sensible.

VMWare virtual machines sync their time correctly if they have the VMWare tools installed. Make sure these tools are installed on the virtual Windows server.

Another option is setting up a time server and getting the virtual machines to get their time from this.

[ahuxham]

Use NTP to configure time server. Point the linux server to a Windows DC and the time will be synced between the two, failing that, there are numerous public NTP servers.

[pete]

Is Censornet grabbing authentication from the windows virtual server? i.e is the virtual server a dc?

If it is (and it's your only dc) be wary about suddenly jumping to the correct time - you'll break people's ability to log in until the client machines sync their time with their default clock source (the dc).

[tom_newton]

This may help...
HELP: VMware - Fixing Time Keeping Problems with the Guest OS : VMblog.com - Virtualization Technology News and Information for Everyone

[Geoff]

It sounds like the Linux installation has been told that the BIOS time is set to UTC and is making it's own adjustments based on the timezone it's in. This is fine for Linux however as the machine also runs Windows, Windows expects the BIOS to be set to the local time. Thus the mess. There is no way to educate Windows about the situation, it's quite ridged about this requirement. Thus you need to fudge the situation on the Linux side.

Off the top of my head, I'd expect there is a /etc/init.d/clock script that refers to /etc/conf.d/clock that sets the situation up on the Linux side. If so, can you post the contents of both (assuming the answer isn't blindly obvious from the contents of said files).

[markman]

The box is a DC and Censornet does authenticate users from it.

Cheers Geoff, I'' have a look today.

[Geoff]

Ok, I've had a look at one of the ubuntu servers here at work. The setting you need to alter is in /etc/default/rcS. Change:

UTC=yes

to

UTC=no

and that should sort things out for you.