Having bad time data not only makes it difficult to troubleshoot a device it also does not help when logging to a centralized logging server. I often come across HP switches that do not have their time configured correctly, this could be because the admin was lazy or more likely does not know how to configure the time setting
- Log into the switch with SSH
- Type “configure” to enter configuration mode
- Set the timezone with “time timezone 120” -> This will set it for GMT +2 the value is in minutes + for West and – For East
- I live in South Africa and we do not use daylight savings so I use “time daylight-time-rule none” to disable DST but using TAB-Completion will give you a list of DST rules
- set time sync to SNTP using “timesync sntp”
- set polling interval to 30s by using “sntp 30”
- set sntp to unicast with “sntp unicast”
- set primary (priority 1) server with “sntp server priority 1 <IP_OF_SNTP_SERVER1>”
- set secondary (priority 2) server with “sntp server priority 2 <IP_OF_SNTP_SERVER2>”
- set tertiary (priority 3) server with “sntp server priority 3 <IP_OF_SNTP_SERVER3>”
- check SNTP stats with “show sntp statistics”
- check time with “clock”
- Save configuration with (because I’m paranoid and it never hurts I issue two commands) a. “save” and b. “write memory”
- exit the shell with “exit”
You should now have a switch that has the correct time and date information.
