Connecting to Local NTP server with usg flex 500

AlexRiviera
AlexRiviera Posts: 14
First Comment
edited April 2021 in Security
When trying to connect to my local ntp server the zywall shows a timeout error. Connecting to ntp servers in the internet is working. Other devices as switches (zyxel) or PC’s can connect to the local ntp server. Is there a known issue that the zywall is not able to connect to local ntp servers?
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Comments

  • Zyxel_Can
    Zyxel_Can Posts: 342  Zyxel Employee
    Friend Collector First Answer First Comment

    Hi @AlexRiviera,

     

    I tested this symptom in our labs it works normal.

     

    Can you share some information with us;

     

    1-    Do you have route to your internal NTP Server?

    Can you test with following path;

    Maintenance > Diagnostics > Network Tool > PING IPv4

     

    2-    Did you try to disable your NTP Server’s firewall or open port for NTP (UDP port 123)

     

    3-    Can you clarify that related service is running on NTP Server?(e.g. Windows Time)


    4-  For troubleshooting purposes, can you capture packets when syncing Time with NTP Server?

    For that you can find the following path;

    Maintenance > Diagnostics > Packet Capture > Choose Interfaces > Capture


     

    5-    If public NTP servers work properly but your local NTP Server can’t sync time it’s probably related to your NTP Server’s configuration.

     

     

    Best regards.
  • Thx for your extended Feedback.

    1-    Do you have route to your internal NTP Server?
    -> Yes i get answer and 0% packetloss. So a route is there.

    2-    Did you try to disable your NTP Server’s firewall or open port for NTP (UDP port 123)

    Firewall where ntp server is running is "down" / not running

    3-    Can you clarify that related service is running on NTP Server?(e.g. Windows Time)

    Yes my Workstation as other servers are getting sync from ntp. (Tested again)

    4-  For troubleshooting purposes, can you capture packets when syncing Time with NTP Server?

    Will do that.

    The ntp server is running on a vlan in/on ethernet (zone)  lan1. From which interface is the ntp client on the zywall making the request? WAN interface?


  • Pakets captured, seems like the timeserver is giving an answer:

    Frame 2: 90 bytes on wire (720 bits), 90 bytes captured (720 bits)
    Ethernet II, Src: NTPServer [entry modified because of privacy], Dst: ZyxelCom_[entry modified because of privacy]
    Internet Protocol Version 4, Src: [correct IP] , [Dst: correct IP]
    User Datagram Protocol, Src Port: 123, Dst Port: 53011
    Network Time Protocol (NTP Version 4, server)
        Flags: 0x24, Leap Indicator: no warning, Version number: NTP Version 4, Mode: server
        [Request In: 1]
        [Delta Time: 0.000172000 seconds]
        Peer Clock Stratum: secondary reference (2)
        Peer Polling Interval: invalid (3)
        Peer Clock Precision: 0.000000 seconds
        Root Delay: 0.016098 seconds
        Root Dispersion: 0.045975 seconds
        Reference ID: 84.16.67.12
        Reference Timestamp: Apr  6, 2021 18:04:03.410726043 UTC
        Origin Timestamp: Apr  6, 2021 18:37:40.054865730 UTC
        Receive Timestamp: Apr  6, 2021 18:37:40.053579426 UTC
        Transmit Timestamp: Apr  6, 2021 18:37:40.053663200 UTC


    Any ideas what's going wrong here?
  • Zyxel_Can
    Zyxel_Can Posts: 342  Zyxel Employee
    Friend Collector First Answer First Comment

    Hi @AlexRiviera,


     I tested put NTP Server into VLAN. It can still sync time.

     Can you try to capture packets for LAN interfaces and share in this topic?

     

    Best regards.
  • Hi, thx for the answer. Well the capture is in my post above. Do you also need the request? 
  • Zyxel_Can
    Zyxel_Can Posts: 342  Zyxel Employee
    Friend Collector First Answer First Comment
    Hi @AlexRiviera,

    Can you capture packets from LAN interfaces and send .cap file to me by private message so I can check for you?
  • check your mailbox please.
  • Zyxel_Can
    Zyxel_Can Posts: 342  Zyxel Employee
    Friend Collector First Answer First Comment
    Hi @AlexRiviera,

    Unfortunately attached file is not readable.
    Can you try following steps for .cap file and send me again by private message:

    1 -First, start capturing packets:

    In Web GUI, Maintenance > Diagnostics > Packet Capture > Capture:

    2- Sync time with NTP Server:


    3- After synchronizing is failed go back to Maintenance > Diagnostics > Packet Capture > Capture menu and stop capturing.


    4- Download the captured .cap file and send me by private message without changing the extension.

  • cap is not allowd in PN. So i zipped it ok?
  • Zyxel_Can
    Zyxel_Can Posts: 342  Zyxel Employee
    Friend Collector First Answer First Comment

    Hi @AlexRiviera,

     

    In the packets you provided, I see request and reply.

     

    In the second cycle's response I see:

    =======================================================

    Flags: 0xe4, Leap Indicator: unknown (clock unsynchronized), Version number: NTP Version 4, Mode: server

    Reference ID: Unidentified reference source 'RATE'

    =======================================================

     

    What is the NTP Server’s operating system?

     In the RFC document section 7.4 you can see explanation of "RATE" code. (https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5905)


    Can you try to sync your time with a Windows Client?

     

    For that you have to modify following registry entries;

    Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpServer\Enabled = 1

    Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Config\AnnounceFlags = 5

     

    Then restart Windows Time service in the services.

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