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If a Linux VPS reports System clock synchronized: no, first identify which service owns the clock, then verify that it can receive NTP replies over UDP port 123. Do not run chrony, systemd-timesyncd, and ntpd together. On most VPSs that need reliable recovery, multiple sources, and useful diagnostics, chrony is the practical choice; systemd-timesyncd is suitable for a simple SNTP client with dependable sources.
The sequence below separates a running service from an actually synchronized clock, checks networking before configuration changes, and accounts for provider-specific time sources and virtualization pauses.
What “not synchronized” actually means
timedatectl exposes two different facts:
- System clock synchronized: whether the client has selected a valid time source and synchronized the clock.
- NTP service: whether a network-time service is enabled or running.
A service can be active while synchronization remains no. The daemon may be unable to resolve its servers, send UDP packets, receive replies, or select a source. Conversely, changing the time by hand does not make the NTP client synchronized.
Run this initial snapshot as root or with sudo where required:
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date -u
timedatectl
systemctl list-units --type=service | grep -E 'chrony|chronyd|timesyncd|ntp'Record the UTC time, time zone, synchronization line, and every time-related unit shown. You will use the same commands again after each repair and after a reboot. Comparing the before-and-after output prevents a misleading conclusion based only on whether a process happens to be running.
Step 1: Find the active time manager
Before editing a configuration file, inspect the possible services. Unit and package names differ by distribution: some systems use chrony, others use chronyd.
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systemctl status chronyd --no-pager
systemctl status systemd-timesyncd --no-pager
systemctl status ntp --no-pager
systemctl status ntpd --no-pager“Unit not found” is useful information; it means that service is not installed under that name. A service shown as active is only a candidate owner until its diagnostics show a selected and reachable source. Also inspect the package or image documentation if several units are present, because a previously installed daemon may be enabled after a rebuild even though another client is now preferred.
Ubuntu documents that timedatectl steps back when chrony is installed. Therefore, do not leave chrony and systemd-timesyncd, or either of them and ntpd, managing the same clock. Ubuntu 25.10 documentation identifies chrony as the default in place of systemd-timesyncd, but older releases and other distributions can use different defaults.
Step 2: Choose one synchronization service
Use a single daemon. The choice depends on how much control and evidence you need:
| Aspect | chrony | systemd-timesyncd |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol and features | Full NTP client with richer source selection, drift handling, and troubleshooting data. | Minimal SNTP service; large offsets are stepped and smaller offsets are slewed. |
| Best fit | A VPS with clock drift, intermittent connectivity, several sources, or a need to diagnose failures. | A simple systemd-managed client with reliable, trusted sources. |
| Primary diagnostics | chronyc tracking, chronyc sources -v, and chronyc sourcestats -v. |
timedatectl timesync-status and systemctl status systemd-timesyncd. |
| Conflict rule | Do not run concurrently with systemd-timesyncd or ntpd. | Do not run concurrently with chrony or ntpd. |
The chrony project generally prefers chrony when a full-featured client is wanted. The systemd manual states that systemd-timesyncd implements SNTP only. Neither statement is a promise of a particular accuracy figure; the appropriate choice depends on your sources, network path, and VPS host.
Install and enable chrony on Debian or Ubuntu
This is a conservative example for Debian-family systems. Confirm the package and unit names for your distribution before applying it:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install chrony
sudo systemctl disable --now systemd-timesyncd 2>/dev/null || true
sudo systemctl enable --now chrony
systemctl status chrony --no-pagerIf the installed unit is chronyd, substitute that name in systemctl commands. Do not disable a service until you have identified which daemon your distribution expects; the objective is one active manager, not a particular package. After enabling chrony, wait for it to collect samples before judging the result from a single immediate status check.
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Keep systemd-timesyncd when your needs are minimal
If you need only the systemd-provided SNTP client and your configured source is dependable, leave chrony and ntpd disabled, then inspect:
sudo systemctl enable --now systemd-timesyncd
timedatectl timesync-status
systemctl status systemd-timesyncd --no-pager
journalctl -u systemd-timesyncd -b --no-pagertimedatectl set-ntp true enables the distribution’s supported network-time service. It does not repair DNS, firewall, cloud security-group, or source-selection problems, so inspect the service and logs if synchronization remains no. The timesync status output should be read together with the journal: an active unit without a current server or recent replies is not proof of synchronization.
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When chrony is the selected manager, these commands provide different evidence:
chronyc tracking
chronyc sources -v
chronyc sourcestats -v
journalctl -u chrony -b --no-pagerIn chronyc sources -v, ^* marks the selected source and ^+ marks a usable candidate. The Reach value is especially important: chrony documents that Reach 0 means it has received no valid responses from that configured server.
Inspect the source name and resolved addresses before changing polling parameters. A source that is listed but has no valid samples is not a working source. Compare the reference ID, stratum, offset, frequency, and leap status in chronyc tracking with the source list and journal entries. If every source has zero reach, investigate transport and return traffic first. If one source is selected while others are marked as candidates, that is normal source selection; it is not evidence that the unselected servers are broken.
Step 4: Check DNS, UDP 123, and return traffic
NTP requests and replies normally use UDP port 123. An ICMP ping can succeed while NTP is blocked, so a successful ping is not proof that synchronization can work.
Check name resolution
For each hostname in your configuration, verify that the VPS can resolve it using the resolver configured for the guest. If names do not resolve, fix the resolver or temporarily use a documented numeric source while you diagnose DNS. Do not permanently replace a managed pool with an arbitrary address. Check all returned addresses when a name has both address families, because one route can work while another is filtered.
Check every firewall layer
- Guest firewall rules must permit outbound UDP/123.
- A stateless firewall must permit the corresponding reply traffic, not just the outbound packet.
- Cloud security groups, network ACLs, and provider egress policy must allow NTP traffic.
- Host-level filtering, container networking, or a corporate egress gateway can block UDP even when TCP and ICMP work.
Chrony’s troubleshooting guidance recommends packet inspection when a firewall is suspected. Use the packet-capture tool approved for your distribution, such as tcpdump, while restarting or forcing a source check:
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sudo tcpdump -ni any udp port 123You should see outbound UDP/123 packets and replies returning to the VPS. If packets leave but no replies return, investigate the provider path or upstream policy; if no packets leave, inspect the guest firewall and daemon configuration. Preserve the capture’s UTC timestamps with the service journal so that a provider can correlate the failed requests.
Do not “fix” a timeout by widening unrelated firewall rules. Permit only the traffic required for the selected time service and follow your provider’s security-group model.
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Chrony’s minimal Internet-client example uses a pool, a drift file, an initial-step rule, and optional hardware-clock synchronization:
pool pool.ntp.org iburst
driftfile /var/lib/chrony/drift
makestep 1 3
rtcsyncUse the drift-file path documented by your distribution; it can differ from this example. Prefer several trustworthy servers or the VPS provider’s documented source. The chrony FAQ recommends at least three servers for reliable operation, so a single reachable server should be treated as a temporary diagnostic configuration rather than a robust design. Multiple sources also let chrony reject an outlier instead of trusting one potentially faulty server.
What each directive does
pool ... iburstobtains candidates from a pool and sends an initial burst of requests to acquire time quickly after startup.driftfilestores chrony’s learned estimate of the local clock’s rate, helping it compensate for recurring guest-clock drift.makestep 1 3permits a large correction during the first three updates when the offset exceeds one second. Without an allowed step, chrony normally slews the clock gradually.rtcsynckeeps the hardware clock aligned where the platform exposes a usable real-time clock. On virtual machines, the provider’s documented host-time mechanism can be more authoritative than a virtual RTC.
Edit the file named by your distribution, validate the syntax if that distribution provides a chrony check, then restart the one active daemon:
sudo systemctl restart chrony # or chronyd
chronyc tracking
chronyc sources -vDo not change poll intervals, replace all sources, or add a long list of servers until you know whether packets and replies are flowing. Configuration churn can hide the original failure. Keep a copy of the original file so that a failed experiment can be reversed without introducing a second set of defaults.
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Step 6: Correct a badly wrong clock safely
A large initial offset is common after a paused, migrated, or newly created VPS. Chrony normally slews small errors so applications see a gradual correction; the makestep rule allows a controlled large correction during startup. The systemd client similarly steps large offsets and slews smaller ones.
Avoid repeatedly running manual date-setting commands while a daemon is active. Competing corrections make logs difficult to interpret and can disturb software that relies on monotonic or correctly ordered timestamps. If an emergency manual correction is unavoidable, stop the active time service first, make the smallest justified change, then start one service and verify its source selection.
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After a permitted step, check applications that validate certificates, sign tokens, process queues, or compare database timestamps. A corrected wall clock does not reverse timestamps already written with the wrong time. Jobs scheduled during the bad interval may also need an explicit review rather than an assumption that they will run again automatically.
Step 7: Account for the VPS provider’s time source
Virtualization changes the failure modes. A guest can experience a clock jump after suspension, migration, host maintenance, or a long pause. Some providers expose a host-synchronized clock or a link-local time endpoint that avoids the public Internet path.
Azure Linux virtual machines
Microsoft’s Azure guidance documents host synchronization and, for supported Linux guests and kernels, the Hyper-V PTP device /dev/ptp_hyperv. Follow the image, kernel, and agent guidance for the exact VM generation. Do not assume that a configuration written for another cloud will work on Azure.
Amazon EC2
Amazon Web Services documents its local Amazon Time Sync Service at 169.254.169.123 and recommends that endpoint as the direct EC2 source. Because it is link-local, it is specific to the EC2 environment; do not copy it to a VPS from another provider.
Provider guidance takes precedence over a generic public pool when it supplies a supported guest integration or local endpoint. If a clock repeatedly jumps after host maintenance or suspension despite a healthy source list, collect the service logs and exact UTC timestamps, then open a provider ticket. Include whether the event followed a reboot, migration, pause, or security-group change.
Step 8: Verify the repair under real conditions
Run the checks immediately after restarting the service, after a reboot, and after the VPS has handled normal workload:
date -u
timedatectl
chronyc tracking
chronyc sources -v
systemctl list-units --type=service | grep -E 'chrony|chronyd|timesyncd|ntp'For a successful chrony repair, timedatectl should report synchronization, chronyc sources -v should show a selected ^* source, and the selected source should have non-zero reach. The offset and frequency should settle rather than continually diverge. Confirm that only one guest service is adjusting the clock.
For systemd-timesyncd, use timedatectl timesync-status, the service status, and the journal. A service marked active without a current server, recent replies, or a synchronized system clock still needs investigation.
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Repeat the verification after provider maintenance or a planned suspension. A configuration that works immediately after boot but loses reach under load points to a network, resource, or host-path problem rather than a missing makestep directive. Record the UTC time of each check so intermittent failures can be matched with firewall, hypervisor, or application events.
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Failure patterns and the next action
| Symptom | Likely class of problem | Next action |
|---|---|---|
System clock synchronized: no, service active |
No selected source, blocked replies, DNS failure, or an unsynchronized daemon. | Inspect the manager’s own status and source diagnostics; do not assume “active” means synchronized. |
Chrony sources all show Reach 0 |
No valid NTP responses reached chrony. | Check names, outbound UDP/123, cloud egress, guest firewall rules, return traffic, and packet capture. |
| One source works, others fail | A particular server, address family, route, or policy is unavailable. | Keep multiple trustworthy sources, inspect the failing addresses, and remove only demonstrably unsuitable entries. |
| Clock is far wrong after boot | Large initial offset or a pause/migration event. | Use a controlled makestep policy and verify applications after the correction. |
| Clock changes after host maintenance | Virtualization or provider time-source behavior. | Read the provider’s guest-time guidance and provide logs and UTC timestamps to support if the behavior persists. |
| Both chrony and timesyncd appear active | Competing daemons are adjusting one clock. | Choose one manager, disable the others, restart the chosen service, and verify again. |
Operational safeguards
- Keep at least three reliable NTP servers when using Internet sources, or use the provider’s documented local source plus appropriate fallbacks.
- Document which daemon, configuration file, and source policy your image uses so a rebuild does not enable a second manager.
- Monitor synchronization state and source reach, not just the systemd service state.
- Preserve journal entries and packet-capture timestamps when escalating a provider or firewall issue.
- After a large correction, check TLS validation, scheduled jobs, log ordering, databases, and authentication systems that depend on accurate wall-clock time.
The shortest reliable repair is therefore: identify the owner, run one client, prove source replies over UDP/123, configure several suitable sources (or the provider’s supported endpoint), allow a controlled initial step, and verify selection after reboot and under load.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does timedatectl say “System clock synchronized: no” when the NTP service is active?
An active service only means that a daemon is enabled or running. It may still have no selected source, unresolved server names, blocked UDP/123 traffic, or no valid replies. Check the daemon’s own evidence: use chronyc tracking and chronyc sources -v for chrony, or timedatectl timesync-status and the systemd-timesyncd journal for timesyncd.
Why does chrony show Reach 0 on every server?
Chrony uses Reach 0 to indicate that it has received no valid responses from that configured server. Verify DNS, outbound UDP/123, cloud security-group and egress policy, guest firewall rules, and return traffic. A packet capture should show whether requests leave and whether replies come back; changing poll intervals will not repair a blocked path.
Should I use chrony or systemd-timesyncd on a VPS?
Use chrony when the VPS has noticeable drift, intermittent connectivity, several sources, or requires detailed source diagnostics. systemd-timesyncd is an intentionally minimal SNTP client and is reasonable for a simple systemd-managed guest with dependable sources. Run only one of them, never both together.
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The chrony FAQ recommends at least three servers for reliable operation. Use several trustworthy servers or the time source documented by your VPS provider. A single server can help isolate a fault, but it is a fragile long-term configuration and gives the client no useful comparison when that server is wrong or unreachable.
What should I do when the VPS clock is hours or minutes wrong?
Allow a controlled initial correction with a chrony makestep policy, or use the systemd client’s normal large-offset step behavior. Do not repeatedly set the clock by hand while a daemon is active. After the correction, review certificate validation, scheduled jobs, logs, databases, queues, and authentication systems that may have recorded incorrect timestamps.
Can I copy a cloud provider’s NTP address to another VPS?
No. Provider endpoints can be local to a specific platform. AWS documents 169.254.169.123 for EC2, while Azure documents host synchronization and the /dev/ptp_hyperv device for supported guests. Follow the current guidance for your actual provider and image instead of copying an address from another cloud.
The Bottom Line
Fix VPS time synchronization by identifying the single active manager, proving DNS and UDP/123 replies, configuring several suitable sources or the provider’s supported time service, allowing a controlled initial correction, and verifying a selected source after reboot and under load.
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