freebsd 13-rc3 ntpd dying

Installed
Code:
FreeBSD bsd 13.0-RC3 FreeBSD 13.0-RC3

I wanted to force ntpd to sync, but the ntpd daemon was not running. service ntpd start ; ntpq -c peer returned

Code:
     remote           refid      st t when poll reach   delay   offset  jitter
==============================================================================
 0.freebsd.pool. .POOL.          16 p    -   64    0    0.000   +0.000   0.000

If I type service ntpd status ; ntpq -c peer 10 seconds later, it returns
Code:
ntpd is not running.
ntpq: read: Connection refused

service ntpd status returns
Code:
ntpd is not running.

/etc/rc.conf contains the line
Code:
ntpd_enable="YES"

What am I missing?
 
It seems like you don't have any ntp servers. You can always define custom pool and/or servers in /etc/ntp.conf. You can adjust time manually also by ntpdate -u pool.ntp.org. Preferably you choose something closer to your geographic location.
Try grepping ntp messages from syslog to see the reason why ntp is not running.
 
Make sure that your Internet and and name services are running:
Code:
# This will test the Internet
$ dig @8.8.8.8 0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org
# This will test your configured name server
$ cat /etc/resolv.conf # note the IP address of the "nameserver"
$ dig @<nameserver> 0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org # substitute for <nameserver> the IP address of the "nameserver noted above"
Both dig commands should identify multiple A records for the pool, e.g.
Code:
;; ANSWER SECTION:
0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org.    150    IN    A    129.250.35.251
0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org.    150    IN    A    162.159.200.1
0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org.    150    IN    A    220.158.215.21
0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org.    150    IN    A    103.76.40.123
The specific IP addresses in the "ANSWER" response will vary from one inquiry to the next.
For additional assistance, post the contents /etc/resolv.conf, and /etc/ntp.conf
 
Make sure that your Internet and and name services are running:
Code:
# This will test the Internet
$ dig @8.8.8.8 0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org
# This will test your configured name server
$ cat /etc/resolv.conf # note the IP address of the "nameserver"
$ dig @<nameserver> 0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org # substitute for <nameserver> the IP address of the "nameserver noted above"
Both dig commands should identify multiple A records for the pool, e.g.
Code:
;; ANSWER SECTION:
0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org.    150    IN    A    129.250.35.251
0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org.    150    IN    A    162.159.200.1
0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org.    150    IN    A    220.158.215.21
0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org.    150    IN    A    103.76.40.123
The specific IP addresses in the "ANSWER" response will vary from one inquiry to the next.
For additional assistance, post the contents /etc/resolv.conf, and /etc/ntp.conf
Just a side note most probably already know.
You could also use drill that is part of base system.
drill freebsd.pool.ntp.org will use nameserver in /etc/resolv.conf
 
A search for ntpd in /var/log/messages contained no kernel or exit strings. The only references to ntpd are

root@bsd:/var/log # grep ntp messages
Code:
Mar 27 15:16:47 bsd ntpd[983]: ntpd 4.2.8p15-a (1): Starting
Mar 27 15:16:47 bsd kernel: Security policy loaded: MAC/ntpd (mac_ntpd)
Mar 27 15:16:47 bsd ntpd[983]: Command line: /usr/sbin/ntpd -p /var/db/ntp/ntpd.pid -c /etc/ntp.conf -f /var/db/ntp/ntpd.drift
Mar 27 15:16:47 bsd ntpd[983]: ----------------------------------------------------
Mar 27 15:16:47 bsd ntpd[983]: ntp-4 is maintained by Network Time Foundation,
Mar 27 15:16:47 bsd ntpd[983]: Inc. (NTF), a non-profit 501(c)(3) public-benefit
Mar 27 15:16:47 bsd ntpd[983]: corporation.  Support and training for ntp-4 are
Mar 27 15:16:47 bsd ntpd[983]: available at https://www.nwtime.org/support
Mar 27 15:16:47 bsd ntpd[983]: ----------------------------------------------------
Mar 27 15:16:47 bsd ntpd[984]: leapsecond file ('/var/db/ntpd.leap-seconds.list'): good hash signature
Mar 27 15:16:47 bsd ntpd[984]: leapsecond file ('/var/db/ntpd.leap-seconds.list'): loaded, expire=2021-06-28T00:00:00Z last=2017-01-01T00:00:00Z ofs=37
Mar 27 15:29:56 bsd ntpd[1163]: ntpd 4.2.8p15-a (1): Starting
Mar 27 15:29:56 bsd ntpd[1163]: Command line: /usr/sbin/ntpd -p /var/db/ntp/ntpd.pid -c /etc/ntp.conf -f /var/db/ntp/ntpd.drift
Mar 27 15:29:56 bsd ntpd[1163]: ----------------------------------------------------
Mar 27 15:29:56 bsd ntpd[1163]: ntp-4 is maintained by Network Time Foundation,
Mar 27 15:29:56 bsd ntpd[1163]: Inc. (NTF), a non-profit 501(c)(3) public-benefit
Mar 27 15:29:56 bsd ntpd[1163]: corporation.  Support and training for ntp-4 are
Mar 27 15:29:56 bsd ntpd[1163]: available at https://www.nwtime.org/support
Mar 27 15:29:56 bsd ntpd[1163]: ----------------------------------------------------
Mar 27 15:29:56 bsd ntpd[1164]: leapsecond file ('/var/db/ntpd.leap-seconds.list'): good hash signature
Mar 27 15:29:56 bsd ntpd[1164]: leapsecond file ('/var/db/ntpd.leap-seconds.list'): loaded, expire=2021-06-28T00:00:00Z last=2017-01-01T00:00:00Z ofs=37
Mar 27 15:30:54 bsd ntpd[1204]: ntpd 4.2.8p15-a (1): Starting
Mar 27 15:30:54 bsd ntpd[1204]: Command line: /usr/sbin/ntpd -p /var/db/ntp/ntpd.pid -c /etc/ntp.conf -f /var/db/ntp/ntpd.drift
Mar 27 15:30:54 bsd ntpd[1204]: ----------------------------------------------------
Mar 27 15:30:54 bsd ntpd[1204]: ntp-4 is maintained by Network Time Foundation,
Mar 27 15:30:54 bsd ntpd[1204]: Inc. (NTF), a non-profit 501(c)(3) public-benefit
Mar 27 15:30:54 bsd ntpd[1204]: corporation.  Support and training for ntp-4 are
Mar 27 15:30:54 bsd ntpd[1204]: available at https://www.nwtime.org/support
Mar 27 15:30:54 bsd ntpd[1204]: ----------------------------------------------------
Mar 27 15:30:54 bsd ntpd[1205]: leapsecond file ('/var/db/ntpd.leap-seconds.list'): good hash signature
Mar 27 15:30:54 bsd ntpd[1205]: leapsecond file ('/var/db/ntpd.leap-seconds.list'): loaded, expire=2021-06-28T00:00:00Z last=2017-01-01T00:00:00Z ofs=37
Mar 27 16:37:24 bsd ntpd[1351]: ntpd 4.2.8p15-a (1): Starting
Mar 27 16:37:24 bsd ntpd[1351]: Command line: /usr/sbin/ntpd -p /var/db/ntp/ntpd.pid -c /etc/ntp.conf -f /var/db/ntp/ntpd.drift
Mar 27 16:37:24 bsd ntpd[1351]: ----------------------------------------------------
Mar 27 16:37:24 bsd ntpd[1351]: ntp-4 is maintained by Network Time Foundation,
Mar 27 16:37:24 bsd ntpd[1351]: Inc. (NTF), a non-profit 501(c)(3) public-benefit
Mar 27 16:37:24 bsd ntpd[1351]: corporation.  Support and training for ntp-4 are
Mar 27 16:37:24 bsd ntpd[1351]: available at https://www.nwtime.org/support
Mar 27 16:37:24 bsd ntpd[1351]: ----------------------------------------------------
Mar 27 16:37:24 bsd ntpd[1352]: leapsecond file ('/var/db/ntpd.leap-seconds.list'): good hash signature
Mar 27 16:37:24 bsd ntpd[1352]: leapsecond file ('/var/db/ntpd.leap-seconds.list'): loaded, expire=2021-06-28T00:00:00Z last=2017-01-01T00:00:00Z ofs=37
Mar 27 16:40:34 bsd ntpd[1391]: ntpd 4.2.8p15-a (1): Starting
Mar 27 16:40:34 bsd ntpd[1391]: Command line: /usr/sbin/ntpd -p /var/db/ntp/ntpd.pid -c /etc/ntp.conf -f /var/db/ntp/ntpd.drift
Mar 27 16:40:34 bsd ntpd[1391]: ----------------------------------------------------
Mar 27 16:40:34 bsd ntpd[1391]: ntp-4 is maintained by Network Time Foundation,
Mar 27 16:40:34 bsd ntpd[1391]: Inc. (NTF), a non-profit 501(c)(3) public-benefit
Mar 27 16:40:34 bsd ntpd[1391]: corporation.  Support and training for ntp-4 are
Mar 27 16:40:34 bsd ntpd[1391]: available at https://www.nwtime.org/support
Mar 27 16:40:34 bsd ntpd[1391]: ----------------------------------------------------
Mar 27 16:40:34 bsd ntpd[1392]: leapsecond file ('/var/db/ntpd.leap-seconds.list'): good hash signature
Mar 27 16:40:34 bsd ntpd[1392]: leapsecond file ('/var/db/ntpd.leap-seconds.list'): loaded, expire=2021-06-28T00:00:00Z last=2017-01-01T00:00:00Z ofs=37
Mar 28 12:30:51 bsd ntpd[985]: ntpd 4.2.8p15-a (1): Starting
Mar 28 12:30:51 bsd kernel: Security policy loaded: MAC/ntpd (mac_ntpd)
Mar 28 12:30:51 bsd ntpd[985]: Command line: /usr/sbin/ntpd -p /var/db/ntp/ntpd.pid -c /etc/ntp.conf -f /var/db/ntp/ntpd.drift
Mar 28 12:30:51 bsd ntpd[985]: ----------------------------------------------------
Mar 28 12:30:51 bsd ntpd[985]: ntp-4 is maintained by Network Time Foundation,
Mar 28 12:30:51 bsd ntpd[985]: Inc. (NTF), a non-profit 501(c)(3) public-benefit
Mar 28 12:30:51 bsd ntpd[985]: corporation.  Support and training for ntp-4 are
Mar 28 12:30:51 bsd ntpd[985]: available at https://www.nwtime.org/support
Mar 28 12:30:51 bsd ntpd[985]: ----------------------------------------------------
Mar 28 12:30:51 bsd ntpd[986]: leapsecond file ('/var/db/ntpd.leap-seconds.list'): good hash signature
Mar 28 12:30:51 bsd ntpd[986]: leapsecond file ('/var/db/ntpd.leap-seconds.list'): loaded, expire=2021-06-28T00:00:00Z last=2017-01-01T00:00:00Z ofs=37

The command ntpdate -u pool.ntp.org adjusted the date correctly

root@bsd:/var/log # drill 8.8.4.4 0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org
Code:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, rcode: NOERROR, id: 12096
;; flags: qr rd ra ; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 4, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 0 
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;; 0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org.    IN    A

;; ANSWER SECTION:
0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org.    149    IN    A    122.252.188.99
0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org.    149    IN    A    62.236.120.71
0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org.    149    IN    A    85.21.78.8
0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org.    149    IN    A    51.75.67.47

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:

;; ADDITIONAL SECTION:

;; Query time: 211 msec
;; SERVER: 8.8.4.4
;; WHEN: Sun Mar 28 05:52:54 2021
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 104

/etc/ntp.conf contains the line
Code:
pool 0.freebsd.pool.ntp.org iburst
 
It's working now, magically. I added a single config command to start the sync at system start.

# ntpd -gq

Code:
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: ntpd 4.2.8p15-a (1): Starting
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: Command line: ntpd -gq
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: ----------------------------------------------------
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: ntp-4 is maintained by Network Time Foundation,
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: Inc. (NTF), a non-profit 501(c)(3) public-benefit
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: corporation.  Support and training for ntp-4 are
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: available at https://www.nwtime.org/support
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: ----------------------------------------------------
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: proto: precision = 0.059 usec (-24)
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: basedate set to 2018-08-07
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: gps base set to 2018-08-12 (week 2014)
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: leapsecond file ('/var/db/ntpd.leap-seconds.list'): good hash signature
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: leapsecond file ('/var/db/ntpd.leap-seconds.list'): loaded, expire=2021-06-28T00:00:00Z last=2017-01-01T00:00:00Z ofs=37
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: Listen and drop on 0 v6wildcard [::]:123
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: Listen and drop on 1 v4wildcard 0.0.0.0:123
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: Listen normally on 2 igb0 192.168.10.19:123
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: Listen normally on 3 lo0 [::1]:123
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: Listen normally on 4 lo0 [fe80::1%3]:123
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: Listen normally on 5 lo0 127.0.0.1:123
28 Mar 07:08:39 ntpd[1242]: Listening on routing socket on fd #26 for interface updates
28 Mar 07:08:40 ntpd[1242]: Soliciting pool server 72.30.35.89
28 Mar 07:08:41 ntpd[1242]: Soliciting pool server 74.6.168.72
28 Mar 07:08:42 ntpd[1242]: Soliciting pool server 64.225.34.103
28 Mar 07:08:43 ntpd[1242]: Soliciting pool server 172.98.193.44
28 Mar 07:08:50 ntpd[1242]: ntpd: time slew +0.038603 s
ntpd: time slew +0.038603s

# service ntpd status
Code:
ntpd is not running.

# sysrc ntpd_enable="YES"
Code:
ntpd_enable: YES -> YES

# sysrc ntpd_sync_on_start="YES"
Code:
ntpd_sync_on_start: NO -> YES

# service ntpd start
Code:
Starting ntpd.

# service ntpd status
Code:
ntpd is running as pid 1342.

It's been running for a few hours, and also after a reboot, so all is well, but I'm confused.
 
Nothing is obviously wrong. The absence of anything in the logs is worrying.
If you run these commands, as root, ntpd should start:
Code:
date
service ntpd stop
ntpdate 216.239.35.0
service ntpd start
ntpq -pn
sleep 64
ntpq -pn
date
If it runs after this, then add to /etc/rc.conf
Code:
ntpd_sync_on_start="YES"
If it's not running then maybe we have something esoteric in RC3. Random thoughts:
  • Check the ntpd UID/GID is 123/123.
  • Poke around mac_ntpd(4).
 
Start the ntpd and verify with ps ax|grep ntp that it's running right away and do the ntpq -p. What does the output say?
Also try to remove the default pool from the /etc/ntp.conf and try some ntp server.

I don't see anything obviously wrong with the setup. My initial thought was your server is not able to reach any ntp servers in pool and gives up.
 
Thanks, gpw928, but it was working from my last post.

% ntpq -p
Code:
remote           refid      st t when poll reach   delay   offset  jitter
==============================================================================
 0.freebsd.pool. .POOL.          16 p    -   64    0    0.000   +0.000   0.000
#4.53.160.75 (ns 75.76.123.222    3 u    3   64    3   66.177   +0.899   1.426
#ntp2.unix-solut 244.220.219.218  2 u   25   64    7  153.483   -0.961 183.197
#ntp.ihost.md    216.239.35.12    2 u   28   64    7  196.392   -4.027   1.236
#ntp02.lagoon.nc 8.145.32.135     2 u   30   64    7  186.763   +6.280   3.816
-li1210-167.memb 127.67.113.92    2 u   29   64    7   25.810   -0.263  21.565
+four10.gac.edu  169.117.81.12    2 u   30   64    7   67.949   +1.858   1.427
+time.cloudflare 10.12.2.186      3 u   31   64    7   17.000   +1.227   3.773
+time.lshiy.com  35.73.197.144    2 u   28   64    7   26.601   +0.268   2.139
*85.199.214.98   .GPS.            1 u   31   64    7  152.179   -0.101   3.557
#43.252.70.34 (u 37.15.221.189    2 u   31   64    7  142.010  +13.320   3.524
#cloud.zazezi.ne .DCFa.           1 u   25   64    7  184.585   +0.625   4.617
-ntpool0.603.new 132.163.97.1     2 u   28   64    7   65.687   -2.977   2.560
 
Ok, so you got handful of usable servers. Is your ntpd still running or did it quit already ? It's a long shot but try to remove the drift file if it exists (it will get created in a day or so automatically).
 
No, _martin, it's working perfectly and has been for a couple of days, across multiple boots. It hasn't quit since I typed sysrc ntpd_sync_on_start="YES", apparently.
 
Ok then. :) Maybe your time was too much off and ntp quit. But that's just my guess.
Although the wording is quite misleading, that's exactly what ntpd_sync_on_start prevents:
Bash:
        # Set command_args based on the various config vars.
        command_args="-p ${pidfile} -c ${ntpd_config} ${driftopt}"
        if checkyesno ntpd_sync_on_start; then
                command_args="${command_args} -g"
        fi
It adds the -g flag to the command's arguments, which according to ntpd(8) does the following:
Code:
     -g, --panicgate
             Allow the first adjustment to be Big.  This option may appear an
             unlimited number of times.

             Normally, ntpd exits with a message to the system log if the
             offset exceeds the panic threshold, which is 1000 s by default.
             This option allows the time to be set to any value without
             restriction; however, this can happen only once. If the threshold
             is exceeded after that, ntpd will exit with a message to the
             system log. This option can be used with the -q and -x options.
             See the tinker configuration file directive for other options.
It is still strange that apparently there was no such message in the logs.
 
If this is a virtual machine, then adding "tinker panic 0" to /etc/ntp.conf may help recovery if the machine hibernates for any reason.
 
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