VPS How To: Fix Time Drift (RH/CentOS 5.x)

1. Modify the kernel boot options by editing /boot/grub/grub.conf in emacs or another text editor and adding the line “divider=10 clocksource=acpi_pm” (for 32-bit) or “notsc divider=10” (for 64-bit) after the appropriate kernel line, as below.

title CentOS (2.6.18-164.6.1.el5)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.18-164.6.1.el5 ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 hda=noprobe hdb=noprobe notsc divider=10
initrd /initrd-2.6.18-164.6.1.el5.img
title CentOS (2.6.18-164.el5)

2. Open/etc/ntp.conf in emacs or another text editor and modify the lines as follows

tinker panic 0
restrict 127.0.0.1
restrict default kod nomodify notrap
server 0.au.pool.ntp.org
server 1.au.pool.ntp.org
server 2.au.pool.ntp.org
driftfile /var/lib/ntp/drift

3. Open /etc/ntp/step-tickers in emacs or another text editor and modify the lines as follows
0.au.pool.ntp.org
1.au.pool.ntp.org
2.au.pool.ntp.org

4. Open terminal and Run ntpd -q to sync the time

5. In Terminal Run hwclock --systohc to set the hardware clock to the new Synchronised Time

6. In Terminal Run chkconfig ntpd on to set ntpd to run automatically and synchronise the Time

7. Restart The Server

Note: In Terminal Run date to see the current date and time