network device time monitoring?

Question

hi,

i would like to see, if my network devices (cisco mainly) are in sync with a predefined ntp network clock.

how can i do that?

Yann · Answer

You might need to upgrade the CatOS image to support this MIB. It seems the CISCO-NTP-MIB is supported by some 2960 CatOS images as per the Cisco web site.

go to http://tools.cisco.com/ITDIT/MIBS/servlet/index

Click on Cisco IOS MIB Locator

In the new window, Select the CISCO-NTP-MIB and click on Submit.

On the new window, filter to the CAT2960 platform, you will see which image supports the CISCO-NTP-MIB.

bighard · Answer

yes, i've been checking this oid. unfortunately it's not present on my 2960 switches :(

thanks for your time anyway :)

Yann · Answer

Hi bighard,

Cisco implemented a MIB to monitor NTP related informations: CISCO-NTP-MIB : 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.168 .

It should allow you to monitor the offset in seconds between the local clock and a NTP server source clock by polling the cntpPeersOffset OID . here is the description of that OID:

"The estimated offset of the peer clock relative to the local clock, in seconds.  The host determines the value of  this object using the NTP clock-filter algorithm."

You can create a Universal Device Poller to monitor this OID into Orion.

Here is a good resource from Cisco concerning NTP:Network Time Protocol: Best Practices White Paper

This is where I found the information.

I am not sure how to proceed for the other manufacturer, if you post some names/model we might be able to figure out how to monitor their synchronization to the NTP server source.

HTH,

Yann