Installing CUPS fails on NTP

[tony loktu]

Hi

I'm installing CUPS 8.6.4 on VMWare ESXi 5 but it fails on NTP.

I'm trying to use CUCM publisher at NTP. Several CUCM subscribers use the publisher as NTP so i know it works.

CUPS and CUCM are on the same network so there is no firewall blocking it.

At first i test the NTP and it says "accessible". I then proceed with the install but the next screen tells me that it fails on NTP.

I've attached a screen shot of both the "accessible" screen and when it fails.

Why is it failing?                  

/Tony

[Aaron Harrison]

Hi Tony

What's the output of utils ntp status on the publisher you are trying to sync to?

Aaron

[tony loktu]

Hi

This is the first CUPS so there are no othere CUPS.

I'm getting this from the CUCM publisher:

admin:utils ntp status
ntpd (pid 13433) is running...

     remote           refid      st t when poll reach   delay   offset  jitter
==============================================================================
*XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX    LOCAL(0)        11 u  394  512  377    1.925    0.027   0.221

synchronised to NTP server (XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX) at stratum 12
   time correct to within 25 ms
   polling server every 512 s

The NTP is running and in sync at the CUCM publisher.

BTW: I get the same resault if i try to add a patch (to SU2) during install.

/Tony

[Aaron Harrison]

Hi Tony

That's what I meant, the CUCM publisher...

Well - you have quite a high stratum number, and that looks like the CUCM is synced to itself?

The docs for CUPS and CUCM both specify at least stratum 9.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/cups/8_6/english/install_upgrade/installation/guide/Product_Description.html#wp1085321

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/cucm/install/8_0_1/install/cmins801.html#wp521779

I would configured CUCM to sync to a proper NTP server, or sync CUPS to a proper higher-stratum NTP server. If your CUCM is an MCS server then changing NTP should be OK, otherwise (if it's VMware, which I presume it isn't as you don't have NTP configured) then it would break your license.

Aaron

[tony loktu]

Hi Aaron

Its all virtualized on VMWare ESXi 5
The CUCM cluster have been up and running for some years without any problems.

The NTP on CUCM publisher is not sync'ed to itself but to another external source. I agree that stratum 12 isnt the best but it seams to work just fine on CUCMs, UCCXs and many more.

But that does not explain why a new install of CUPS on installing NTP with a sync to CUCM publisher fails (i think).

[Aaron Harrison]

Hi Tony

Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't!

It may just be that the fresh install for CUPS  8.6 checks this more stricly than upgrades from previous versions of UCCX/CUCM etc.

As it is, your setup doesn't meet that specified by the documentation - so you have choices:

1) Continue to argue the case with the CUPS installer

2) Try a a higher stratum NTP server - this is easy to set up for yourself internally or there are lots on the Internet. Until you apply a CUPS license you are free to change it about so a web NTP server may be a nice quick test and you can come up with your final design afterwards.

3) Speak to TAC, who will point you at the documentation...

Aaron