7-7
Catalyst 2950 and Catalyst 2955 Switch Software Configuration Guide
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Chapter 7      Administering the Switch
    Managing the System Time and Date
The switch can send or receive NTP broadcast packets on an interface-by-interface basis if there is an NTP 
broadcast server, such as a router, broadcasting time information on the network. The switch can send NTP 
broadcast packets to a peer so that the peer can synchronize to it. The switch can also receive NTP broadcast 
packets to synchronize its own clock. This section has procedures for both sending and receiving NTP 
broadcast packets.
Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to configure the switch to send NTP broadcast 
packets to peers so that they can synchronize their clock to the switch:
To disable the interface from sending NTP broadcast packets, use the no ntp broadcast interface 
configuration command.
This example shows how to configure a port to send NTP version 2 packets:
Switch(config)# interface gigabitethernet0/1
Switch(config-if)# ntp broadcast version 2
Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to configure the switch to receive NTP broadcast 
packets from connected peers:
Command Purpose
Step 1
configure terminal Enter global configuration mode.
Step 2
interface interface-id Specify the interface to send NTP broadcast packets, and enter 
interface configuration mode.
Step 3
ntp broadcast [version number] [key keyid] 
[destination-address]
Enable the interface to send NTP broadcast packets to a peer.
By default, this feature is disabled on all interfaces.
• (Optional) For number, specify the NTP version number. The 
range is 1 to 3. If you do not specify a version, version 3 is used.
• (Optional) For keyid, specify the authentication key to use when 
sending packets to the peer.
• (Optional) For destination-address, specify the IP address of the 
peer that is synchronizing its clock to this switch.
Step 4
end Return to privileged EXEC mode.
Step 5
show running-config Verify your entries.
Step 6
copy running-config startup-config (Optional) Save your entries in the configuration file.
Step 7
Configure the connected peers to receive NTP broadcast packets as 
described in the next procedure.
Command Purpose
Step 1
configure terminal Enter global configuration mode.
Step 2
interface interface-id Specify the interface to receive NTP broadcast packets, and enter interface 
configuration mode.
Step 3
ntp broadcast client Enable the interface to receive NTP broadcast packets.
By default, no interfaces receive NTP broadcast packets.
Step 4
exit Return to global configuration mode.