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Catalyst 4500 Series Switch, Cisco IOS Software Configuration Guide - Cisco IOS XE 3.9.xE and IOS 15.2(5)Ex
 
Chapter 4      Administering the Switch
Managing the System Time and Date
Configuring NTP Associations
An NTP association can be a peer association (this switch can either synchronize to the other device or 
allow the other device to synchronize to it), or it can be a server association (meaning that only this 
switch synchronizes to the other device, and not the other way around). 
To form an NTP association with another device, perform this task:
You need to configure only one end of an association; the other device can automatically establish the 
association. If you are using the default NTP version (Version 3) and NTP synchronization does not 
occur, try using NTP Version 2. Many NTP servers on the Internet run Version 2.
To remove a peer or server association, use the no ntp peer ip-address or the no ntp server ip-address 
global configuration command.
This example shows how to configure the switch to synchronize its system clock with the clock of the 
peer at IP address 172.16.22.44 using NTP Version 2:
Switch# configure terminal
Switch(config)# ntp server 172.16.22.44 version 2
Switch(config)# end
Switch#
Command Purpose
Step 1
configure terminal
Enters global configuration mode.
Step 2
ntp peer ip-address [version number] 
[
key keyid] [source interface] 
[
prefer]
or 
ntp server ip-address
 [version 
number
] [key keyid] [source 
interface
] [prefer]
Configures the switch system clock to synchronize a peer or to be 
synchronized by a peer (peer association).
or
Configures the switch system clock to be synchronized by a time server 
(server association).
No peer or server associations are defined by default.
• For ip-address in a peer association, specify either the IP address of 
the peer providing, or being provided, the clock synchronization. For 
a server association, specify the IP address of the time server 
providing the clock synchronization.
• (Optional) For number, specify the NTP version number. The range is 
1 to 3. By default, Version 3 is selected.
• (Optional) For keyid, enter the authentication key defined by entering 
the ntp authentication-key global configuration command.
• (Optional) For interface, specify the interface from which to pick the 
IP source address. By default, the source IP address is taken from the 
outgoing interface.
• (Optional) Enter the prefer keyword to make this peer or server the 
preferred one that provides synchronization. This keyword reduces 
switching back and forth between peers and servers.
Step 3
end
Returns to privileged EXEC mode.
Step 4
show running-config
Verifies your entries.
Step 5
copy running-config startup-config
(Optional) Saves your entries in the configuration file.