Configure an NTP server

Use a universal serial bus (USB) pendrive to manually configure a network time protocol (NTP) server on a Guardian Air device. This setup is useful when automatic configuration using the dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) is not available. The NTP server addresses must be specified in a configuration file saved on the USB device.

Before you begin

Make sure that:
  • Your Guardian Air device is running firmware version 1.0.11 or later
  • You have a universal serial bus (USB) drive formatted as FAT32

About this task

You can use a USB pendrive to manually configure a network time protocol (NTP) server on a Guardian Air device. Before you do this procedure, we recommend that you upgrade to the latest version of Guardian Air. To do this, you will need to connect your Guardian Air to a network that already has a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server. This will let you do the automatic upgrade.

Procedure

  1. Connect a USB pendrive to a desktop or laptop computer.
    Note:
    The operating system (OS) installed is not important.
  2. Assign the label NOZOMI to the USB pendrive.
  3. On the USB pendrive, create a file with the name: timesyncd.conf
    Use a plain text editor to create configuration files. For example, Visual Studio Code or Sublime Text.
  4. In the timesyncd.conf file, enter this text: 
    [Time]
NTP=<NTP-address> <NTP-address>
FallbackNTP=<NTP-address> <NTP-address>
  5. Replace the text: <NTP-address> with the IPv4 classless inter-domain routing (CIDR) address that you want to assign to the device. For example: 172.16.4.195/26
    Both NTP or FallbackNTP sections can be:
    • Empty
    • Contain a single value, or
    • Contain a list of values that are separated by spaces
  6. Save the timesyncd.conf file.
  7. Safely eject the USB pendrive.
  8. If the Guardian Air device is powered on, disconnect the electrical power cable.
  9. Connect the USB pendrive to one of the USB ports on the Guardian Air device.
  10. To turn on electrical power to the Guardian Air device, connect the electrical power cable.
  11. Wait until the status light-emitting diode (LED) indicator starts to flash green.
    This means that the Guardian Air custom network configuration has been correctly applied, and the system is able to connect to the Nozomi Networks cloud service. This connection is either direct, or through the configured hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) proxy.
  12. If the LED does not flash green, see the Troubleshooting procedure.
  13. Safely eject the USB pendrive.

Results

Guardian Air is now configured with the NTP server settings.

What to do next

Do the Connect a Guardian Air sensor to Vantage procedure.