[SOLVED][AsusWrt Merlin][RT-AC56U] Problem with time sync / NTP

[Marcolino]

With the last versions (380.59_beta2) of AsusWrt Merlin running on a Asus RT-AC56U I'm running in trouble with NTP time sync.

More specifically, NTP just does not work, not automatically at reboot, nor by clicking "Apply" on the related Admin webgui page, nor by using the NTP CLI commands.

This is a BIG issue to me, as it obviously prevents ANY VPN connection due to date set at 1970 at bootstrap (and certificates are invalid, of course).

The ONLY solution I have found is running rdate program installed by ipkg and putting it in start-up scripts.

NTP daemon is running:

# ps w | grep ntp

  787 admin     6272 S    ntp
13562 admin     1084 S    ntpclient -h time.nist.gov -i 3 -l -s

By manually trying to run the NTP client the program seems to terminate with no clue:

# ntpclient -h time.nist.gov -i 3 -l -s -d
Configuration:
  -c probe_count 1
  -d (debug)     1
  -h hostname    time.nist.gov
  -i interval    3
  -l live        1
  -p local_port  0
  -s set_clock   1
setup_receive:: bind...
setup_transmit:: connect...

Listening...
Sending ...
Terminated

Has RMerlin some clue?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Marcolino]

I answer by myself.

Burned v380.59 and it seems that NTP is syncing on reboot; thaks to whoever fixed this.

Reading changelog, doesn't seem a fix in build 59; however I've read regarding AC-RT68U:

ASUS RT-AC68U Firmware 3.0.0.4.380.3264

Releases note:
[...]
- Fixed NTP automatically sync issue when router rebooted

By the way, in case someone should have the same problem, I've found a workaround.

Creating /jffs/scripts/init-start

#!/bin/sh
cru a TimeSync "*/10 * * * *    /opt/bin/rdate -s time.ien.it"

creates a crontab entry that sync every 10 minutes using rdate program (install it with ipkg).

For more fast sync at boot-time, edit /jffs/scripts/wan-start

#!/bin/sh
sleep 30
/jffs/rdate -p -s time.ien.it /tmp/rdate.log

Remember to make it executable

chmod +x /jffs/scripts/init-start
chmod +x /jffs/scripts/wan-start

Hope it helps.