An SBC runs my home's time server, and every device finally agrees on what time it is
My tiny tinkering companion solved the timekeeping problem in my home lab
The author, a self-hosting enthusiast, set up a local Network Time Protocol (NTP) server in their home lab to ensure all devices in their tinkering arsenal sync to the same clock. The author opted for a Radxa X4 single-board computer with a dedicated Real Time Clock (RTC) module, as it provided better offline timekeeping capabilities compared to their previous server.
After installing Chrony, a time synchronization utility compatible with RTC modules, on the Radxa X4, the author edited the Chrony configuration file to set the server's IP address range and RTC synchronization. The author then restarted the Chrony service and verified its functionality using chronyc tracking and chronyc sources -v commands.
The local NTP server improved synchronization across server nodes, containers, and backup rigs, allowing for precise interval snapshot deliveries and uniform timestamps in monitoring and logging tools. The author plans to enhance the server's accuracy in the future, potentially by incorporating a GPS/GNSS receiver module or a Precision Time Protocol (PTP)-capable Network Card.
Written by urgent.news from XDA Developers's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
