For the evaluation of logs on different systems (HMCs, managed systems, virtual I/O servers, LPARs), it is important that all systems have the same time. If the times of the systems differ from each other, this makes it difficult to evaluate and compare log entries when troubleshooting. The evaluation of performance data obtained is also more difficult if the time recorded with the data does not match the actual time. Without synchronization, the times of different systems can very quickly differ significantly from each other.

NTP can be used for time synchronization. For LPARs and virtual I/O servers, the NTP configuration is now part of the standard repertoire of an administrator and will therefore not be discussed further here. For managed systems and HMCs, the configuration of NTP may not be quite as well known and will therefore be shown below.