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CCNA · 200-301FreeIntermediate

NTP: Wrong Source Interface

NTP is a foundational service for logs, certificates, and distributed operations. This lab uses a common routing-source mismatch instead of treating time sync as a one-line configuration task.

IP ServicesNTPManagement

The problem

A router sends NTP requests from an unexpected interface address. The upstream NTP server permits only the management subnet, so the router remains unsynchronized despite basic IP reachability.

What you'll practice

  • Read NTP association state
  • Identify packet source addresses
  • Configure a stable source interface
  • Verify synchronization and stratum

The topology

A router has separate management and transit interfaces and reaches a centralized NTP server through the management network.

Commands to run yourself

The real diagnostic commands for this lab, copy-paste ready. Run these in the same order to reproduce the investigation on your own session.

Inspect NTP status
show clock detail
Inspect NTP associations
show ntp associations
Inspect interface addresses
show ip interface brief

Topology diagram

Frequently asked

Is this aligned to CCNA practice?

Yes. It focuses on configuration, verification, and troubleshooting skills covered by the CCNA-level technology domain named on this lab.

Ready to run this lab yourself?

No setup, no image sourcing. Book a session or ask for a live demo.