---
title: "NTP - Failed to Start Service"
slug: troubleshooting/ntp-failed-to-start-service
createdAt: 2025-04-23T22:12:56.956Z
---

### ERROR

"NTP - Failed to Start Service" Error

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### ISSUE

NTP Service Failure in Zixi Broadcaster and Zixi Edge Device (ZEC) may encounter an issue when attempting to start the NTP (Network Time Protocol) service in Zixi Broadcaster or Zixi Edge Device (ZEC). The error message displayed is:

*NTP – Failed to start service*

The NTP service in Linux is a daemon responsible for synchronizing the system clock of a computer with a time source server. NTP enables devices to maintain accurate and coordinated time over a network, ensuring consistent and reliable operations.

This error typically arises when the required NTP service is either not installed or not enabled on the Linux machine running the Zixi Broadcaster or ZEC. Below are steps to identify and resolve this issue on both Ubuntu 22.04 and CentOS 7.9 Linux distributions.

:::hint{type="info"}
Modern OS's no longer support the package `ntp` and the Broadcaster therefore cannot manage NTP on those machines.  The modern equivalent is `chrony` and must be managed directly via the OS.
:::



### RESOLUTION

### For Linux Ubuntu 22.04:

**Check if the NTP Service is Installed:**

 Open a Linux shell and run the following command to verify the status of the NTP service:

*systemctl status ntp*

This command will provide information on whether the NTP service is installed and currently running.

**Install NTP (if not installed):**

 If the NTP service is not installed, install it by executing the following command:

*sudo apt-get install ntp*

This will download and install the necessary NTP package.

**Start NTP Service in Zixi Broadcaster/ZEC:** Once the NTP package is installed, navigate to the Zixi Broadcaster or ZEC Management Console and attempt to start the NTP service. If the installation was successful, the service should start without issues.

### For Linux CentOS 7.9

**Check and Install NTP Service:**

 In CentOS 7.9, verify and install the NTP service by running:

*yum install ntp*

If the NTP service is already installed, this command will notify you. If not, it will install the required NTP package.

**Start NTP Service in Zixi Broadcaster/ZEC:** 

After installing NTP on CentOS, revisit the Zixi Broadcaster or ZEC Management Console and try to start the service. The issue should be resolved at this point.



### Summary:

The failure to start the NTP service in Zixi Broadcaster or Zixi Edge Device (ZEC) often stems from a missing or inactive NTP service on the Linux machine. By verifying the installation of the NTP package and installing it if necessary, users can resolve this issue and successfully synchronize the system clock for accurate and smooth operations.