The VMM must synchronize internal information system clocks to the authoritative time source when the time difference is greater than one second.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-63779	ESXI-06-100046	SV-78269r1_rule		Medium

Description
To assure the accuracy of the system clock, it must be synchronized with an authoritative time source within DoD. Many system functions, including time-based login and activity restrictions, automated reports, system logs, and audit records depend on an accurate system clock. If there is no confidence in the correctness of the system clock, time-based functions may not operate as intended and records may be of diminished value.

Description

To assure the accuracy of the system clock, it must be synchronized with an authoritative time source within DoD. Many system functions, including time-based login and activity restrictions, automated reports, system logs, and audit records depend on an accurate system clock. If there is no confidence in the correctness of the system clock, time-based functions may not operate as intended and records may be of diminished value.

STIG	Date
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.0 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2017-07-11

Details

Check Text ( C-64529r1_chk )
From the vSphere Client select the ESXi Host and go to Configuration >> Time Configuration. Select Properties >> Options and view the configured NTP servers and service startup policy. or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host run the following command: Get-VMHost \| Get-VMHostNTPServer Get-VMHost \| Get-VMHostService \| Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"} If the NTP service is not configured with authoritative DoD time sources and the service is not configured to start and stop with the host and is running, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-64529r1_chk )

From the vSphere Client select the ESXi Host and go to Configuration >> Time Configuration. Select Properties >> Options and view the configured NTP servers and service startup policy.

or

From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host run the following command:

Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostNTPServer
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"}

If the NTP service is not configured with authoritative DoD time sources and the service is not configured to start and stop with the host and is running, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-69707r1_fix)
From the vSphere Client select the ESXi Host and go to Configuration >> Time Configuration. Select Properties >> Options and configure the NTP service to start and stop with the host and with authoritative DoD time sources. or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host run the following command: $NTPServers = "ntpserver1","ntpserver2" Get-VMHost \| Add-VMHostNTPServer $NTPServers Get-VMHost \| Get-VMHostService \| Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"} \| Set-VMHostService -Policy On Get-VMHost \| Get-VMHostService \| Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"} \| Start-VMHostService

Fix Text (F-69707r1_fix)

From the vSphere Client select the ESXi Host and go to Configuration >> Time Configuration. Select Properties >> Options and configure the NTP service to start and stop with the host and with authoritative DoD time sources.

or

From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host run the following command:

$NTPServers = "ntpserver1","ntpserver2"
Get-VMHost | Add-VMHostNTPServer $NTPServers
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"} | Set-VMHostService -Policy On
Get-VMHost | Get-VMHostService | Where {$_.Label -eq "NTP Daemon"} | Start-VMHostService