Configure Time Settings on a Wireless Access Point

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Updated:December 13, 2018

Document ID:SMB1972

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Configure Time Settings on a Wireless Access Point

Objective

The system clock provides a network-synchronized time-stamping service for software events such as message logs. Without synchronized time, accurate correlation of log files between devices is difficult to maintain. Configuring the time settings on your Wireless Access Point (WAP) is important because it can help troubleshoot network issues such as system log services that display each and every log entry with a time stamp.

The system time can be configured either manually or automatically. Manual configuration is helpful when your network is not connected to a Network Time Protocol (NTP) server. NTP is used to synchronize the client or server time with another server time or reference time source.

This article provides you with instructions on how to configure time settings on your WAP in two ways: manually and automatically.

Applicable Devices

WAP100 Series
WAP300 Series
WAP500 Series

Software Version

1.0.0.17 — WAP571, WAP571E
1.0.1.2 — WAP150, WAP361
1.0.2.2 — WAP351, WAP131
1.0.6.2 — WAP121, WAP321
1.2.1.3 — WAP371, WAP551, WAP561

Configure Time Settings on a WAP

Use the Time Settings page on the WAP to set the system time manually or to configure the system to acquire its time settings from a preconfigured NTP server. By default, the WAP is configured to obtain its time from a predefined list of NTP servers.

Step 1. Log in to the web-based utility and choose Administration > Time Settings.

Step 2. Click the desired radio button for the appropriate time source from the System Clock Source. The options are listed below:

Note: The System Time displays the current system time.

Network Time Protocol (NTP) — The WAP automatically acquires the time settings from an NTP server. If you choose NTP as the System Clock Source, go to the Automatic Time Settings subsection.
Manually — You can manually configure the time settings on the WAP. If you choose Manually as the System Clock Source, go to the Manual Time Settings subsection.

Configure Automatic Time Settings

Step 1. Click the Network Time Protocol (NTP) radio button from the System Clock Source to automatically synchronize the clock with an NTP server.

Step 2. Enter the NTP server host name or IP address in the NTP Server IPv4/IPv6 Address/Name field. The use of IP address for this field is not recommended as it can change often. The device receives the time information from the NTP server.

Note: A host name can consist of one or more labels, which are sets of up to 63 alphanumeric characters. If a host name includes multiple labels, each is separated by a period. The entire series of labels and periods can be up to 253 characters long.

The number of NTP Server fields may vary according to your WAP. The available number of servers per model are as follows:

WAP351, WAP131, WAP361, and WAP150 — 4 NTP Servers

WAP571, WAP571EWAP121, WAP551, WAP561, WAP371, and WAP321 — 1 NTP Server

Step 3. Choose the international time zone in which the WAP operates from the Time Zone drop-down list.

Note: In this example, USA (Pacific) is chosen.

Step 4. (Optional) To adjust the system time for Daylight Saving Time (DST), check the Adjust Time for Daylight Savings check box. Once you check this, additional fields appear to let you choose the date and time to start and end DST.

Note: Day light saving is followed only in some countries. This option will not appear if you choose a country from the time zone list which does not use daylight saving.

Note: If you did not check the Adjust Time for Daylight Savings check box, skip to Step 8.

Step 5. In the Daylight Savings Start area, choose the day, time, and month on which the Daylight Saving period starts from the respective drop-down lists.

Step 6. In the Daylight Savings End area, choose the day, time, and month on which the Daylight Saving period ends from the respective drop-down lists.

Step 7. From the Daylight Savings Offset drop-down list, choose the number of minutes to add while daylight saving time is in progress.

Step 8. Click Save to save the configuration.

You should now have automatically configured the time settings on your WAP.

Configure Manual Time Settings

Step 1. Click the Manually radio button in the System Clock Source to set the system time manually.

Step 2. (Optional) Click Cloning next to the Clone PC Time to clone the system time settings from your local PC.

Step 3. From the System Date drop-down lists, choose the month, day, and year.

Step 4. From the System Time drop-down lists, choose the hours and minutes. All times are relative to the local time zone.

Step 5. From the Time Zone drop-down list, choose the international time zone in which the access point operates.

Note: In this example, USA (Pacific) is chosen.

Step 6. (Optional) To adjust the system time for Daylight Saving time (DST), check the Adjust Time for Daylight Savings check box. Once you check this, additional fields appear to let you choose the date and time to start and end DST.

Note: Day light saving is followed in some countries. This option will not appear if you choose a country from the time zone list which does not use day light saving.

Note: If you did not check the Adjust Time for Daylight Savings, then skip to Step 10.

Step 7. In the Daylight Savings Start area, choose the day, time, and month on which the Daylight Saving period starts from the respective drop-down lists.

Step 8. In the Daylight Savings End area, choose the day, time, and month on which the Daylight Savings period ends from the respective drop-down lists.