Accurate and consistent time synchronization is essential across virtual infrastructure components to gather accurate and useful data.

Consistent time synchronization across monitored infrastructure eases the task of reconciling, collating, debugging, and the tracing of log information between related devices. Time synchronization is also important for transactional applications where timestamps must be recorded accurately.

The vRealize Business Standard appliance includes two mechanisms for time synchronization: VMware Tools™ and the Network Time Protocol (NTP) service. VMware Tools uses the time of the VMware ESXi™ host the appliance is running on for time synchronization. NTP synchronizes time against a precise time source, usually synchronizing itself with an atomic clock.

VMware recommends that virtual appliances use NTP to synchronize for time-sensitive environments. The hardened vRealize Business Standard appliance allows time to be configured with the VAMI user interface.