A player keeps its clock through Network Time Protocol, and an accurate clock is a requirement rather than a nicety. Security depends on it, and so does playback: a screen with the wrong time runs your schedule at the wrong time.
By default players use ntp.ubuntu.com.
On a corporate network
Either allow ntp.ubuntu.com through the firewall on port 123, or point players at a time server you already run.
Adding your own servers
Time servers are set through the Network Config Generator, the same tool used for Wi-Fi and static addressing.
- Open the Network Config Generator.
- Turn on Configure NTP settings.
- Enter your time server, and use the add button to list more than one.
- Generate the file and apply the
network.yamlfrom a USB drive, as in Connect to Wi-Fi.
ntppool.org is a source of public servers if you do not run your own.
Listing more than one is worth doing wherever the primary server is not guaranteed. A player that cannot set its clock reports an error rather than quietly carrying on, so a single unreachable server takes the screen out of service.
If you see a time server error
See Diagnostic errors for what to check.