Ubuntu Ditches Old Time Sync Tool for a New Rust-Based Solution
Canonical is making a significant change to Ubuntu’s time synchronization by replacing its current tool with ntpd-rs, a Rust-based version of the Network Time Protocol (NTP). This initiative is part of Canonical’s effort to enhance security and performance within the system. To support this transition, Canonical has become a Gold Sponsor of the Trifecta Tech Foundation, committing €40,000 annually to fund memory-safe software projects, including ntpd-rs.
The goal is to integrate this Rust version as the default time sync client and server in Ubuntu 27.04, with an early version available for testing in Ubuntu 26.10, slated for release in October. This move will ultimately replace other existing services such as chrony, linuxptp, and gpsd.
Currently, Ubuntu uses NTP to keep its system clock synchronized by communicating with internet-based time servers. The upcoming enhancements aim to maintain this synchronization while providing increased security through Rust’s memory safety features.
Previous changes to Ubuntu’s time sync infrastructure occurred in version 25.10, where systemd-timesyncd was replaced with chrony, which added Network Time Security (NTS) to improve overall system security. Similar motivations drive the shift to ntpd-rs, with Canonical emphasizing the inherent stability and security Rust can offer to its processes.
The chair of the Trifecta Tech Foundation, Erik Jonkers, remarked that this funding will help guarantee the future security and reliability of various projects, including additional work on ntpd-rs and related components, such as AppArmor rules. This collaboration follows Canonical’s prior support for the foundation’s development of sudo-rs, which was implemented in Ubuntu 25.10 and continued into the 26.04 LTS release.
Jon Seager, Ubuntu’s VP of Engineering, expressed enthusiasm for deepening Canonical’s partnership with the Trifecta Tech Foundation, highlighting the positive impact these transitions will have for the broader ecosystem. As part of Ubuntu’s ongoing integration of Rust into its operations, the time sync change will likely be seamless for users, offering enhancements that remain largely unnoticed in daily usage while bolstering the platform’s security posture.