I just wanted to chime in here as I was having the exact same problem. Turned out to be because of some configuration changes I made to ntp.conf in an attempt to prevent ntpd from listening on any of my network interfaces (security paranoid):
interface ignore wildcard interface listen 127.0.0.1 Apparently ntpd also uses these settings for outgoing connection attempts too. -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Touch seeded packages, which is subscribed to ntp in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1797872 Title: ntpd keeps Soliciting pool server Status in ntp package in Ubuntu: New Bug description: ntpd keeps printing "Soliciting pool server" in the syslog (once every 5 seconds). $ ntpq -c pe remote refid st t when poll reach delay offset jitter ============================================================================== 0.ubuntu.pool.n .POOL. 16 p - 64 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 1.ubuntu.pool.n .POOL. 16 p - 64 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 2.ubuntu.pool.n .POOL. 16 p - 64 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 3.ubuntu.pool.n .POOL. 16 p - 64 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 ntp.ubuntu.com .POOL. 16 p - 64 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 $ sudo ntpq -c rv associd=0 status=c016 leap_alarm, sync_unspec, 1 event, restart, version="ntpd 4.2.8p4@1.3265-o Fri Jul 6 20:10:51 UTC 2018 (1)", processor="x86_64", system="Linux/4.15.0-33-generic", leap=11, stratum=16, precision=-24, rootdelay=0.000, rootdisp=0.360, refid=INIT, reftime=00000000.00000000 Thu, Feb 7 2036 6:28:16.000, clock=df6ee808.934d239d Mon, Oct 15 2018 11:18:48.575, peer=0, tc=3, mintc=3, offset=0.000000, frequency=6.224, sys_jitter=0.000000, clk_jitter=0.000, clk_wander=0.000 I have changed nothing in the default configuration of ntp or the firewall. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04 Package: ntp 1:4.2.8p4+dfsg-3ubuntu5.9 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-33.36~16.04.1-generic 4.15.18 Uname: Linux 4.15.0-33-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.18 Architecture: amd64 CurrentDesktop: KDE Date: Mon Oct 15 11:17:45 2018 InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-04-20 (177 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170801) SourcePackage: ntp UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ntp/+bug/1797872/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages Post to : touch-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
