No IPv6 pool addresses?

Client Configuration and Development
,
1

This morning we found that za.pool.ntp.org & pool.ntp.org does NOT have any IPv6 in them anymore?

hvisage@ThisMini:~|⇒  dig -t ns pool.ntp.org

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t ns pool.ntp.org
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 23015
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 9, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 1

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 512
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;pool.ntp.org.			IN	NS

;; ANSWER SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		43200	IN	NS	e.ntpns.org.
pool.ntp.org.		43200	IN	NS	c.ntpns.org.
pool.ntp.org.		43200	IN	NS	f.ntpns.org.
pool.ntp.org.		43200	IN	NS	b.ntpns.org.
pool.ntp.org.		43200	IN	NS	d.ntpns.org.
pool.ntp.org.		43200	IN	NS	g.ntpns.org.
pool.ntp.org.		43200	IN	NS	h.ntpns.org.
pool.ntp.org.		43200	IN	NS	a.ntpns.org.
pool.ntp.org.		43200	IN	NS	i.ntpns.org.

;; Query time: 179 msec
;; SERVER: 2620:fe::fe#53(2620:fe::fe)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:03:35 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 191

hvisage@ThisMini:~|⇒  for i in a b c d e f g h i; do dig -t AAAA za.pool.ntp.org @${i}.ntpns.org. ;done

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA za.pool.ntp.org @a.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 42464
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;za.pool.ntp.org.		IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	b.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310602 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 191 msec
;; SERVER: 2a0e:5c41:2:394:5054:ff:fe53:d711#53(2a0e:5c41:2:394:5054:ff:fe53:d711)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:26 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 126

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA za.pool.ntp.org @b.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 29324
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;za.pool.ntp.org.		IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	a.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310529 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 152 msec
;; SERVER: 2a0d:5440::40#53(2a0d:5440::40)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:26 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 126

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA za.pool.ntp.org @c.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 49348
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;za.pool.ntp.org.		IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	g.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310602 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 152 msec
;; SERVER: 2a12:bec4:1821:286::53#53(2a12:bec4:1821:286::53)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:26 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 126

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA za.pool.ntp.org @d.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 11736
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;za.pool.ntp.org.		IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	g.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310602 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 152 msec
;; SERVER: 2a03:b0c0:1:d0::fef:d001#53(2a03:b0c0:1:d0::fef:d001)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:27 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 126

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA za.pool.ntp.org @e.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 3933
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;za.pool.ntp.org.		IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	a.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310602 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 157 msec
;; SERVER: 2a06:e881:7000::d0a:29ac#53(2a06:e881:7000::d0a:29ac)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:27 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 126

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA za.pool.ntp.org @f.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 34460
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;za.pool.ntp.org.		IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	h.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310602 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 158 msec
;; SERVER: 2a01:4f8:1c1b:9c3d::1#53(2a01:4f8:1c1b:9c3d::1)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:27 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 126

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA za.pool.ntp.org @g.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 3655
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;za.pool.ntp.org.		IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	g.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310602 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 150 msec
;; SERVER: 2a03:b0c0:1:d0::fef:d001#53(2a03:b0c0:1:d0::fef:d001)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:28 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 126

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA za.pool.ntp.org @h.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 26182
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;za.pool.ntp.org.		IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	a.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310602 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 267 msec
;; SERVER: 2620:95:4001::23#53(2620:95:4001::23)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:28 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 126

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA za.pool.ntp.org @i.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 53137
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;za.pool.ntp.org.		IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	a.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310602 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 187 msec
;; SERVER: 2620:95:4002::23#53(2620:95:4002::23)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:28 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 126

hvisage@ThisMini:~|⇒  for i in a b c d e f g h i; do dig -t AAAA pool.ntp.org @${i}.ntpns.org. ;done

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA pool.ntp.org @a.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 47576
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;pool.ntp.org.			IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	b.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310602 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 191 msec
;; SERVER: 2a0e:5c41:2:394:5054:ff:fe53:d711#53(2a0e:5c41:2:394:5054:ff:fe53:d711)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:37 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 123

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA pool.ntp.org @b.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 33710
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;pool.ntp.org.			IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	b.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310670 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 153 msec
;; SERVER: 2a0d:5440::40#53(2a0d:5440::40)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:37 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 123

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA pool.ntp.org @c.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 40736
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;pool.ntp.org.			IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	g.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310602 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 153 msec
;; SERVER: 2a12:bec4:1821:286::53#53(2a12:bec4:1821:286::53)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:37 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 123

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA pool.ntp.org @d.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 21487
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;pool.ntp.org.			IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	g.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310602 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 148 msec
;; SERVER: 2a03:b0c0:1:d0::fef:d001#53(2a03:b0c0:1:d0::fef:d001)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:37 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 123

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA pool.ntp.org @e.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 13847
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;pool.ntp.org.			IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	a.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310602 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 164 msec
;; SERVER: 2a06:e881:7000::d0a:29ac#53(2a06:e881:7000::d0a:29ac)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:38 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 123

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA pool.ntp.org @f.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 44281
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;pool.ntp.org.			IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	h.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310602 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 158 msec
;; SERVER: 2a01:4f8:1c1b:9c3d::1#53(2a01:4f8:1c1b:9c3d::1)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:38 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 123

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA pool.ntp.org @g.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 27668
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;pool.ntp.org.			IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	g.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310602 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 153 msec
;; SERVER: 2a03:b0c0:1:d0::fef:d001#53(2a03:b0c0:1:d0::fef:d001)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:38 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 123

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA pool.ntp.org @h.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 27585
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;pool.ntp.org.			IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	a.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310602 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 184 msec
;; SERVER: 2620:95:4001::23#53(2620:95:4001::23)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:38 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 123

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> -t AAAA pool.ntp.org @i.ntpns.org.
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 43255
;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1
;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;pool.ntp.org.			IN	AAAA

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
pool.ntp.org.		1300	IN	SOA	a.ntpns.org. hostmaster.pool.ntp.org. 1792310602 5400 5400 1209600 3600

;; Query time: 20 msec
;; SERVER: 2620:95:4002::23#53(2620:95:4002::23)
;; WHEN: Sun Oct 18 10:04:38 SAST 2026
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 123
2

Welcome to the pool, @hvisage!

Those don’t have, and never had, IPv6. Only names prefixed by “2”, e.g., 2.za.pool.ntp.org, or 2.pool.ntp.org, do (provided the zone does have any IPv6 servers in it, obviously)

3

And nobody seems to know why.

1 Like
7

the IPv4 limitations are worse for me

Personally I see both, but IPv6’s problems are much less once the benefits are understood… the freedom I’ve got in doing stuff while IPv4 had been a hamstrunging effect … well… your opinion you can have

yeah, the worse tech wons 'cause it’s… worse an “Easy” to get off the ground, not because they were beter, but just 'cause they had a extremely low barrier to entry, en then their enshittification effects was ignored 'cause of economical reasons, and now we have economical reasons to push for IPv6.

well.. the bad techs had been forced on us by economical powers ;(

yeah, marketing and cheapness ;(

and that doesn’t mean that you should be as negative an derogatory against those that have been implementing the beter solution and are reaping the benefits after they’ve done the sweat and tears to understand it properly.

That said, I’d love to know the TECHNICAL REASONS why only 2.*.pool.ntp.org can have IPv6, and not all of them??

8

We’ve been here before, and that thread was closed because the discussion had been going in circles. No point of continuing in circles here, with the same lack of outcome.

Regarding the question of more IPv6-enabled zones, @Ask wrote in that previous thread that he then was finishing cleaning up after the infrastructure move earlier this year, and working on the migration to PostgreSQL, and when that is done, IPv6 for more zones would be next.

The PostgreSQL update is available on the beta site, and when there’s no reports of issues in the coming weeks, it’ll get pushed to the production site, and likely will need some stabilization there. But then, once that is done, and while there’s no specific date yet, it seems to me that IPv6 enabled on more zones is starting to get within reach - without need to keep pushing, just a bit more patience maybe (compared to the wait so far).

1 Like