Windows Timekeeping Configuration

Configure the Windows Time Service

In an Active Directory domain-based network, this should only have to be done on the PDC.

Windows 2000

To configure a Windows 2000 Server for Network Time Protocol (NTP), enter the following commands:

C:\>net time /setsntp:pool.ntp.org
The command completed successfully.

C:\>net stop w32time
The Windows Time service is stopping.
The Windows Time service was stopped successfully.

C:\>w32tm -once
W32Time: BEGIN:InitAdjIncr
W32Time: Adj 156250 , Incr 156250  fAdjust 0

C:\>net start w32time
The Windows Time service is starting.
The Windows Time service was started successfully.

Windows Server 2003

Windows Server 2003 Forest Root Domain Controller servers are configured like this:

C:\>W32tm /config /manualpeerlist:pool.ntp.org /syncfromflags:manual
C:\>W32tm /config /update

The default sync interval for the Windows Time Service is three times a day. If that isn't good enough, you can adjust it...but it takes a registry edit.

Windows Server 2008

Locate the domain controller where you will configure network time:

C:\>netdom /query fsmo

Then, on the domain controller:

W32tm /config /manualpeerlist:0.us.pool.ntp.org,1.us.pool.ntp.org,2.us.pool.ntp.org /syncfromflags:manual /reliable:yes
w32tm /resync

If your time is off by too much (more than 3600 seconds), you'll have to set the time manually with the Date and Time applet.

Qwery your current configuration like this:

w32tm /query /configuration

Check the Event Viewer for any error messages.

If for some reason you need to clear the configuration or start over:

net stop w32time
w32tm /unregister
w32tm /register
net start w32time

VMware Client

The most accurate way to keep guest operating system time synchronized with real time is to use the VMware Tools time synchronization function.

To enable VMware Tools time synchronization in the guest:

Right-click the VMware icon in the System tray on the task bar and choose Open VMware Tools.
On the Options tab, check the Time synchronization between the virtual machine and the host operating system box.
Click OK to close the dialog box.

You can disable the Windows Time service from the Services control panel in the guest.

Right-click My Computer and choose Manage.
Double-click Services and Applications.
Double-click Services.
Scroll to Windows Time; right-click and choose Properties.
Click the Startup type selection box and choose Disable.
If the service status is Started, click Stop.
Click OK to close the Properties dialog box.

It's a good idea to run a time synchronization tool on the host, for best accuracy.

More Info

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;223184

< Prev		Next >

Sonora Communications, Inc.