Network Time

Setting the time automatically is just so simple™. Run this ruin:

net time /setsntp:"ntp2a.mcc.ac.uk ntp2b.mcc.ac.uk"

Port 123 must be open

So how DO you know it's all working?

turn off the time service

net stop w32time

set the time out by 10 minutes

C:\>time
The current time is: 15:54:45.17
Enter the new time: 16:04

check it

C:\>time
The current time is: 16:04:43.35
Enter the new time:

type:

C:\>w32tm -once

.....

W32Time: *****SetSystemTime()*****
W32Time: END Line 1258
W32Time: Time was 06min 08.201s
W32Time: Time is 57min 08.431s
W32Time: Error 539770ms
W32Time: BEGIN:CheckLeapFlag
W32Time: END:Line 584
W32Time: BEGIN:ComputePostTimeData
W32Time: BEGIN:ComputeInterval
W32Time: END Line 2452
W32Time: BEGIN:ComputeSleepStuff
W32Time: Computed stagger is 0ms, bias is 0ms
W32Time: Time until next sync - 2699.960s
W32Time: END:Line 794
W32Time: END:Line 220
W32Time: END:Line 195
W32Time: BEGIN:TermTime
W32Time: TimeMMCleanup()
W32Time: BEGIN:FinishCleanup
W32Time: BEGIN:TsUpTheThread
W32Time: END Line 1385
W32Time: Time service stopped.
W32Time: END:Line 407

now check the time, and restart the service

C:\>time
The current time is: 15:58:39.37
Enter the new time:

C:\>net start w32time

The Windows Time service was started successfully.

Finally make sure the time service starts automatically:

How to make one of your networked computers a time server

Change this registry entry to make one of your Win2K systems into an SNTP server.

In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32 Time\Parameters, find the REG_DWORD subkey called LocalNTP. Change the subkey value from 0 to 1.

Restart the Windows Time Service. You're now the proud owner of a SNTP server.

I performed the above on CARLSMUM.

Check that you have a local time server running:

C:\>net time
Current time at \\CARLSMUM is 5/19/2001 4:19 PM

The command completed successfully.

By setting all other machines to point to CARLSMUM, I don't "pester" Manchester University excessively.

C:\>net time /setsntp:carlsmum
The command completed successfully.

These other machines must also run the w32time service automatically.

Links

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q216/7/34.ASP

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/periodic/period01/TimeWin2K.htm