Jeff said:
Can anyone tell me how to set my Win2K Server to sync all
the clocks on each of the client computers on the network?
I'm running and Active Directory Domain.
Hi
For client computers, this should not be necessary on a Windows 2000 network.
By default, Windows 2000 computers in a Windows 2000 domain automatically
synchronize their time with a Windows 2000 Domain Controller. The Windows
2000 Domain Controllers establish a time synch hierarchy; one or more of
them should be configured to obtain time from a reliable outside source
(e.g. US Naval Observatory).
Some documentation extracts:
216734 How to Configure an Authoritative Time Server in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;216734
<quote>
Windows-based computers use the following hierarchy by default:
All client desktop computers nominate the authenticating domain controller
as their in-bound time partner.
All member servers follow the same process as client desktop computers.
Domain controllers may nominate the primary domain controller (PDC) operations
master as their in-bound time partner but may use a parent domain controller
based on stratum numbering.
All PDC operations masters follow the hierarchy of domains in the selection of
their in-bound time partner.
Following this hierarchy, the PDC operations master at the root of the forest
becomes authoritative for the organization, and you should configure the PDC
operations master to gather the time from an external source. This is logged
in the System event log on the computer as event ID 62.
</quote>
From the "Windows Time Service" white paper at the following Microsoft Web
site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/howitworks/security/wintimeserv.asp
<quote>
Windows Time Service
W32Time is installed by default on all Windows 2000-based computers
(Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server, Microsoft Windows
2000 Advanced Server). W32Time uses coordinated universal time (UTC), which
is based on an atomic time scale and is the correct term to use when talking
about time and time synchronization. UTC is the name for time that is
independent of time zone. Time zone information is stored in the computer's
registry and is added to the system time just before it is displayed to the
user.
The W32Time service starts automatically on computers that are joined to a
domain. For computers that are not joined to a domain, you can start the time
service manually. (See "Configuring W32 Time" later in this article.)
On computers that are joined to a domain, time synchronization takes place
when the W32Time service turns on during system startup. The Net Logon service
looks for a domain controller that can authenticate and synchronize time with
the client. When a domain controller is found, the client sends a request for
time and waits for a reply from the domain controller. This communication is
an exchange of SNTP packets intended to calculate the time offset and
roundtrip delay between the two computers.
</quote>
