Update time via WGM?

[Guest theeldergeek]

Trying to get all my iMac's to have the same time on them as our time server, but cannot see how to do this via WGM, if indeed it is possible?

 

Our Xserve is set to use a time server, but our client machine times are all different.

 

Am I going to have to manually enter the time server in on each client machine?

[AntonioRocco]

Hi

 

This is not something that can be done using WorkGroup Manager. You want Apple Remote Desktop (ARD). Add client workstations to a List - make sure the local admin name and password is the same. That way they can be easily added as one. Select them all and send this unix command from the pre-defined Presets

 

systemsetup -setnetworktimeserver whateveryouwantittobe

 

Run the command as root. You can specify an IP address or better still the fully qualified domain name.

 

If you don't have ARD you should consider buying it. Yet another way of doing this is via SSH. Open an SSH Terminal connection and send the command as already outlined. You can open numerous SSH connections from one source.

 

However you have to enable SSH first on each workstation - if you've not already done so? If you've not done this it will mean going round each one logging in as the local admin and ticking the relevant box in the Sharing Preferences Pane. Whilst you're there you may as well set the Network Time Server!

 

You could have pre-defined this setting in your NetBoot Images.

 

Like a lot of things begin at the end to start at the beginning. Stick with it as it does make sense.

 

HTH?

 

Antonio Rocco (ACSA)

[Guest theeldergeek]

I'll give this a whirl on Monday when I'm back at the office - one thing I don't quite understand though, is "run the command as root". Do you mean on the client, or the machine on which I am using ARD? All the other other criteria you mention, I have, i.e. ARD, local admin/pass all the same.

 

Thanks.

[HodgeHi]

In ARD. When you click on the unix option in the tool bar you get a window that pops up. In this window it gives you the option to either choose current console user on target computer (the user currently logged in) or a User that you specify. You would need to enter Root as the user since this would be the only user allowed to do this change i think. I may have chosen admin. Try either of them if admin doesn't work then try root. The root password is usually the same as the local admin password (well it is on OS X Server) unless you change it.

 

Also to save time typing you can choose from the templates. This choice is found on the same pop up window at the top-right. Take a look at them. There are quite a few templates worth taking notice of. They can save you a lot of time.

 

Hope this helps a little.

[Guest theeldergeek]

In ARD. When you click on the unix option in the tool bar you get a window that pops up. In this window it gives you the option to either choose current console user on target computer (the user currently logged in) or a User that you specify. You would need to enter Root as the user since this would be the only user allowed to do this change i think. I may have chosen admin. Try either of them if admin doesn't work then try root. The root password is usually the same as the local admin password (well it is on OS X Server) unless you change it.

 

Also to save time typing you can choose from the templates. This choice is found on the same pop up window at the top-right. Take a look at them. There are quite a few templates worth taking notice of. They can save you a lot of time.

 

Hope this helps a little.

 

All done!

 

Worked a treat. Thanks guys.