Best way / method to sync time between servers.

[mac_shinobi]

I have seen this as a common issue with regards to synching the computers and servers and was just curious about the best way to achieve time / date synchronization ?

[beeswax]

this may not be the best way to do it, but it may be useful for you

Net Time to look into.

At my last school there was an icon in the sys tray of the server, and this brought up a little program called Net Time. You can Google it. I haven't seen it before or since.

 

cheers

 

beeswax

[beeswax]

net time

 

my previous attempt to create a link seems to have failed. hopefully this'll work

 

beeswax

[catbert]

Configure a reliable time service in a domain

 

how time service works

 

if you in a ad domain, using net time has it's limitations, you would be better to configure a domain controller as a reliable time server, with that server then syncing time external to your site.

 

the pdc emulator within the domain should be the first the reliable time service, as all workstation try to sync time with a dc and the dc's sync with the pdc emulator. if you only have one dc then all you need to do is configure that server to be reliable time source and use the below ntp pool address to sync the time on that server.

 

syncing with uk.pool.ntp.org would be a good idea. although just one address, there are several time servers that repsond to the address. uses round robin to contact them.

 

 

Hope this helps

 

Alan

[Ric_]

configure one of your DCs with the correct time and then use the following command in a astartup script to make sure your PCs get their time:

 

net time \\servername /set /y

 

[kingswood]

For 2003 servers and XP, you could use the Computer Configuration Administrative Templates to enable and configure NTP clients and servers and also to specify some global parameters for time sources (under System node under Windows Time Service).

 

Other than that there has been some very good advice here regarding time on a domain.

 

Paul

[Dos_Box]

I use net time. With a flat LAN setup it saves time and effort and takes seconds to add to a logon script.

[mac_shinobi]

Configure a reliable time service in a domain

 

how time service works

 

if you in a ad domain, using net time has it's limitations, you would be better to configure a domain controller as a reliable time server, with that server then syncing time external to your site.

 

the pdc emulator within the domain should be the first the reliable time service, as all workstation try to sync time with a dc and the dc's sync with the pdc emulator. if you only have one dc then all you need to do is configure that server to be reliable time source and use the below ntp pool address to sync the time on that server.

 

syncing with uk.pool.ntp.org would be a good idea. although just one address, there are several time servers that repsond to the address. uses round robin to contact them.

 

 

Hope this helps

 

Alan

 

You said "you would be better to configure a domain controller as a reliable time server"

 

so just as a thought and correct me if I am wrong, to set up the first domain controller as a reliable time server would it be viable to use atomic clock to keep the first server up to date with regards to using the correct time ?

[GrumbleDook]

The DC with majority of FSMO roles should be pointed at your ISPs time server ... or failing that pointed at a reliable time server at a UK base (UKERNA used to be nice about this ... but I haven't seen a published list for around 2 years now) There are plenty of free SNTP hosts you can connect to.

 

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q262680 can give you more details.

[GrumbleDook]

Further to the above post you need to look at the second tier NTP servers for British Isles ... and ignore tick.tanac.net ... I don't think it is running anymore. The guy running it emigrated and not all services he was kind enough to previously offer are still running.

[tarquel]

[topic moved to more appropriate place - left a shadow in case you wondered where it went guys ]