| Computer time synchronisation is highly | | | | |
| important in modern computer networks, | | | | Net stop w32time && net start w32time |
| precision and time synchronization is | | | | |
| critical in many applications, particularly | | | | To reset the local computers' time, type the |
| time sensitive transactions. Just imagine | | | | following on all computers except for the |
| buying an airline seat only to be told at the | | | | time server which must not be synchronised |
| airport that the ticket was sold twice | | | | with itself: |
| because it was purchased afterwards on a | | | | |
| computer that had a slower clock! | | | | W32tm/resync/rediscover |
| | | | |
| Modern computers do have internal clocks | | | | To configure Windows Time to use an external |
| called Real Time Clock chips (RTC) that | | | | time source |
| provide time and date information. These | | | | |
| chips are battery backed so that even during | | | | Run Registry Edit and locate the following: |
| power outages, they can maintain time but | | | | |
| personal computers are not designed to be | | | | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetSer |
| perfect clocks. Their design has been | | | | icesW32Timeparameters |
| optimized for mass production and low-cost | | | | |
| rather than maintaining accurate time. | | | | In the right pane, right-click Type, then |
| | | | click Modify |
| For many applications, this is can be quite | | | | |
| adequate, although, quite often machines need | | | | In the Edit Value box, under Value Data, type |
| time to be synchronised with other PC's on a | | | | NTP and then click OK. |
| network and when computers are out of sync | | | | |
| with each other problems can arise such as | | | | Now as before in the Config folder, |
| sharing network files or in some environments | | | | right-click AnnounceFlags, Modify and in the |
| even fraud! | | | | Edit DWORD Value box, under Value Data, type |
| | | | 5, then click OK. |
| Microsoft Windows XP has a time | | | | |
| synchronisation utility built into the | | | | Locate and click the following |
| operating system called Windows Time | | | | |
| (w32time.exe) which can be configured to | | | | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetSer |
| operate as a network time server. It can be | | | | icesW32TimeTimeProvidersNtpClient |
| configured to both synchronise a network | | | | |
| using the internal clock or an external time | | | | In the right pane, right-click |
| source. | | | | SpecialPollInterval, then click Modify. |
| | | | |
| Note: Microsoft strongly recommends that you | | | | In the Edit DWORD Value box, under Value |
| configure a time server with a hardware | | | | Data, type the number of seconds you want for |
| source rather than from the internet where | | | | each poll, ie 900 will poll every 15 minutes, |
| there is no authentication. | | | | then click OK. |
| | | | |
| To configure Windows Time service to use the | | | | Now enable the NtpServer: |
| internal hardware clock, first check that | | | | |
| w32time is located in the system services | | | | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetSer |
| list in the registry, to check: | | | | icesW32TimeTimeProvidersNtpServer |
| | | | |
| Click Start, Run then type regedit then click | | | | In the right pane, right-click Enabled, then |
| ok. | | | | click Modify |
| | | | |
| Locate and then click the following registry | | | | In the Edit DWord Value box, type 1 under |
| entry: | | | | Value data, then click OK. |
| | | | |
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetSer | | | | Now in the right pane, right-click NtpServer, |
| icesW32Time | | | | then Modify and in the Edit DWORD Value under |
| | | | Value Data type Peers, then click OK. |
| It is highly recommended that you back up the | | | | |
| registry as serious problems may occur if you | | | | To configure the time correction settings, |
| modify the registry incorrectly, | | | | locate: |
| modifications to the registry are done at | | | | |
| your own risk. | | | | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetSer |
| | | | icesW32Timeconfig |
| To begin configuration for an internal clock, | | | | |
| click on Config in the w32Time folder. | | | | In the right pane, right-click |
| | | | MaxPosPhaseCorrection, then Modify, in the |
| In the right pane, right-click AnnounceFlags, | | | | Edit DWORD Value box, under Base, click |
| then click modify. | | | | Decimal, under Value Data, type a time in |
| | | | seconds such as 3600 (an hour) then click OK. |
| The 'AnnounceFlags' registry entry indicates | | | | |
| whether the server is a trusted time | | | | Now go back and click: |
| reference, 5 indicates a trusted source so in | | | | |
| the Edit DWord Value box, under Value Data, | | | | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetSer |
| type 5, then click OK. | | | | icesW32Timeconfig |
| | | | |
| Network Time Protocol (NTP) is an Internet | | | | In the right pane, right-click |
| protocol used for the transfer of accurate | | | | MaxNegPhaseCorrection, then Modify. |
| time, providing time information along so | | | | |
| that a precise time can be obtained | | | | In the Edit DWORD box under base, click |
| | | | Decimal, under value data type the time in |
| To enable the Network Time Protocol; | | | | seconds you want to poll such as 3600 (polls |
| NTPserver, locate and click: | | | | in one hour) |
| | | | |
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetSer | | | | Exit Registry |
| icesW32TimeTimeProvidersNtpServer | | | | |
| | | | Now to restart windows time service, click |
| In the right pane, right-click Enabled, then | | | | Start, Run and type:net stop w32time && net |
| click Modify | | | | start w32time |
| | | | |
| In the Edit DWord Value box, type 1 under | | | | And on each computer, other than the domain |
| Value data, then click OK. | | | | controller, type: |
| | | | |
| Exit Registry Editor | | | | W32tm/resync/rediscover |
| | | | |
| Click Start, then Run then type the following | | | | And that's it your time server should be now |
| and press Enter: | | | | up and running. |