| Computer time synchronisation is highly | | | | In the right pane, right-click Enabled, |
| important in modern computer networks, | | | | then click Modify |
| precision and time synchronization is | | | | In the Edit DWord Value box, type 1 |
| critical in many applications, | | | | under Value data, then click OK. |
| particularly time sensitive | | | | Exit Registry Editor |
| transactions. Just imagine buying an | | | | Click Start, then Run then type the |
| airline seat only to be told at the | | | | following and press Enter: |
| airport that the ticket was sold twice | | | | Net stop w32time && net start w32time |
| because it was purchased afterwards on a | | | | To reset the local computers' time, type |
| computer that had a slower clock! | | | | the following on all computers except |
| Modern computers do have internal clocks | | | | for the time server which must not be |
| called Real Time Clock chips (RTC) that | | | | synchronised with itself: |
| provide time and date information. These | | | | W32tm/resync/rediscover |
| chips are battery backed so that even | | | | To configure Windows Time to use an |
| during power outages, they can maintain | | | | external time source |
| time but personal computers are not | | | | Run Registry Edit and locate the |
| designed to be perfect clocks. Their | | | | following: |
| design has been optimized for mass | | | | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlS |
| production and low-cost rather than | | | | tServicesW32Timeparameters |
| maintaining accurate time. | | | | In the right pane, right-click Type, |
| For many applications, this is can be | | | | then click Modify |
| quite adequate, although, quite often | | | | In the Edit Value box, under Value Data, |
| machines need time to be synchronised | | | | type NTP and then click OK. |
| with other PC's on a network and when | | | | Now as before in the Config folder, |
| computers are out of sync with each | | | | right-click AnnounceFlags, Modify and in |
| other problems can arise such as sharing | | | | the Edit DWORD Value box, under Value |
| network files or in some environments | | | | Data, type 5, then click OK. |
| even fraud! | | | | Locate and click the following |
| Microsoft Windows XP has a time | | | | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlS |
| synchronisation utility built into the | | | | tServicesW32TimeTimeProvidersNtpClient |
| operating system called Windows Time | | | | In the right pane, right-click |
| (w32time.exe) which can be configured to | | | | SpecialPollInterval, then click Modify. |
| operate as a network time server. It can | | | | In the Edit DWORD Value box, under Value |
| be configured to both synchronise a | | | | Data, type the number of seconds you |
| network using the internal clock or an | | | | want for each poll, ie 900 will poll |
| external time source. | | | | every 15 minutes, then click OK. |
| Note: Microsoft strongly recommends that | | | | Now enable the NtpServer: |
| you configure a time server with a | | | | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlS |
| hardware source rather than from the | | | | tServicesW32TimeTimeProvidersNtpServer |
| internet where there is no | | | | In the right pane, right-click Enabled, |
| authentication. | | | | then click Modify |
| To configure Windows Time service to use | | | | In the Edit DWord Value box, type 1 |
| the internal hardware clock, first check | | | | under Value data, then click OK. |
| that w32time is located in the system | | | | Now in the right pane, right-click |
| services list in the registry, to check: | | | | NtpServer, then Modify and in the Edit |
| Click Start, Run then type regedit then | | | | DWORD Value under Value Data type Peers, |
| click ok. | | | | then click OK. |
| Locate and then click the following | | | | To configure the time correction |
| registry entry: | | | | settings, locate: |
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlS | | | | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlS |
| tServicesW32Time | | | | tServicesW32Timeconfig |
| It is highly recommended that you back | | | | In the right pane, right-click |
| up the registry as serious problems may | | | | MaxPosPhaseCorrection, then Modify, in |
| occur if you modify the registry | | | | the Edit DWORD Value box, under Base, |
| incorrectly, modifications to the | | | | click Decimal, under Value Data, type a |
| registry are done at your own risk. | | | | time in seconds such as 3600 (an hour) |
| To begin configuration for an internal | | | | then click OK. |
| clock, click on Config in the w32Time | | | | Now go back and click: |
| folder. | | | | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlS |
| In the right pane, right-click | | | | tServicesW32Timeconfig |
| AnnounceFlags, then click modify. | | | | In the right pane, right-click |
| The 'AnnounceFlags' registry entry | | | | MaxNegPhaseCorrection, then Modify. |
| indicates whether the server is a | | | | In the Edit DWORD box under base, click |
| trusted time reference, 5 indicates a | | | | Decimal, under value data type the time |
| trusted source so in the Edit DWord | | | | in seconds you want to poll such as 3600 |
| Value box, under Value Data, type 5, | | | | (polls in one hour) |
| then click OK. | | | | Exit Registry |
| Network Time Protocol (NTP) is an | | | | Now to restart windows time service, |
| Internet protocol used for the transfer | | | | click Start, Run and type:net stop |
| of accurate time, providing time | | | | w32time && net start w32time |
| information along so that a precise time | | | | And on each computer, other than the |
| can be obtained | | | | domain controller, type: |
| To enable the Network Time Protocol; | | | | W32tm/resync/rediscover |
| NTPserver, locate and click: | | | | And that's it your time server should be |
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlS | | | | now up and running. |
| tServicesW32TimeTimeProvidersNtpServer | | | | |