| The Microsoft Windows operating systems | | | | Windows 2000 has an integrated time |
| from Windows 2000 onwards has a built-in | | | | synchronisation service, installed by |
| time synchronization service - 'Windows | | | | default, which can synchronise to a NTP |
| Time'. This article describes how to | | | | Server. Indeed, by manipulating registry |
| configure the Microsoft Windows 2003 and | | | | settings, the service can act as both an |
| Windows 2000 time service as a NTP time | | | | SNTP client and SNTP server to |
| server. It shows how to modify registry | | | | synchronise other network clients. |
| entries to configure the Microsoft | | | | Before modifying registry entries it is |
| Windows Time Service. The Windows Time | | | | good a dood idea to backup the registry |
| service allows a Windows network to | | | | settings. The registry can then be |
| provide synchronisation of all machines | | | | restored in the event of problems being |
| within a domain. | | | | encountered. |
| Windows 2003 Server Configuration | | | | The 'Windows Time' service should be |
| Windows 2003 has expanded on the | | | | present in the systems service list. The |
| original Windows 2000 time service by | | | | application executable is 'w32time.exe'. |
| providing a true NTP implementation. The | | | | The parameter list for w32time can be |
| time service, installed by default, can | | | | found in the registry at: |
| synchronise to a NTP Server. Indeed, by | | | | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentContro |
| manipulating registry settings for the | | | | Set\Services\W32Time\Parameters |
| service it can act as both an NTP server | | | | Windows 2000 can operate as an NTP |
| and client to synchronise other network | | | | client and synchronise to an NTP server |
| clients in the domain. | | | | by setting parameter 'NTP Server' to the |
| The 'Windows Time' service should be | | | | IP address of a NTP Server. |
| present in the systems service list. The | | | | By default, the Microsoft Windows 2000 |
| application executable is 'w32time.exe'. | | | | machine will synchronise to the |
| The parameter list for w32time can be | | | | specified NTP time server every 8 hours |
| found in the registry at: | | | | (or 3 times a day), which may not be |
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentContro | | | | enough to maintain accurate |
| Set\Services\W32Time | | | | synchronisation. The period can be |
| Before modifying registry entries it is | | | | reduced by setting the 'Period' |
| good a dood idea to backup the registry | | | | parameter to how many times a day |
| settings. The registry can then be | | | | synchronisation is required. Setting the |
| restored in the event of problems being | | | | period to 48 will activate |
| encountered. | | | | synchronisation with the NTP server once |
| To configure a Windows 2003 machine to | | | | every half hour. |
| synchronise to an external NTP server, | | | | Windows 2000 can also be configured to |
| edit the following registry entries: | | | | act as an NTP server by setting the |
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentContro | | | | 'Local NTP' parameter to '1'. |
| Set\Services\W32Time\Config\AnnounceFlag | | | | After editing any of the registry |
| s | | | | entries for the windows time service, |
| Set the 'Announce Flags' registry entry | | | | the service must be restarted for the |
| to 5, to indicate a reliable time | | | | settings to take effect. The services |
| source. | | | | can be started or stopped from the |
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentContro | | | | service control applet in |
| Set\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NTPCl | | | | 'administrative tools'. Alternatively |
| ient\SpecialPollInterval | | | | the service can be controlled via the |
| The 'Special Poll Interval' registry | | | | DOS net command thus:net start |
| entry defines the period in seconds that | | | | w32timenet stop w32time |
| the Windows 2003 machine should poll the | | | | NTP Troubleshooting |
| NTP server. A recommended value is 900 | | | | A number of problems can be encountered |
| seconds, which equates to every 15 | | | | when configuring the Windows Time |
| minutes. | | | | Service. NTP operates using the UDP |
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentContro | | | | protocol over TCP/IP. Therefore the TCP |
| Set\Services\W32Time\Parameters\NtpServe | | | | IP network infrastructure must be |
| r | | | | operational for NTP to be effective. |
| The 'NTP Server' parameter is used to | | | | Synchronisation issues may arise when |
| provide a list of IP addresses or DNS | | | | NTP attempts to synchronise to an |
| names, separated by a space, of NTP | | | | inaccurate time reference or if network |
| servers that the Windows 2003 machine | | | | delays are excessive. |
| can synchronise to. | | | | Synchronising Time on Network Devices |
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentContro | | | | As well as synchronising Microsoft |
| Set\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NTPSe | | | | Windows servers and workstations, NTP |
| rver\Enabled | | | | can also be used to synchronise network |
| Changing the 'Enabled' flag to the value | | | | devices, such as hubs, switches and |
| 1 enables the NTP Server. | | | | routers. Any network device that can |
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentContro | | | | synchronise to a NTP server can be |
| Set\Services\W32Time\Parameters\Type | | | | pointed to the Windows server to achieve |
| Change the server type to NTP by | | | | time synchronisation. In this way the |
| specifying 'NTP' in the 'Type' registry | | | | whole network and accompanying |
| entry. | | | | infrastructure can be synchronised. |
| Windows 2000 Time Service Configuration | | | | |