Time and Windows 2008 - How to force workstations to use PDC time

[shadow_man]

Hi,

I'd like to force my workstations to use the pdc's time and then have the pdc ref an ntp server to keep time up to date.

I have a problem where workstations times are out and its causing problems with the clock in system etc.

What the best way to do this - Server 2008

Thanks
J

 

[biometrics]

I've got the PC's here synced to the server, not exactly the same setup as you , but maybe this will help:

1. Create a Windows admin user "NTP" and change it's password to e.g. "NTP".
2. Open port 123 UDP in Windows Firewall.
3. Download from here: http://www.meinberg.de/english/sw/ntp.htm#ntp_nt_stable
4. Run setup e.g. [email protected]
5. On the config screen:
5.1. For the time server, select bottom option "Add local clock as last resort"
5.2. For clients, enter timer server's ip in "You can specify up to 9 NTP servers"
6. On the service screen select use existing user account and enter "NTP". It will then try to register and start the service. It will fail to start and offer to retry. Select No.
7. Go to Start/Control Panel/Admistratative Tools/Services. Select Network Time Protocol. Right click, Properties. Second tab "Log On". Change password to #1 above. Click Apply and you should get a confirmation. Then OK. Right click Network Time Protocol and select Start.

 

[biometrics]

Step 5.1 is what you'll need to change to get time from outside.

 

[shadow_man]

Thanks for all the detail. I'll have to go through it shortly when I have some time. For now I opted for the quick way out.

I just added a line in the startup script to ref the dc's time and change to it if it differs. I will at a later point in time set the dc up with an NTP server like you mention below.

Thanks
J

I've got the PC's here synced to the server, not exactly the same setup as you , but maybe this will help:

1. Create a Windows admin user "NTP" and change it's password to e.g. "NTP".
2. Open port 123 UDP in Windows Firewall.
3. Download from here: http://www.meinberg.de/english/sw/ntp.htm#ntp_nt_stable
4. Run setup e.g. [email protected]
5. On the config screen:
5.1. For the time server, select bottom option "Add local clock as last resort"
5.2. For clients, enter timer server's ip in "You can specify up to 9 NTP servers"
6. On the service screen select use existing user account and enter "NTP". It will then try to register and start the service. It will fail to start and offer to retry. Select No.
7. Go to Start/Control Panel/Admistratative Tools/Services. Select Network Time Protocol. Right click, Properties. Second tab "Log On". Change password to #1 above. Click Apply and you should get a confirmation. Then OK. Right click Network Time Protocol and select Start.

 

[biometrics]

Btw, it can take 5-10 minutes for all the PC's to sync. But once synced they are very close to each other, in fact I timed it with a video camera to within 50 ms of each other (I had syncronised countdown clock videos playing on the PC's and replayed it frame by frame).