In most cases, a domain joined computer is automatically configured to obtain time from the PDC emulator in the domain. This is generally desired and simple. You can verify this configuration by using:
w32tm /query /statusThe value listed for Source will be the name of the PDC emulator. If it is configured to use static time sources instead of the PDC emulator, you can reset it to use the PDC emulator with the following:
w32tm /config /syncfromflags:domhier /updateThe PDC emulator should be configured to use a reliable time source. In most cases, this will be an NTP time source on the Internet.
The NTP Pool project provides a set of NTP servers that are publicly available as time sources. The benefit of using a pool is that a single NTP server in the pool being offline will not affect your time synchronization. Some of the available pools are:
- ca.pool.ntp.org
- us.pool.ntp.org
- mx.pool.ntp.org
- uk.pool.ntp.org
To manually specify a timesource on your PDC emulator use the following command:
w32tm /config /syncfromflags:manual /manualpeerlist:"ca.pool.ntp.org" /updateOther useful time resources:
- Windows Time Service Tools and Settings: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/b43a025f-cce2-4c82-b3ea-3b95d482db3a
- NTP Pool Project (list of NTP pools): http://www.pool.ntp.org/en/
Note that you should never use an NTP country pool other than the country you are in. If multiple servers must be specified, you can use 0.ca.pool.ntp.org, 1.ca.pool.ntp.org, 2.ca. pool.ntp.org and so on.
ReplyDeleteIf your country pool is too small (this should never happen) then there are also continental, regional, and global pools - see the NTP pool website for details.
Also, if you are configuring a large number of hosts to all poll public NTP servers, the project asks that you register your own sub domain with them for load-balancing purposes (e.g. pool.ubuntu.ntp.org, pool.redhat.ntp.org and similar).