[windows2000] Re: Accurate Windows time service?

  • From: "Bridget Sullivan" <BSullivan@xxxxxxxx>
  • To: <windows2000@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2004 13:04:29 -0700

Thanks for the feedback... I had seen that document, but in the
introduction is where MS states it is "loosely synchronized" and "This
service is not designed for use by applications that require greater
precision."

Unfortunately we need that extra precision since we are a radio station
and many of our on air systems and controller breaks require the exact
time. Some of the systems are servers that do not get rebooted or logged
into on a regular basis, so I don't think the logon option will work.
I'll try updating the freq setting to see if that works for the station
machines.

Thanks!

Bridget Sullivan
System Administrator
KQED | Public TV and Radio
-----Original Message-----
From: windows2000-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:windows2000-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mike Dillinger
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2004 10:35 AM
To: windows2000@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [windows2000] Re: Accurate Windows time service?

Message from "Bridget Sullivan" on 10/28/04 09:51 AM PT quoted:
> Hi list, anyone know of a very accurate time service that can run on a
> Windows 2000 network? We have an issue where the client computers are
> occasionally lagging about 2 seconds behind the domain controller
which
> is supposed to control the time. The other day all of the client
> computers showed 2 seconds behind our server for a period of time (a
few
> hours or so). The problem has gone away and they are all on the same
> time again, but the issue has many worried that Windows time is not
> accurate enough. Microsoft acknowledges this and dubs the Windows time
> service "loosely synchronized" across the network.
> 
> They were using an older time synch client which requires all of the
> clients to have the Daylight savings option unchecked, but that screws
> up Outlook shared calendars and kerberos logons are a nightmare and I
am
> really trying to avoid dealing with all of that again. So, if there is
a
> very accurate time service that can work with the daylight savings
> options checked, wed love to know about it.

I have been using the Windows Time Service (running on Windows 2000) for

years now with no problems.  You can select the daylight savings option.

You might want to take a peek at this link from Microsoft:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/howitworks/security/wintim
eserv.asp
On the right-hand side, you can click on a Word document to read.
Scroll 
down to the section that says "Configuring W32Time".  If you take a peek
at 
the registry settings, there is a registry entry called "Period".  Here
you 
can select the time update intervals.  The default setting of
SpecialSkew 
has always worked for me.  If your PC clocks are drifting 2 seconds over
8 
hours, I wouldn't personally worry about it.  If every 8 hours isn't 
frequent enough, there is a registry setting for "freq", meaning how
many 
times per day you want to update.  You could also use that.

Also from my experience - if your PC clocks are drifting too much (on
the 
slow end), then it usually means it's time for a new motherboard
battery.

-MikeD
********************************************************
This Weeks Sponsor StressedPuppy.com Games
Feeling stressed out? Check out our games to
relieve your stress.
http://www.StressedPuppy.com
********************************************************
To Unsubscribe, set digest or vacation
mode or view archives use the below link.

http://thethin.net/win2000list.cfm
********************************************************
This Weeks Sponsor StressedPuppy.com Games
Feeling stressed out? Check out our games to
relieve your stress.
http://www.StressedPuppy.com
********************************************************
To Unsubscribe, set digest or vacation
mode or view archives use the below link.

http://thethin.net/win2000list.cfm

Other related posts: