Question

Multiple time sources specified

Asked by: iecu

Hi all,

Suppose I have included multiple time sources by setting this regsitry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters\ntpserver
I would like to know which one shall be used to do time sync. if all time sources are accessible.

10.11.10.1,0x1 10.11.10.2,0x1 10.11.10.3,0x1

From my observation, it seems that the first clock 10.11.10.1 shall be used. Is this always true?

Also, in case 10.11.10.1 fails, will the time source left (10.11.10.2 & 10.11.10.3) be used automatically? Please advise. Thanks.



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Asked On
2009-10-05 at 23:12:43ID24787866
Topic

Windows 2003 Server

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Answers

 

by: Psy053Posted on 2009-10-05 at 23:15:11ID: 25502206

Sources are processed left to right.

 

by: iecuPosted on 2009-10-07 at 01:12:25ID: 25513034

Hi Psy053,

By setting two time sources 10.11.10.2 & 10.11.10.10.1, I found that sometime the ntp client will use the second time source instead, not the first time source set.

How can the Windows Time service determine which time source to use? Or just radnomly selected?

Please advise. Thanks

 

by: Psy053Posted on 2009-10-07 at 02:20:30ID: 25513371

It should do it left to right.

Have you checked system logs to see if there are any related errors?

 

by: iecuPosted on 2009-10-07 at 20:35:08ID: 25522201

Hi Psy053,

Thre is no error message. In the Windows system event log, I found the messages below.
W32Time is using the 2nd time source. The settings of the registry key NTPServer is "10.11.10.70 10.11.10.71"

10/7/2009,2:17:47 PM,W32Time,Information,None,35,N/A,Server_07,The time service is now synchronizing the system time with the time source 10.11.10.71 (ntp.m|0x0|10.11.15.95:123->10.11.10.71:123).

10/7/2009,2:07:23 PM,W32Time,Information,None,37,N/A,Server_07,The time provider NtpClient is currently receiving valid time data from 10.11.10.70 (ntp.m|0x0|10.11.15.95:123->10.11.10.70:123).
10/7/2009,2:07:23 PM,W32Time,Information,None,37,N/A,Server_07,The time provider NtpClient is currently receiving valid time data from 10.11.10.71 (ntp.m|0x0|10.11.15.95:123->10.11.10.71:123).

Please check if I did anything wrong. Thanks.

 

by: Psy053Posted on 2009-10-07 at 23:06:12ID: 25522615

Everything looks fine.

Instead of having your settings as
10.11.10.1,0x1 10.11.10.2,0x1 10.11.10.3,0x1

You could try changing them to
10.11.10.1,0x1 10.11.10.2,0x02 10.11.10.3,0x02
Which should mean that 10.11.10.2 and 10.11.10.3 will only be used if 10.11.10.1 is not contactable.

I've found this article which may be useful for you:
http://blogs.msdn.com/w32time/archive/2008/02/26/configuring-the-time-service-ntpserver-and-specialpollinterval.aspx

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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