Question

Windows 2003 Server Time Sync Issues

Asked by: stressedout2004

I noticed that my desktops and member servers keep getting messages that a time server could not be located.  I noticed that I do not see the port 123 listening when I use netstat.  I am also unable to telnet to port 123 on my domain controller which is the time server from my domain.  Any Ides?

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Asked On
2007-02-01 at 06:40:31ID22145327
Tags

time

,

server

,

2003

,

windows

Topic

Windows 2000 Operating System

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10

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Answers

 

by: SystmProgPosted on 2007-02-01 at 06:45:57ID: 18444415

Any firewall?

 

by: stressedout2004Posted on 2007-02-01 at 09:28:04ID: 18445908

I have an ISA server but the rule is enablded for the ports udp and tcp port 123.  
Here is one of the events  on one fo the servers:EventID:50
The time service detected a time difference of greater than 128 milliseconds  for 90 seconds. The time difference might be caused by synchronization with  low-accuracy time sources or by suboptimal network conditions. The time service is no longer synchronized and cannot provide the time to other clients or update  the system clock. When a valid time stamp is received from a time service  provider, the time service will correct itself.  

 

by: SystmProgPosted on 2007-02-01 at 18:57:07ID: 18449889

Event ID 50 - This indicates client and child DCs are using external time source or problem with either Domain Controller or Time service port.

You need to understand time sync feature in Windows properly.

It is not necessary to have a external time server. By default, your PDC domain is the authoritative time server in domain controller and it is set to sync time from External NTP server unless otherwise configured. All the clients sync time normally from their authenticated DC.

By default, only the first domain controller or so-called Root domain controller and finally so-called "PDC Emulator" is configured to be a Reliable Time Source.

If it doesn't exist you need to create it to make it ReliableTimeSource for other client computers and domain controllers.

Let me explain something:

By default client machines use *default heirarchy" to synchronize time. Clients will only sync with their own domain controllers in the domain. This is default bahviour and by design and to keep time closer between all PCs.

PDC is the 2nd highest stratum. Client will try to sync time with their own domain controller *unless* specifically you specify to do so. Becuase PDC is configured an authoritative server by default. It is configured using *ReliableTimeSource" entry in registry.

Stratum:

1     External NTP time source
2     PDC emulator of the forest root domain
3     Domain controllers in the forest root domain or PDC emulators in child domains
4     Workstations and member servers in the forest root domain or domain controllers in child domains
5     Workstations and member servers in child domains

Computers choose a time source according to a specific order of preference. This order, from most preferred to least preferred. The following table displays the preferences for Selecting a Time Source:

Preference     Computer                                     Location      Reliability of Time Source
1     Parent domain controller                              In-site                      Reliable
2     Local domain controller                                In-site                      Reliable
3     Parent domain controller                              In-site                      Not reliable
4     Local PDC emulator                                      In-site                     Not reliable
5     Parent domain controller                               Out-of-site               Reliable
6     Local domain controller                                 Out-of-site               Reliable
7     Parent domain controller                               Out-of-site               Not reliable
8     Local PDC emulator                                      Out-of-site                Not reliable

There is nothing much you need to do with *ReliableTimeSource* entry in registry. Simply edit the value and set it to 1 to make it Reliable time source for all computers in your network.

Moreover, you can also configure your PDC or Root Domain Controller to sync with hardware as a source time server but it is recommended that you configure your PDC to sync with an external time source.

How to configure an Authoritative Time server in Windows 2000:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q216734/

Make sure:

1. Time Service port is not being used by any other application.

2. If you had deleted a domain controller from your network, the DNS server shouldn't contain entries for old domain controller.

Open a command prompt > type SET > check *LOGONSERVER* variable. Now make sure this DC is configured to sync time from next domain controller or external time source e.i. time.windows.com.

Let us know.

 

by: SystmProgPosted on 2007-02-02 at 04:12:51ID: 18451618

You can also use PortQry that will tell you the exact reason - if its being blocked by a firewall or an application.

Check out here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/832919

Let us know.

 

by: stressedout2004Posted on 2007-02-05 at 06:53:15ID: 18468124

Here are todays new logs.  Just a side note:  
Event ID:12
The NTP server %1 isn't sync'd, time not set
Event ID:11
The NTP server \\fs2.ppct.world didn't respond

 

by: stressedout2004Posted on 2007-02-05 at 08:51:35ID: 18469162

How can I configure the PDC to not sync with it self so I can avoid the message below:

When the PDC master runs without using an external time source, the following event is logged in the Application log:

Time Provider NtpClient: This machine is configured to use the domain hierarchy to determine its time source, but it is the PDC emulator for the domain at the root of the forest, so there is no machine above it in the domain hierarchy to use as a time source. It is recommended that you either configure a reliable time service in the root domain, or manually configure the PDC to synchronize with an external time source. Otherwise, this machine will function as the authoritative time source in the domain hierarchy. If an external time source is not configured or used for this computer, you may choose to disable the NtpClient.

 

by: SystmProgPosted on 2007-02-05 at 09:06:24ID: 18469286

Check out here:

How to configure an Authoritative Time server in Windows 2000:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q216734/

 

by: stressedout2004Posted on 2007-02-07 at 13:13:25ID: 18488674

Im using windows 2003 server standard,  The article that I am refering to is:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/816042

I notice that on step 4:  I did not see the option for NtpServer in the registry, so i crated that value and entered the two times servers that I want to synchronize to. How can I test to see if the time server is working?  I decided to not use my Primary DC as a time server and use an external time server.

timeserver.cs.umb.edu,0x1
bonehed.lcs.mit.edu,0x1
ntp.usno.navy.mil,0x1  

4. Specify the time sources. To do this, follow these steps:a.  Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters\NtpServer
b.  In the right pane, right-click NtpServer, and then click Modify.
c.  In Edit Value, type Peers in the Value data box, and then click OK.

Note Peers is a placeholder for a space-delimited list of peers from which your computer obtains time stamps. Each DNS name that is listed must be unique. You must append ,0x1 to the end of each DNS name. If you do not append ,0x1 to the end of each DNS name, the changes made in step 5 will not take effect.
 

 

by: stressedout2004Posted on 2007-02-07 at 13:29:14ID: 18488831

I already configurded the server for time syncronization and it keeps throwing the same darn message. What do I do???????????

Time Provider NtpClient: This machine is configured to use the domain hierarchy to determine its time source, but it is the PDC emulator for the domain at the root of the forest, so there is no machine above it in the domain hierarchy to use as a time source.  It is recommended that you either configure a reliable time service in the root domain, or manually configure the PDC to synchronize with an external time source.  Otherwise, this machine will  function as the authoritative time source in the domain hierarchy.  If an external  time source is not configured or used for this computer, you may choose to disable  the NtpClient.

 

by: kjboughtonPosted on 2008-02-12 at 15:02:03ID: 20880159

Set HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\w32time\TimeProviders\NtpClient\Enabled to 0 on the PDC.  Then stop and restart the w32time server either through the services applet or by typing the following at a command prompt: 'net stop w32time && net start w32time'

You should notice that the time service starts very fast and Event ID 12 for the W32Time service is no longer logged.  I found this actually improved my server's boot speed as other services dependent on W32Time didn't have to wait for it to time out trying to synchronize with an outside time server when none was provided.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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