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C EmmonsFlag for United States of America

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Why is my Windows 2008 R2 DC time wrong?

I have a Windows 2008 R2 DC -- which runs as a VMware virtual machine.  I have it configured to an external time source, and the ESX Host/VM sync turned off.  It was brought to my attention yesterday that the domain time was 5 minutes ahead.  I can't figure out why? My configuation is below.  I typed w32tm /resync - and it corrected the time to accurate and has overnight updated everything.  I noted in the Event log that it has been 10 days since it synced, and that it sometimes syncs less frequently than than.  What governs how often it syncs -  and also is the VMTool time sync checkbox  - the only place that time sync between VMWARE Host/VM needs to be turned off?
Thanks.
C Emmons


C:\Windows\system32>w32tm /query /configuration
[Configuration]

EventLogFlags: 2 (Local)
AnnounceFlags: 5 (Local)
TimeJumpAuditOffset: 28800 (Local)
MinPollInterval: 6 (Local)
MaxPollInterval: 10 (Local)
MaxNegPhaseCorrection: 172800 (Local)
MaxPosPhaseCorrection: 172800 (Local)
MaxAllowedPhaseOffset: 300 (Local)

FrequencyCorrectRate: 4 (Local)
PollAdjustFactor: 5 (Local)
LargePhaseOffset: 50000000 (Local)
SpikeWatchPeriod: 900 (Local)
LocalClockDispersion: 10 (Local)
HoldPeriod: 5 (Local)
PhaseCorrectRate: 7 (Local)
UpdateInterval: 100 (Local)


[TimeProviders]

NtpClient (Local)
DllName: C:\Windows\system32\w32time.dll (Local)
Enabled: 1 (Local)
InputProvider: 1 (Local)
AllowNonstandardModeCombinations: 1 (Local)
ResolvePeerBackoffMinutes: 15 (Local)
ResolvePeerBackoffMaxTimes: 7 (Local)
CompatibilityFlags: 2147483648 (Local)
EventLogFlags: 1 (Local)
LargeSampleSkew: 3 (Local)
SpecialPollInterval: 3600 (Local)
Type: NTP (Local)
NtpServer: 0.pool.ntp.org,1.pool.ntp.org,2.pool.ntp.org (Local)

NtpServer (Local)
DllName: C:\Windows\system32\w32time.dll (Local)
Enabled: 1 (Local)
InputProvider: 0 (Local)
AllowNonstandardModeCombinations: 1 (Local)

VMICTimeProvider (Local)
DllName: C:\Windows\System32\vmictimeprovider.dll (Local)
Enabled: 1 (Local)
InputProvider: 1 (Local)
Avatar of Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
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and also is the VMTool time sync checkbox  - the only place that time sync between VMWARE Host/VM needs to be turned off?

Yes, this is correct, this is the only place, that VMware Tools will sync the time with the host, you can also check in the VM's *.vmx file on the datastore.
What time source are you using, and have you checked it's accurate and reachable?
Read over this could be a known issue

http://communities.vmware.com/message/755376
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ASKER

NtpServer: 0.pool.ntp.org,1.pool.ntp.org,2.pool.ntp.org (Local) - these are my External servers.  I see in the Event Log successful syncs -- just not very often - 10-14 days apart.  Also, typing w32tm /resync -- synced the time accurately - shouldn't sync occur more often?  How do I change than?  Also, reading the VM related article - I don't see my problem -- I forget to say I'm running ESX 4.1.  If I have Host/VM time sync turned off - shouldn't virtual time drift not matter?
Thanks
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
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Article says VMware Tools daemon corrects the guest operating system clock after certain events occur (suspension, snapshots,etc), even if periodic time synchronization is turned off. We had our hosts down recently for new SAN install and new fiber switch install.  I think perhaps VMs synced against hosts -- even though sync is OFF. But if that explains how the time got wrong -- why didn't PDC sync is back -- it last ran on 10/14 -- is that normal. Wouldn't I want it to run more often, and how/where do I set that?
do you have any other time sync events in the event logs?
Yes. 10/14/2011, 10/1/2011, 9/15/2011,8/11/2011,7/13/2011,6/29/2011,6/15/2011,5/11/2011 ...
Of this message:

Log Name:      System
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Time-Service
Date:          8/11/2011 3:25:36 AM
Event ID:      35
Task Category: None
Level:         Information
Keywords:      
User:          LOCAL SERVICE
Computer:      dc.apsu.edu
Description:
The time service is now synchronizing the system time with the time source 0.pool.ntp.org,1.pool.ntp.org,2.pool.ntp.org (ntp.m|0x1|0.0.0.0:123->199.4.29.166:123).