jzrobbie
asked on
Windows NTP Setup: Domain PCs not sync with PDC server
Hi,
We have two DCs on windows server 2008R2, DC1 and DC2.
DC1 is a PDC emulator and DC2 only has infrastructure master role.
I recently configured externl NTP on DC1 without any issues. but when I run command on domain PCs and find the they are syncing with DC2 instead of DC1
DC2 is syncing from DC1
On a domain PC
On DC1
On DC2
My questions are
1. Are all domain controllers can be a NTP server?
2. If DC2 is offline, will other PC automatically to sync with DC1?
3. How can I change domain PCs to sync with DC1?
Thank You
We have two DCs on windows server 2008R2, DC1 and DC2.
DC1 is a PDC emulator and DC2 only has infrastructure master role.
I recently configured externl NTP on DC1 without any issues. but when I run command on domain PCs and find the they are syncing with DC2 instead of DC1
DC2 is syncing from DC1
On a domain PC
c:\w32tm /query /status
Leap Indicator: 0(no warning)
Stratum: 5 (secondary reference - syncd by (S)NTP)
Precision: -6 (15.625ms per tick)
Root Delay: 0.2587585s
Root Dispersion: 0.2337305s
ReferenceId: 0x0A050128 (source IP: 10.5.1.40)
Last Successful Sync Time: 27/07/2016 1:40:40 PM
Source: DC2.domain.local
Poll Interval: 14 (16384s)
On DC1
C:\Users\administrator.domain>w32tm /query /source
time2.google.com
On DC2
C:\Users\administrator.domain>W32tm /query /source
DC1.domain.local
My questions are
1. Are all domain controllers can be a NTP server?
2. If DC2 is offline, will other PC automatically to sync with DC1?
3. How can I change domain PCs to sync with DC1?
Thank You
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@2: I presume that's true (in classic NTP, when configured to both servers, it would. With W32time, I'm unsure)
@3: With W32time: I think you can't config that behaviour.
Speaking of W32time, the timekeeping service in Windows: I 've experienced enough trouble with that piece of crap when in NTP mode to avoid using it whenever I can.
For a mature timekeeping service with well documented behaviour, I'd recommend this:
Use a Windows port of the classic *ix NTP service on your DCs, and sync 'em with NTP time sources from pool.ntp.org. For VMs, ensure to disable the time sync features of VMware (to timekeeping services on one clock will cause time chaos). The NTP service software is free. Easy to install and configure, works like a charm and is stable as a rock. And it is nicer when it comes to one of the rare cases of troubleshooting.
See my article on NTP basics for the "How To".
The classic NTP client automatically selects the time source it evaluates to be the most reliable by means of startum and network latency (and repeatedly reevaluates that) ... W32time does that, too, in NTP mode. The NTP client could be configured to prefer one or more servers among others, a feature I havn't seen with W32time.
The NTP service has a low ressource footprint, therefore the NTP functionality could be hooked onto existing machines or VM's like webservers, ftp servers, mailservers or database hosts - even in a DMZ - without visible performance impact.
If securtity is an issue, you might as well use local radio controlled clock appliances (see the article for that, too) in your LAN who serve times very reliable and precise.