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w32time

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Windows Time Settings

Set the PDC Time

  1. First, locate your PDC Server. Open the command prompt and type:

    netdom /query fsmo

  2. Log in to your PDC Server and open the command prompt.

    1. Check if the PDC is a HyperV VM
    2. If it is, log into the host
    3. Right-click on the VM and open the properties
    4. On the left, go down to the services and turn off the time sync service
    5. Return to the PDC and continue

  3. Stop the W32Time service:

    net stop w32time

  4. Configure the external time sources

    w32tm /config /syncfromflags:manual /manualpeerlist:"0.pool.ntp.org 1.pool.ntp.org 2.pool.ntp.org 3.pool.ntp.org” /update

  5. Make your PDC a reliable time source for the clients.

    w32tm /config /reliable:yes

  6. Start the w32time service:

    net start w32time

  7. The Windows time service should begin synchronizing the time. You can check the external NTP servers in the time configuration by typing:

    w32tm /query /configuration

Fix the time source on a domain member

  1. Check the current settings

    w32tm /query /status

    Most likely, it will return something similar to the following, pay attention to the source.

    Leap Indicator: 3(not synchronized)
Stratum: 0 (unspecified)
Precision: -23 (119.209ns per tick)
Root Delay: 0.0000000s
Root Dispersion: 0.0000000s
ReferenceId: 0x00000000 (unspecified)
Last Successful Sync Time: unspecified
Source: Local CMOS Clock
Poll Interval: 10 (1024s)

  2. Restart the time service

    net stop w32time
net start w32time

  3. Update the settings

    w32tm /config /update

  4. Sync settings from the domain

    w32tm /resync /rediscover

  5. Confirm it is querying the domain now

    w32tm /query /status

    It should return something similar to the following, note the updated source.

    Leap Indicator: 0(no warning)
Stratum: 4 (secondary reference - syncd by (S)NTP)
Precision: -23 (119.209ns per tick)
Root Delay: 0.0475434s
Root Dispersion: 14.8991085s
ReferenceId: 0xC0A803E3 (source IP:  192.168.3.227)
Last Successful Sync Time: 7/15/2019 1:21:37 PM
Source: DC1.domain.local
Poll Interval: 10 (1024s)

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