Tech Tip

Tip #7 – Being On-time (keeping your computer clocks synchronized)!

This is not about an alarm, but rather do your computers have the correct time of day? This article will address how you maintain the time on a domain network. If you ever tried to change the time on your computer and it keeps going back, you need to read this!

Executive Summary

Maintaining a synchronized time of day on your network can be very important, especially when it comes to backups, synchronization and database time stamping. Time stamps are critical in a lot of backup strategies and transactions oriented systems.

This article describes how to setup an external time source for your server (domain controller) and therefore your network.

Where do computers get their time?

In a Microsoft domain with a single domain controller (one server), all the computers in the domain get their time from the domain controller (time keeper). If there are multiple domain controller, the time master (Operations Master PDC) is in charge.

For standalone computers, they keep their own time based on their internal clock which is stored in the BIOS and is powered by a battery on the motherboard. The time is usually set by the manufacturer or when you first configure the system with an operating system.

Synchronizing your time with the world!

You can synchronize the time of your primary domain controller or your standalone PC by using NTP (Network Time Protocol). Unfortunately, Microsoft does not provide a simple method to set it up. You can follow the steps below to set it up on a domain controller (Windows Server 2003 or Small Business Server 2003) or click here to set up synchronization on an XP computer.

Microsoft calls this "Configuring the Windows Time service to use an external time source". It is done by making changes/additions to the Windows Registry, so let's get started. NTP works through a multi-tiered server network where there is one source the feeds all the level 1 servers, then there are another set of level 2 servers. Public access to the time server network is generally through the level 2 servers.

  1. Start Registry Editor by going to Start->Run and typing regedit into the window and click OK.
  2. Make the following changes to the registry in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time section.
    Registry Values for an external NTP Time source
    Key Value Name Value Data Type
    ...\Parameters

    Type

    		 NTP String
    ...\Config
    		 5 5 DWORD
    ...\TimeProviders
    		NtpServer 1 DWORD
    ...\Parameters
    		 NtpServer ( Peers- see below ) String
    ..\TimeProviders\NtpClient
    		 SpecialPollInterval 900 (decimal) DWORD
    ..\Config
    		MaxPosPhaseCorrection 1800 (decimal) DWORD
    ..\Config
    		MaxNegPhaseCorrection 1800 (decimal) DWORD
  3. That completes the configuration. To make it start working, you need to restart the w32time service. This can be done from a command prompt by typing:
    "net stop w32time && net start w32time"
    or by restarting the server.
  4. It may not synchronize right away but it should by synchronized within an hour or so along with all the other computers on the domain.

That's how you synchronize your computer time. If you would like some help getting your network synchronized, give us a call today.

Computer Purchases

Just Biz Technology Services is a volume reseller for Dell computers and because of this volume, we can usually get you a better price than wht you will find posted on the Dell website.

Please do not purchase a computer without asking for our free recommendation. We often see businesses "get a great deal" on a computer from a local retail outlet but do not order the proper hardware or software configuration for their needs. They end up spending more money on the software than if they purchased OEM software (which is generally priced significantly less than retail) with the system purchase and have to pay more money to have us upgrade the system.

Similarly, buying a computer with too little memory can be costly as well. If you get a computer with 512MB of RAM and you later realize you need to upgrade to 1GB, if you have two 256MB sticks and only two slots for the sticks, then you have to remove the existing memory and buy two 512MB memory sticks. We recommend at least 1 GB of memory. Depending on the applications you use, you may be able to get by with 512MB on XP, however, don't forget about Windows Vista coming within the next 3 months. This new Microsoft operating system will take even more memory as well as enhanced graphics power.

Today's memory (both DDR and DDR2) works best in matched pairs. “Matched” means that they have the same speed and size, ideally the exact same stick.

Just Biz – Technology Services

If you are not using our services, make Just Biz – Technology Services your IT department. We provide networking (wired or wireless), computer administration, computer sales, installation, backup support. We can also recommend many different service from our list of preferred vendors in Central Florida from everything from phone systems and copiers to WEB design and search engine optimization, even insurance and payroll providers.

We are an authorized reseller for Dell, Microsoft, SonicWALL, NetGear, TrendMicro, Symantec and other products and services.

Call us today for a free technology assessment!

Just Biz - Technology Services
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