Time adjustment

Windows 2003 has a default time sync interval of once every 15 minutes and Windows XP has a default time sync interval of every seven days. This value can be custom configured with the SpecialPollInterval value setting located in the system registry. This value can be edited in the system registry. Refer to: Synchronizing Win2003 domain controller or Synchronizing Windows XP for the location of this value in system registry.

Windows 2000 has a default time sync interval of every 45 minutes until the time successfully syncs, then every 8 hours thereafter. According to Microsoft, the interval can be changed by editing the system registry. Change the "Period" value using either Freq or SpecialSkew string values (i.e WeeklySpecialSkew, WeeklySpecialSkew, TriDailySpecialSkew, BidailySpecialSkew). However, we have never been able to successfully configure the system registry value to sync more often than the default of once every 8 hours so no further information is given in this document.

Refer to Microsoft's Windows Time Service tutorial for additional information on editing the system registry.

Windows NT specifies its synchronization interval in the w32time.ini file. Refer to instructions to edit the ini file for synchronization to the: Primary Server or Time server.

Windows 95/98 only re-syncs upon boot-up. The task scheduler can be used to configure more frequency synchronizations. Refer to synchronizing Win 95/98.

Keep in mind that the time server determines the local time of the PC. You can refer to this time as target time. For SNTP clients, if the target time is ahead of the PCs time, the time is immediately changed to the target time. If the Target time is behind the PCs time, the local clock is slewed over the next 20 minutes, unless it is more than 2 minutes out of synchronization, in which case the time is immediately set. For NTP clients (such as Windows 2003) the algorithm for adjusting computer time to the target time is more complicated.

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Redundant Time Servers

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Synchronizing Win2003 domain controller to a time server

Synchronizing Win2000 domain controller to a time server

Synchronizing Windows 2000 workstations to either a domain controller or a time server

Synchronizing Windows XP workstations to either a domain controller or a time server

Synchronizing Windows NT servers or workstations to either a domain controller or a time server

Synchronizing Windows 98/95 workstations to a domain controller