Synchronizing a Windows Network with an NTP Time Server
Synchronizing a Windows 2000, 2003 or NT network is based on the use of Windows Time Service; also known as W32Time. Windows implemented this service to comply with Kerberos V5 authentication protocol defined by RFC 1510 that requires accurate timestamps. Therefore it is important that a secure network can access a secure and reliable time source such as a stratum 1 time server. Spectracom offers time servers (sometimes known as a master clock) that synchronize to official time standards (such as GPS satellite signals), to offers authentic time from inside the network (behind the firewall).
This Application Note provides detailed information on time synchronizing Windows network with a time server. Although it is written generically to be used for any time server that uses network time protocol (NTP), these procedures have been tested with Spectracom NTP time servers and NetClock® master clocks.
Download the W32Time Network Time Synchronization application note as a pdf.
| Servers |
Workstations |
Time protocol |
Time sync service |
| Windows 2003 |
|
NTP |
W32Time |
| Windows 2000 |
Windows 2000 |
SNTP |
W32Time |
| |
Windows XP |
SNTP/NTP |
W32Time |
| Windows NT |
Windows NT |
SNTP |
W32Time from Y2K resource kit |
| |
Windows 98/95 |
SNTP |
Net Time |
| Table: Network environment applicable for this application note. |
Windows Time Synchronization Topics:
Background
How to synchronize to a time server or master clock
Troubleshooting