Windows Time Issues

[stosti]

HELP

Something on my network is changing the time. This is the only error in the
event log. This server is set to look at a government clock. I'm not sure
what this error is all about.

Details
Product: Windows Operating System
ID: 12
Source: W32Time
Version: 5.2
Symbolic Name: MSG_DOMAIN_HIERARCHY_ROOT
Message: Time Provider NtpClient: This machine is configured to use the
domain hierarchy to determine its time source, but it is the PDC emulator for
the domain at the root of the forest, so there is no machine above it in the
domain hierarchy to use as a time source. It is recommended that you either
configure a reliable time service in the root domain, or manually configure
the PDC to synchronize with an external time source. Otherwise, this machine
will function as the authoritative time source in the domain hierarchy. If an
external time source is not configured or used for this computer, you may
choose to disable the NtpClient.

Thanks

 

[Newell White]

On your PDC, with regedit.exe, look at
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters

What value is reported for key 'Type'? My guess is NT5DS

If it is not NTP, make it so, and check that key 'NtpServer' points to URL
of your external source. Then restart the Windows Time Service on the PDC.

There are a couple of useful KB articles - look for "Time server" and "Time
service".
--
Newell White


"stosti" wrote:

> HELP
>
> Something on my network is changing the time. This is the only error in the
> event log. This server is set to look at a government clock. I'm not sure
> what this error is all about.
>
> Details
> Product: Windows Operating System
> ID: 12
> Source: W32Time
> Version: 5.2
> Symbolic Name: MSG_DOMAIN_HIERARCHY_ROOT
> Message: Time Provider NtpClient: This machine is configured to use the
> domain hierarchy to determine its time source, but it is the PDC emulator for
> the domain at the root of the forest, so there is no machine above it in the
> domain hierarchy to use as a time source. It is recommended that you either
> configure a reliable time service in the root domain, or manually configure
> the PDC to synchronize with an external time source. Otherwise, this machine
> will function as the authoritative time source in the domain hierarchy. If an
> external time source is not configured or used for this computer, you may
> choose to disable the NtpClient.
>
> Thanks
>

 

[stosti]

Nope... It's set to NTP and NTPServer is pointing at a government clock. Mt
XP work stations change time plus or munis 90 minutes of the correct time
randomly 24 hours a day. Very strange...

Please send me the articals to follow. i will again verify the settings. i
believe they are all correct though.

Regards,
Scott

"Newell White" wrote:

> On your PDC, with regedit.exe, look at
> HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters
>
> What value is reported for key 'Type'? My guess is NT5DS
>
> If it is not NTP, make it so, and check that key 'NtpServer' points to URL
> of your external source. Then restart the Windows Time Service on the PDC.
>
> There are a couple of useful KB articles - look for "Time server" and "Time
> service".
> --
> Newell White
>
>
> "stosti" wrote:
>
> > HELP
> >
> > Something on my network is changing the time. This is the only error in the
> > event log. This server is set to look at a government clock. I'm not sure
> > what this error is all about.
> >
> > Details
> > Product: Windows Operating System
> > ID: 12
> > Source: W32Time
> > Version: 5.2
> > Symbolic Name: MSG_DOMAIN_HIERARCHY_ROOT
> > Message: Time Provider NtpClient: This machine is configured to use the
> > domain hierarchy to determine its time source, but it is the PDC emulator for
> > the domain at the root of the forest, so there is no machine above it in the
> > domain hierarchy to use as a time source. It is recommended that you either
> > configure a reliable time service in the root domain, or manually configure
> > the PDC to synchronize with an external time source. Otherwise, this machine
> > will function as the authoritative time source in the domain hierarchy. If an
> > external time source is not configured or used for this computer, you may
> > choose to disable the NtpClient.
> >
> > Thanks
> >

 

[Newell White]

This taught me most of what I needed for our little domain:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/816042/en-us

Although the error message appears on your PDC, the problem is with the XP
clients.
Do their event logs show anything?
Why is 90 minutes the magic number?
Do you have clients with other OS getting time from the PDC? Do they behave
properly?

FWIW there is no problem with a PDC not synching exernally, that is how we
run our domain.
--
Newell White


"stosti" wrote:

> Nope... It's set to NTP and NTPServer is pointing at a government clock. Mt
> XP work stations change time plus or munis 90 minutes of the correct time
> randomly 24 hours a day. Very strange...
>
> Please send me the articals to follow. i will again verify the settings. i
> believe they are all correct though.
>
> Regards,
> Scott
>
> "Newell White" wrote:
>
> > On your PDC, with regedit.exe, look at
> > HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters
> >
> > What value is reported for key 'Type'? My guess is NT5DS
> >
> > If it is not NTP, make it so, and check that key 'NtpServer' points to URL
> > of your external source. Then restart the Windows Time Service on the PDC.
> >
> > There are a couple of useful KB articles - look for "Time server" and "Time
> > service".
> > --
> > Newell White
> >
> >
> > "stosti" wrote:
> >
> > > HELP
> > >
> > > Something on my network is changing the time. This is the only error in the
> > > event log. This server is set to look at a government clock. I'm not sure
> > > what this error is all about.
> > >
> > > Details
> > > Product: Windows Operating System
> > > ID: 12
> > > Source: W32Time
> > > Version: 5.2
> > > Symbolic Name: MSG_DOMAIN_HIERARCHY_ROOT
> > > Message: Time Provider NtpClient: This machine is configured to use the
> > > domain hierarchy to determine its time source, but it is the PDC emulator for
> > > the domain at the root of the forest, so there is no machine above it in the
> > > domain hierarchy to use as a time source. It is recommended that you either
> > > configure a reliable time service in the root domain, or manually configure
> > > the PDC to synchronize with an external time source. Otherwise, this machine
> > > will function as the authoritative time source in the domain hierarchy. If an
> > > external time source is not configured or used for this computer, you may
> > > choose to disable the NtpClient.
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > >