How to synch your domain with an external time-server

After you get serious and set up a domain at home, suddenly the option to synch with internet time vanishes from all your computers. They're expecting to synch with the domain controller. Great, but how do you synch the domain controller with a time-server? Like this (at a command prompt, obviously)

net time /setsntp:0.au.pool.ntp.org
net stop w32time
net start w32time

You have to roll the service to make it pick up the change.

This server is for Queensland, Australia. Use Google to find a time-server for your locale.

Published Saturday, 28 June 2008 9:52 AM by peterw

Comments

# re: How to synch your domain with an external time-server

Saturday, 28 June 2008 10:16 AM by Mark

Hi,

I am trying to sync an ip based telemetry system to a ntp server. In the setup I have the option of defining an ntp server address together with a port number - have been told I should use port 123 - but system doesn't seem to update - any thoughts?

Thanks for your time.

Mark

mark.grimes@macsc.com.au

# re: How to synch your domain with an external time-server

Saturday, 28 June 2008 10:01 PM by davidr

Actually, the best source is the NTP Pool Project:

http://www.pool.ntp.org/

There are zones for all over the world. A good sample for Australia is a timeserver name of au.pool.ntp.org.

# re: How to synch your domain with an external time-server

Sunday, 29 June 2008 8:51 PM by davidr

Mark - you need to make sure that your firewall is allowing UDP port 123 out. No other port or protocol will do - NTP servers are all UDP port 123 (don't get confused with TCP port 123).

# re: How to synch your domain with an external time-server

Wednesday, 2 July 2008 7:22 PM by peterw

Mark, I've been thinking about it but Dave's beaten me to the punch. I'm pretty sure he's right - you've probably opened your firewall for TCP 123 when you actually need UDP 123.

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