D. Evans develops Windows SNTPNTP time server synchronisation solutions that ensure accurate time on PC's and networks. Dave has been heavily involved in the development of dedicated Windows time server systems, NTP synchronized digital clock systems and atomic clock synchronization products. Click here to find out more about Windows Time Server solutions.
The latest Microsoft Windows operating systems have a time synchronisation utility installed by default called ‘Windows Time’. The Windows time service allows a Microsoft network to provide time synchronisation of machines in a domain. This article introduces how to configure the Microsoft Windows 2000 and 2003 operating systems to operate as a SNTPNTP Time Server. The article discusses how to change Windows registry entries to configure the Time Service.
Before modifying any Windows registry settings, it is a good idea to save the registry. In the even of any difficulties, the registry can be restored to its former state.
Windows 2000 Time Service
Windows 2000 has an integrated network time synchronization service, installed by default, which can be configured to synchronize to a Time Server. In fact, by changing associated registry settings, the service can act as both a time client and a time server to synchronize other network time clients.
The Windows Time service should be present in the systems service list. The application executable is 'w32time.exe'. The parameter list for time service should be present in the in the registry at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesW32TimeParameters
The Windows 2000 operating system can operate as a time client and synchronise to a time server by setting the parameter 'NTP Server' to the IP address of a Time Server.
By default, the Windows 2000 machine will synchronize to the specified time server every 8 hours, or 3 times a day. This may not be enough to maintain accurate synchronization and can be easily increased. Setting the ‘Period’ parameter to how many times each day synchronisation is required can reduce the period. Setting the ‘Period’ parameter to 48 will activate synchronization with the time server once every half hour.
The Windows 2000 operating system can also be configured to act as a time server by setting the 'Local NTP' registry setting to '1'.
After changing any of the registry settings for the windows time service, the service must be restarted for the settings to take effect. The time service can be started or stopped from the service control applet in the Administrative Tools menu. The service can also be controlled via the DOS net command thus:
‘net start w32time’ and ‘net stop w32time’
Windows 2003 Time Service
With Windows 2003, Microsoft has expanded on the original Windows 2000 SNTP time service by providing a true NTP implementation. The Windows 2003 time service, installed by default, can synchronise to a NTP Server. Indeed, by changing registry settings, the time service can act as both a time server and client to synchronize other time clients in the domain.
The 'Windows Time' service should be present in the systems service list. The application executable is 'w32time.exe'. The parameter list for the Windows 2003 time service should be present in the registry at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesW32Time
To configure the Windows 2003 operating system to synchronize to an external time server, edit the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesW32TimeParametersType
Set the ‘Type’ registry entry to ‘NTP’, which specifies synchronization to a NTP time server.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesW32TimeTimeProvidersNTPClientSpecialPollInterval
The ‘Special Poll Interval’ registry entry defines the period in seconds that the Windows 2003 operating system should poll the time server. A recommended value is 900, which equates to a polling period of every 15 minutes.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesW32TimeConfigAnnounceFlags
Set the ‘Announce Flags’ registry entry to 5 indicating a reliable time reference.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesW32TimeTimeProvidersNTPServerEnabled
Changing the ‘Enabled’ flag to the value 1 enables the NTP Time Server.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesW32TimeParametersNtpServer
The ‘NTP Server’ parameter is used to provide a list of DNS names or IP addresses, separated by a space, of time servers that the Windows 2003 operating system can synchronize to.
Troubleshooting the Time Service
A number of isuues may be encountered when configuring the Microsoft Windows Time Service. SNTP and NTP operates using the UDP protocol over TCP/IP. Therefore, the TCP/IP network protocol must be active for SNTPNTP to operate. Synchronisation issues may also arise when SNTPNTP attempts to synchronise to an inaccurate time server reference or if network delays are excessive.
Synchronising Network Device and Components
In addition to synchronizing Microsoft Windows servers and workstations, time servers can also be used to synchronise network devices, such as switches, routers and hubs. Any network infrastructure that can synchronise to a NTP or SNTP time server can be pointed to the Windows time server to obtain synchronisation. In this way the whole network and accompanying infrastructure can be accurately synchronised to a time reference.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- How to Use the GPS Clock
- NTP GPS Server - Using Satellite Time Signals
- Computers, Communications, Atomic Clocks and the NTP Server
- From satellite navigation to the NTP time server, atomic clocks are used the world over
- Configuring an Authoritative Time Server on a Windows 2000 Server
- Choosing GPS or Msf as a Timing Reference for Ntp Servers
- A Guide to Time Synchronisation With Windows Vista
- Windows Vista: Time Servers, Synchronisation and Time Zone Advice




Find A Lost Relative With Free People Search Engines-Find A Lost Relative
By: Franck Lin | 02/01/2010A free lost relative search is something that is in high demand these days.If you want to find a lost relative, it would definitely be easier to look online rather than perform a physical search. Free people search sites are available in countries like the United States. The downside to using free sites is that they are usually only available in progressive countries.
Ext3 journaled File system – A study
By: Betsy T | 01/01/2010A study of journaled ext3 file system
What caused the black screens in Windows 7?
By: John Russell | 31/12/2009Prevx company issued a statement to their customers and fix the problem, downloaded by 50,000 users.
Tutorial to Create a Windows XP Password Reset Disk
By: Fiona | 31/12/2009Creating a Windows XP password reset disk is a great way to protect yourself from the possibility of forgetting your account password. With it, you can easily reset Windows XP password and get right in to Windows XP.It's true that there are ways to recover lost Windows passwords without a password reset disk but they are often complicated and time consuming.Be proactive by creating a password reset disk right now. With a password reset disk, you don't ever have to worry about forgetting your
Tutorial to Create a Windows Vista Password Reset Disk
By: Fiona | 31/12/2009Creating a Windows Vista password reset disk can really come in handy if you forget your account password. With it, you can easily reset your password and get right in to Windows Vista.While there are ways to recover lost passwords without a password reset disk, they are often complicated and time consuming. Be proactive by creating a password reset disk today. With a password reset disk, forgetting your password is no longer a crisis.
Visual C Runtime Error Fix-C Runtime Error
By: Franck Lin | 31/12/2009The "Microsoft Visual C Runtime Error" usually occurs when your running some programs, surfing the web, or playing games online. This is a frustrating problem that occurs often but fortunately there is a easy solution to this runtime error.The microsoft visual c runtime library error can be an indication of further problems with Windows that can be compounded if left as they are.
What Is Ati2evxx.exe?-Fix Ati2evxx.exe Error
By: Franck Lin | 31/12/2009"ati2evxx.exe" is a component of the display adapter drivers for ATI products, and is necessary in order to fully configure and manage these hardware products.This article will tell you how to fix ati2evxx exe error.
Fix Windows 2000 Blue Screen of Death with Registry Cleaner
By: Franck Lin | 30/12/2009If you are trying to run a program in Windows and are not able to access the program, run the files or open a file, you may need to do a registry cleaner. The Windows 2000 blue screen of death errors are common and you may experience them when Windows senses a software, hardware or driver error that will not allow it to continue to work properly.
How To Sync A Network Using NTP
By: David Evans | 29/09/2009 | ComputersThis article describes how easy it is to synchronise servers, workstations and network infrastructure to a precise time reference.
Using GPS For NTP Server Time Synchronisation
By: David Evans | 16/04/2009 | ComputersThis article attempts to describe simply, how network time servers can obtain accurate timing information to provide a precise reference for computer time synchronisation. It also discusses how NTP servers can utilise the atomic time generated by GPS to provide a timing reference for computer networks
How To Synchronise a Network
By: David Evans | 03/04/2009 | ComputersComputers are notorious for providing inaccurate time and can drift by several minutes each day. This has serious consequences for networked computer systems and applications. Each computer can have wildly differing system times, which can be totally unacceptable for transaction processing applications.
Configuring a Simple Ntp Time Server
By: David Evans | 03/01/2009 | ComputersThis article attempts to simplify the installation and configuration of the Linux NTP server application. It describes a simple NTP installation and goes through step-by-step the configuration procedure required to provide a NTP server on a Linux machine.
Lf Radio Ntp Servers: How to Decode the Dcf-77 Time Broadcast
By: David Evans | 23/11/2008 | ComputersThis article describes how the DCF-77 signal can be decoded to provide an accurate time reference for NTP servers and other computer timing applications.
Ntp Server Reference Clocks: What's Best Radio or GPS ?
By: David Evans | 24/09/2008 | ComputersThis article describes the external time references that are available to synchronise NTP servers and discusses the merits of each.
Use a Ntp Server to Keep Precise Network Time
By: David Evans | 18/07/2008 | ComputersIt is quite simple to synchronise every device on your network to an accurate time reference - a NTP time server.
Keeping Accurate Time on Your Computer Using Ntp Servers
By: David Evans | 21/05/2008 | ComputersThis article discusses ways in which you can maintain continuously accurate system time on your computer system. It looks at how Internet time references and NTP servers can be utilised for computer time synchronisation.