How to configure an authoritative time server in Windows Server

INTRODUCTION

Windows Server includes W32Time, the Time Service tool that is required by the Kerberos authentication protocol. The Windows Time service makes sure that all computers in an organization that are running the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server operating system or later versions use a common time.

To guarantee appropriate common time usage, the Windows Time service uses a hierarchical relationship that controls authority, and the Windows Time service does not allow for loops. By default, Windows-based computers use the following hierarchy:

• All client desktop computers nominate the authenticating domain controller as their in-bound time partner.
• All member servers follow the same process that client desktop computers follow.
• All domain controllers in a domain nominate the primary domain controller (PDC) operations master as their in-bound time partner.
• All PDC operations masters follow the hierarchy of domains in the selection of their in-bound time partner.

In this hierarchy, the PDC operations master at the root of the forest becomes authoritative for the organization. We highly recommend that you configure the authoritative time server to obtain the time from a hardware source. When you configure the authoritative time server to sync with an Internet time source, there is no authentication. We also recommend that you reduce your time correction settings for your servers and stand-alone clients. These recommendations provide more accuracy and security to your domain.

Configuring the Windows Time service to use an internal hardware clock

To have us configure the Windows Time service to use an internal hardware clock for you, go to the "Fix it for me" section. If you prefer to fix this problem yourself, go to the "Let me fix it myself" section.

Fix it for me

To fix this problem automatically, click the Fix it button or link. Click Run in the File Download dialog box, and follow the steps in the Fix it wizard.

Fix this problem
Microsoft Fix it 50394

Notes

• This wizard may apply only to English versions. However, the automatic fix also works for other language versions of Windows.
• If you are not on the computer that has the problem, save the Fix it solution to a flash drive or a CD and then run it on the computer that has the problem.

Let me fix it myself

Configuring the Windows Time service to use an external time source

To have us help you configure an internal time server to synchronize with an external time source, go to the "Fix it for me" section. If you prefer to fix this problem yourself, go to the "Let me fix it myself" section.

Fix it for me

To fix this problem automatically, click the Fix it button or link. Click Run in the File Download dialog box, and follow the steps in the Fix it wizard.

Fix this problem
Microsoft Fix it 50395 

courtesy:http://support.microsoft.com