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Archive · 2005 · May

Time Synchronization in Windows

IT-Software

This week, I had a chance of playing Time Synchronization in Windows. I tried NetTime, an Open Source implementation of SNTP protocol. What makes it wonderful is the capability to be Server and Client for SNTP.

Installation is very easy, thus I am not putting in this blog. If you are using WinNT or Win2K, I strongly recommend you to install NetTime a service (but remember, you need to log in as an Administrator when installing).

Since I need to use NetTime in a corporate environment, I set up 3 PCs acting as NetTime Servers. Nothing special with the PCs, it must have an Internet connection and the PCs must be online 24 hours x 7 days a week. BTW, since it uses SNTP, then you may need to open Port 123 for outgoing connection.

My approach of source SNTP Server for the internal server is:

  • Use the fastest SNTP server as the primary SNTP Server for all 3 PCs
  • Use different servers as the 2nd and 3rd SNTP Servers for all 3 PCs
  • Peer each local server as the 4th and 5th SNTP Server, i.e. PC1 refers to PC2 and PC3 as the 4th and 5th SNTP Server

Then my approach of source SNTP Server for the workstations is using all 3 internal servers as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd SNTP Server.

Although NetTime is no longer in active development state, but I think it is a fine implementation of SNTP in a simple package that NTP novices should have no difficulty with.