change time grayed out in windows server - Server Fault

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Windows server 2016 standard time keeps changing free -  

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This server's clock is not synchronized with the primary domain controller's clock - Monitoring

 

Therefore, if the source clock shows stability, then the entire configuration will have a constant time. Securing the original source time means that a malicious person will not be able to expose the domain to time-based threats. A stable client takes the natural drift of the oscillator to make sure that it is containable. The NTP uses multiple samples to condition the local clocks on standalone to stay on course. If the time oscillation on the client computers is not stable, there will be fluctuations between adjustments leading to malfunctioning of the clock.

The NTP connection should be symmetrical at all times because the NTP uses calculation adjustments to set time as per the symmetry levels. If the NTP request takes longer than the expected time on its return, time accuracy is affected. You may note that the path could change due to changes in topology or routing of packets through different interfaces. The battery-powered devices may use different strategies, which in some cases require that the device be updating every second.

Such a setting consumes more power and can interfere with power saving modes. Some battery run devices have some power settings that can interfere with the running of other applications and hence interfere with the W32time functions. Therefore, battery-operated devices should not have high time accuracy settings. A typical case in a Windows environment is the operation of the Kerberos that needs at least 5 minutes accuracy between the clients and servers.

The algorithm used in Windows Server has greatly improved the local clock when synchronizing with the UTC. The NTP has four values to calculate the time offset based on timestamps of client requests or responses and server requests and responses. The modern network environment has too much congestion and related factors that affect the free flow of communication.

Windows Server uses different algorithms to cancel out the disturbances. Besides, the source used in Windows for time references uses improved Application Programming Interface API with the best time resolution, giving an accuracy of 1ms. Moreover, the stratum level at the host sends to guests more transparently.

Earlier hosts would be fixed at stratum 2, regardless of its accuracy and the changes in Windows Server the host reports at stratum 1, which gives better timing for the virtual machines. Domains created in Windows Server will find time to be more accurate because the time does not default to the host and that is the reason behind manually disabling the Hyper-V time provider settings in Windows joining a Windows R2 and below.

Counters tracking the performance counters are now part of the Windows Server , they allow for monitoring, troubleshooting, and baselining time accuracy. This feature indicates the absolute time between the system clock and the chosen time source in microseconds. The time updates whenever a new valid sample is available. Clock accuracy is traced using the performance counter that has an interval of seconds or less. This adjustment indicates the time set by the local W32Time measured in parts per billion.

The counter is important when it comes to visualizing actions taken by W32time. This counter helps in characterizing the delays experienced by the NTP client.

If the roundtrip is large or varies, it can lead to noise, especially when the NTP computes time, thereby affecting time accuracy.

The source count parameter holds the number of clients and unique IP addresses of servers that are responding to client requests.

The number may be large or small compared to active peers. A representation of the number of requests received by the NTP server indicated as request per second.

A representation of the number of answered requests by the NTP server indicated as responses per second. The first three show the target scenarios for troubleshooting accuracy issues. The last three cover NTP server scenarios, which help to determine the load and setting a base for the current performance. The following is a description that changes the default configurations between Windows and earlier versions. To get the most accurate time, the defaults for polling frequencies and clock updates will give you the ability to make adjustments more frequently.

Battery devices do not store the time when turned off, and when turned on, it may lead to frequent time adjustments. Increasing the polling frequency will lead to instability, and the device will use more power. Domain controllers should have less interference after multiple effects of increasing updates from NTP clients and AD domain. NTP does not require many resources compared to other protocols. You can reach the limits of the domain functionality before getting a warning, indicating increased settings in Windows Server You can reserve at least NTP requests per second for every core.

As you set up the recommendations, ensure you have a large dependency on the processor speeds and loads. Administrators should conduct all baseline tests onsite. The techniques are applicable when taking measurements and tuning the environment to determine if the test outcome meet the set requirements.

Some of these tests need a highly accurate and reliable clock source as a reference point adding to your domain clock source. For comparison purposes, testing both the Windows Server R2 and Windows Server based on topology is sensible. Each of these hosts runs at least three domains joining the Windows guests, taking the arrangement shown in the diagrams below. Image Source. The following graph is a representation of the time accuracy between two members of a domain.

Every graph shows both Windows Server R2 and outcome. The accuracy was a measurement taken from the guest machine in comparison to the host. The graphical data shown indicate both the best and worst case scenarios. This is critical because a 1ms accuracy is needed. Its timing should also be within the 1ms accuracy. Long distance test could involve comparing a single virtual network hop to 6 physical network hops on Windows Server Increasing network hops mean increasing latency and extending time differences.

The 1ms accuracy may negatively change, which demonstrates a symmetrical network. Do not forget that every network is different and measurements taken depend on varying environmental factors. The machine timing is as good as its source clock. To achieve the 1ms accuracy, a GPS hardware or time appliance should be installed to refer to the master source clock.

The default time. Also, as you move away from the source clock, you are bound to lose time. The different hardware solutions that offer accurate time depend on GPS antennas. Use of radio and dial-up modem solutions is also accepted.

Environmental factors that interfere with accuracy depends on GPS availability, network stability, the PC hardware and network load. Computers in a domain use the domain hierarchy to determine the machine to be used as a source for time synchronization.

Every domain member will look for a machine to sync with and save it as its source. Every domain member will follow a different route that leads to its source time.

This is the machine with authority on time source for the domain. This will take the role of a time source for clients and member servers in the domain. When sourcing for the original clock, the scoring system is used to identify the best time source. Scoring takes into account the reliable time source based on the relative location, which happens only once when the time service starts. To fine-tune time synchronization, add good timeservers in a specific location and avoid redundancy.

Deploying a Windows Server Hyper-V in a Windows domain will be more beneficial to the guests because of the improvements made in Server A Windows Server PDC delivers accurate time due to the positive changes to its algorithms, which also acts as a credible source. As already stated above, clock polling and refresh frequencies are modified in Windows Server You can also change the settings manually to match the down-level DCs or make the changes using the group policy.

Versions that came prior to Windows Server have a problem with keeping accurate time since their systems drift immediately you make a change. Obtaining samples from accurate NTP sources and conditioning the clock leads to small changes in system clock, ensuring better time keeping on the low-level OS versions.

In some cases involving the guest domain controllers, samples from the Hyper-V TimeSync is capable of disrupting time synchronization. However, for Server , it should no longer be an issue when the guest machines run on Server Hyper-V hosts.

You can use the following registry keys to disable the Hyper-V TimeSync service from giving samples to w32time:. If the Linux distribution supports version 4 TimeSync protocol with an enabled TimeSync integration on the guest, then synchronization will take place against the host time. Enabling both methods will lead to inconsistency.

Administrators are advised to synchronize against the host time by disabling the NTP time synchronization by using any of the following methods:. In this particular configuration, the Time Server Parameter is usually the host, and it should poll at a frequency of 5 seconds, which is the same as the Clock Update Frequency. Exclusive synchronization over NTP demands that you disable the TimeSync integration service in the guest machine.

As at now, it is not available across most Linux distros. However, new members of the domain need to be synchronized with the Domain Controller for the AD to work effectively. The best that you can do is to disable time virtualization between guests and 3rd party virtual platforms. The chain of time hierarchy to the master clock is dynamic and non-negotiated.

You must query the status of a specific machine to get its time source. This analysis helps in troubleshooting issues relating to synchronizations. The command below gives a list of domain controllers found in a specific domain and relays the results that you can use to determine each partner.

The command also includes machines with manual configurations. You can use the list to trace the results through the domain and know their hierarchy and time offset at each step. If you mark the point where time offset increases, you can get to know the cause of incorrect time. Group policy is used to accomplish strict accuracy by making sure clients are assigned specific NTP servers. Clients can control how down-level OS should work when virtualized.

To gain control over the Virtualized Domain Controllers in Windows R2, disable the registry entry corresponding to the virtual domain controllers. You may not want to disable the PDC entry because in most cases, Hyper-V host delivers a stable time source. The entry to the registry requires that you restart the w32time service after making changes. For any workload that is sensitive to time accuracy, ensure that the group machines are set to use the NTP servers and any related time settings like update frequency and polling.

This is a task handled by a domain, but if you want to have more control, target specific machines to point to the master clock. In such an environment, you need 1 second accuracy with the option of using the w32time services to move the clock backwards. If you have a host whose domain links to an existing Active Directory Forest, whether virtual or physical, the best you can do is to disable TimeSync for the guest and make sure the W32Time is set to synchronize with the Domain Controller.

If your Azure is not part of a domain and it is not a Domain Controller, you can keep the default time configuration and let the VM synchronize with the host.

An application that uses UDP to communicate during network transactions should minimize latency. You have the registry options to use when configuring different ports.

Note that any changes to the registry should be restricted to system administrators. Time tracing regulation may force you to comply by archiving the w32tm logs, performance monitors, and event logs. Later, these records may be used to confirm your compliance at a specific time in the past. An event log can give you a complete story in the information it stores.

If you filter out the Time-Server logs, you will discover the influences that have changed the time. If you successfully change the timezone as described in the post, but its change after reboot, I suggest to check Event Viewer, System events, Kerner-General source.

That should tell you which process has changed the timezone. Thank you so much! I tried countless "fixes" for this and the first method you suggested was all it took. I appreciate your time! Your email address will not be published. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting. Receive new post notifications. Please ask IT administration questions in the forums. Any other messages are welcome. Receive news updates via email from this site.

Toggle navigation. The solution is to use the command line program tzutil. Both can be used independently of this problem on other Windows versions as well. Author Recent Posts. Wolfgang Sommergut. Wolfgang Sommergut has over 20 years of experience in IT journalism.

He has also worked as a system administrator and as a tech consultant. Today he runs the German publication WindowsPro. Latest posts by Wolfgang Sommergut see all. Changing the time zone with tzutil. Setting a new time zone using PowerShell. Subscribe to 4sysops newsletter! Related Articles. Redirect user profile folders documents, pictures, etc. Few innovations, uncertain future: Is Windows Server worth an upgrade?

Pierluigi 3 years ago. Bo Geitz 3 years ago. Cristiano Santos 3 years ago. Thanks for sharing, buddy! Robert 3 years ago. Grumpf 2 years ago. Alexander 2 years ago. Thanks, it worked for me with timedate. Haroosh 2 years ago. Thank you! MSP Man 2 years ago. Jing 2 years ago. Leos Marek 2 years ago. Thank you for all detailed information. It still exist. Jamie Dyer 2 years ago. Mehmet 1 year ago. Thanks for information.. KM 1 year ago.

This worked for me! Thanks for posting the solution. Bamrung 1 year ago. Leos Marek 1 year ago. Its a bit funny this is still not fixed :. Wolfgang Sommergut 1 year ago. BurgerKing 1 year ago. Resolved the issue for me as well, thanks for sharing! Fatcat44 1 year ago. Chased this for a while, thanks, run admn worked.

Himansu 1 year ago. Thank You so much this is really helpful. Safeer Verumkundan 1 year ago. Jinendra Mehta 1 year ago. Resolved Thanks. Hi, you saved my day, thx. Com 8 months ago.