How I fixed my W32Time errors...hopefully for good...

[wahnula]

Hello guys & gals,

I have been fighting this issue since last March, getting temporary relief from thread1584-1341925 , where I ran the cmd

w32tm /config /manualpeerlist:time.nist.gov,0x8 /syncfromflags:MANUAL
net stop w32time
net start w32time
w32tm /resync

This failed after a while, so I replaced time.nist.gov with time.microsoft.com, which worked for a while then failed. I followed ShackDaddy's advice that ignorance is bliss, but my perfectionist nature couldn't bear to suppress the warning that SBS had no source of accurate time. I just needed a break in the action to get it solved, as well as a tip from:

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Configuring-Windows-Time-Service.html

...where I learned:

if DNS names are used then you must append ,0x1 to the end of each DNS name

I modified the cmd to include the ,0x1 argument (or whatever it's called) instead of the 0x8 and changed the timeserver to tock.usno.navy.mil and lo and behold today is the first day in almost a year with a clean email report. More importantly, my local XP machine, which gets its time from the SBS server, now has accurate time.

Since I get no thanks or glory from my local peers (I'm it in IT) I had to share here!

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[markdmac]

Do you have UDP port 123 open on your firewall?

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

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[wahnula]

markdmac,

On the Windows firewall, UDP port 123 is open. However, I have a SonicWall firewall/VPN appliance which has woefully remained a mystery to me and is professionally administered by my local MCSE. I keep promising myself to read the documentation, but that's not happening and my rep seems to divulge precious little information without a $135 visit.

It seems a straight-forward firewall/router, but I am still reluctant to change anything lest I open a Pandora's box and wreak havoc upon my business network. I'm a better-safe-than-sorry rather than the crazy-clicker type of admin.

I do know that the time service was working after his last visit, and I have touched nothing on the SonicWalll config page, and I have had a beautifully clean daily email report from my SBS box since the above mentioned fix.



Tony

Users helping Users...