Topic: Anyone know how to sync time with an SME Server

[icemannz]

Hi, I can sync my time between my SME Server and the Internet - no problem.
But when I want my Windows PC to sync time with my SME Server it says could not locate a time server.
My SME Server is just running in Server-Only mode so I wouldn't have thought it would be a network problem.
On windows I type
net time /setsntp:smeserver
net time /set /yes

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks

[Anonymous]

you need to type

net time \\servername /set /yes

[patrickthickey]

Under XP you need to type

net time /setsntp:ntp.server.name

and verify it by typing

net time /querysntp


regards,

patrick

[kozel]

I think the first response is the correct one.  I believe that setting the time from a 'server' and setting the time from a 'time server' are 2 different concepts.  The 2nd response is in reference to a 'time server' and I don't think the SME server functions as a 'time server'.  The 'net time' example has functions this way on most netbios like networks (Lantastic, CBIS, Powerlan and Windows). Do a 'net' command from a command promt and see the options available.  One other consideration is, expecially under XP, the user (if you're putting this into some script) must have permissions to alter the time on the workstation they are using.

[MSmith]

It operates as an NTP server to the local network as well as an NTP client to an Internet timeserver; and you can use the NET TIME command to access it locally as you would an XP/2K/NT server.

[MSmith]

Perhaps you need to specify your server's IP address instead of NetBIOS name when using the /setsntp switch.

[RavenIV]

there are many tools for windows that act as time-clients.
i use "tclock". This is an extention to the windows-clock and acts as a time-client, it connects to my SME-server -> gets the correct time -> sets the system time to the correct time.
search with google for "tclock" or go to here http://www.buzzys.net/tclock.html
it's freeware.

cheers

[icemannz]

Many thanks to all who replied.
The "net time \\smeserver /set /yes" worked.
It does seem that the SME Server is not really acting as a time server so "net time /setsntp:smeserver" dosn't work.

[bobk]

I use SNTP Client Service (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SNTPClientService) to keep all the Windows workstations on the network synchronized with the SME server. This little program is free, runs as a service and is configurable through a Control Panel Applet. I have version 1.8 installed on a few hundred machines and have never had a single problem with it.

Set your SME server to update time via your favorite SNTP server then point SNTP Client Service to SME's internal IP. I set the polling for hourly and all workstations stay perfectly in snyc. with the SME server.

[patrickthickey]

SME absolutely operates as a time server. It is configured in the panel, via the GUI. By default it is "off".

Then, assuming you are running XP you can set the time as I depicted above.

I'm not invalidating any of the other programs or approaches. I am insisting to those who are stating SME is not a time server, and client to a time server upstream once configured- you are factually incorrect.

Glad you got it working!

regards,

patrick

[ansentry]

First go to /home/e-smith/files/samba/netlogon

you will see an example there just remove the rem and change the name to your server name.

net time \\yourservername /set /yes

You can also enter script here that will connect your users to their home drive.

Drives that all users can connect to and also works with groups.

I have this working fine with Win2K and XP Pro but Win98 does not seem to like it. Any one have any ideas re logon script for win98 (I am using 6.0.1-01 Custom)



Regards

 

[kozel]

I could be wrong in this; but the GUI configuration panel PH referes to is for the SME server to GET it's time from a 'Time Server' source and does not configure the SME server as a time server. I think there is a distinction between a 'Time Server' and a server from which you can synch your clock from. I've used the GUI to set my SME server to synch it's clock from a Time Server and my workstations synch their clock to the SME servers clock using 'NET TIME ....'

[Anonymous]

I could be wrong in this; but the GUI configuration panel PH referes to is for the SME server to GET it's time from a 'Time Server' source and does not configure the SME server as a time server. I think there is a distinction between a 'Time Server' and a server from which you can synch your clock from. I've used the GUI to set my SME server to synch it's clock from a Time Server and my workstations synch their clock to the SME servers clock using 'NET TIME ....'

SME also acts as a Network Time Protocol Server. From the console type ps -A and you will see that ntpd is running on your SME server. Any machine on the network can synch with the SME server using ntp.

[persmith]

ntpd is not a time server, its only a deamon maintaining the time on the current machine.

Take a look at this link: http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~mills/ntp/html/ntpd.html

regards
Per Smith

[wellsi]

After some interesting reading I hope I can add a little to this debate.

"Unless restricted using facilities described later, this host can provide synchronization to dependent clients, which do not have to be listed in the configuration file."
http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~mills/ntp/html/notes.html

And

"clients are simply servers that have no dependents"
http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~mills/ntp/html/index.html#conf

By which I understand ntpd to operate both as a client and a server. Depending on your ntp.conf the SME server can be configured to be a Time Server or just a client.