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Configure a Client Computer for Automatic Domain Time Synchronization

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2

By default, a computer that is joined to a domain synchronizes time through the domain hierarchy of reliable time sources. However, if a computer has been manually configured to synchronize from a specific time source—perhaps because it was formerly not joined to the domain—you must reconfigure the computer to begin sourcing its time from the domain hierarchy. You can use this procedure to configure a client computer that is currently synchronizing with a manually specified computer to synchronize time automatically from the domain hierarchy.

Note

The following procedure uses the w32tm command-line tool. For more information about the w32tm command, type w32tm /? at a command prompt or see Windows Time Service Tools and Settings (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=112116).

Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure locally. Membership in the Domain Admins group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure remotely. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at Local and Domain Default Groups (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477).

To configure a client computer for automatic domain time synchronization

  1. Open a Command Prompt as an administrator: On the Start menu, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.

  2. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    w32tm /config /syncfromflags:domhier /update
    Parameter Description

    W32tm /config /update

    Configures the computer for time synchronization.

    /syncfromflags:domhier

    Specifies that time is synchronized with computers in the domain hierarchy.

  3. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    net stop w32time

  4. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    net start w32time