Time synchronisation-closednetwork- multiple windows os(xp oldest)

Hello
I have a closed windows network that I need to sync the times on. I would lik
to be able to have one of the xp computers as the master time that all th
othe
pcs synch to

Hope someone can help

Cheers

Davie

davie wrote:
> Hello,
> I have a closed windows network that I need to sync the times on. I would like
> to be able to have one of the xp computers as the master time that all the
> other
> pcs synch to.
>
> Hope someone can help,
>
> Cheers,
>
> Davie

By a closed Windows network, do you mean one where there is no connection
to the Internet ? And consequently, no way to reach a stratum clock using
NTP protocol ?

If that is the requirement, and you purchase a GPS hardware device for
time synchronization, then that product should come with an NTP server (ntpd)
of some sort, to serve time to the other machines. The second link here,
might give you some leads on software you can get.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_Time_Protocol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ntpd

Paul

"davie" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Hello,
> I have a closed windows network that I need to sync the times on. I
> would like
> to be able to have one of the xp computers as the master time that
> all the
> other
> pcs synch to.
>
> Hope someone can help,
>

Try NET TIME /SET \\MasterTimePCName

As I recall, you'll have to have users/permissions set correctly, but
should be doable.

HTH

--
Zaphod

"The best Bang since the Big One" - Eccentrica Gallumbits

Paul wrote on 05/09/2011 07:20 ET
> davie wrote
>> Hello
>> I have a closed windows network that I need to sync the times on. I woul
lik
>> to be able to have one of the xp computers as the master time that all th
>> othe
>> pcs synch to
>>
>> Hope someone can help
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Davi
>>
>>
>>
> By a closed Windows network, do you mean one where there is no connectio
> to the Internet ? And consequently, no way to reach a stratum clock usin
> NTP protocol
>
> If that is the requirement, and you purchase a GPS hardware device fo
> time synchronization, then that product should come with an NTP server (ntpd
> of some sort, to serve time to the other machines. The second link here
> might give you some leads on software you can get
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_Time_Protoco
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ntp
>
> Pau
>
Hi Paul

Yes you are correct when you ask if by closed network I mean no connection t
the internet

Thanks for the answer I will check that now, and reply again whether it work
o
not

Cheers

Davie.

davie wrote on 05/09/2011 06:57 ET
> Hello
> I have a closed windows network that I need to sync the times on. I woul
lik
> to be able to have one of the xp computers as the master time that all th
> other pcs synch to
>
> Hope someone can help
>
> Cheers
>
> Davi
>
I think I need to expand on the description of this problem. We are in
bunke
style enviroment so we cannot use a gps ntp solution

The most important thing for me is that I achieve uniformity accross th
networ
so that all the computers refer to one computer. If that computer is off by
o
2 minutes is not important. It is more important that they are all the same
I
there a solution to this?

Zaphod Beeblebrox wrote on 05/09/2011 07:44 ET
> "davie" wrote in messag
> news
>> Hello
>> I have a closed windows network that I need to sync the times on.
>> would lik
>> to be able to have one of the xp computers as the master time tha
>> all th
>> othe
>> pcs synch to
>>
>> Hope someone can help
>>
>>
>>
>>
> Try NET TIME /SET MasterTimePCNam
>
> As I recall, you'll have to have users/permissions set correctly, bu
> should be doable
>
> HT
>
> Zapho
>
> "The best Bang since the Big One" - Eccentrica Gallumbit
>
Hi Zaphod

Thanks I'll try that now

Cheers

Dave.

davie wrote:
> davie wrote on 05/09/2011 06:57 ET :
>> Hello,
>> I have a closed windows network that I need to sync the times on. I would
> like
>> to be able to have one of the xp computers as the master time that all the
>> other pcs synch to.
>>
>> Hope someone can help,
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Davie
>>
> I think I need to expand on the description of this problem. We are in a
> bunker
> style enviroment so we cannot use a gps ntp solution.
>
> The most important thing for me is that I achieve uniformity accross the
> network
> so that all the computers refer to one computer. If that computer is off by 1
> or
> 2 minutes is not important. It is more important that they are all the same.
> Is
> there a solution to this?

Sure, make one of the computers a server, by finding an "ntpd" program for it.
The other computers, run ntp client processes, and get their synchronization
from the master computer.

You don't need to run GPS, but GPS is a cheap way of doing it, since a
GPS receiver doesn't have to cost a lot.

There are various other kinds of stand alone oscillators, which have slightly better
characteristics than the computer. One benefit of such schemes (taking the form
perhaps, of a plug in card for the computer), is that they are "pure hardware",
so the actual time keeping process isn't interfered with by software.

The problem with some computers, is their local time keeping isn't that
good. And that has to do with the usage of "counting clock tick interrupts"
as an OS level time keeping mechanism. If there are no issues with the
hardware or software, that can give adequate performance. But on a
buggy machine, using such a machine for a clock source - you'd be better
off with a sundial.

So before you nominate a computer, you'd want to make sure it has reliable
characteristics, and doesn't have large random drifts that don't make sense.
Otherwise, none of the computers will end up with good time keeping.

If you can't be bothered to evaluate your master computer for its drift
performance, then pop in a card. It might cost you up to $1000 for one
of those, depending on how much time you have to shop around. This one,
for example, is a cheap digital watch style implementation, using a
32768 Hz watch quartz crystal. It claims "2 seconds/month" in a temperature
stable environment, which is a lot better than any computer can manage
on its own. A cesium or rubidium based device would cost a lot more, and
give much better results (which you probably don't care about).

http://www.atomictimeclock.com/clcaspecs.htm

http://www.atomictimeclock.com/mainspecials.htm

ClockCard PCI Server Reg: $279.95 Sale $249.95 (save $30)

http://www.atomictimeclock.com/client_server.php

I included a link for their client/server software, but if
your budget is tight, you just might be able to find something
free to use. You'd think they'd throw the server software in
with the card :-) If the software followed any standards at
all, you'd think the w32time client on the client PCs would be
good enough.

Paul

davie wrote:
> davie wrote on 05/09/2011 06:57 ET :
>> Hello,
>> I have a closed windows network that I need to sync the times on. I would
> like
>> to be able to have one of the xp computers as the master time that all the
>> other pcs synch to.
>>
>> Hope someone can help,
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Davie
>>
> I think I need to expand on the description of this problem. We are in a
> bunker
> style enviroment so we cannot use a gps ntp solution.
>
> The most important thing for me is that I achieve uniformity accross the
> network
> so that all the computers refer to one computer. If that computer is off by 1
> or
> 2 minutes is not important. It is more important that they are all the same.
> Is
> there a solution to this?

Sure, make one of the computers a server, by finding an "ntpd" program for it.
The other computers, run ntp client processes, and get their synchronization
from the master computer.

You don't need to run GPS, but GPS is a cheap way of doing it, since a
GPS receiver doesn't have to cost a lot.

There are various other kinds of stand alone oscillators, which have slightly better
characteristics than the computer. One benefit of such schemes (taking the form
perhaps, of a plug in card for the computer), is that they are "pure hardware",
so the actual time keeping process isn't interfered with by software.

The problem with some computers, is their local time keeping isn't that
good. And that has to do with the usage of "counting clock tick interrupts"
as an OS level time keeping mechanism. If there are no issues with the
hardware or software, that can give adequate performance. But on a
buggy machine, using such a machine for a clock source - you'd be better
off with a sundial.

So before you nominate a computer, you'd want to make sure it has reliable
characteristics, and doesn't have large random drifts that don't make sense.
Otherwise, none of the computers will end up with good time keeping.

If you can't be bothered to evaluate your master computer for its drift
performance, then pop in a card. It might cost you up to $1000 for one
of those, depending on how much time you have to shop around. This one,
for example, is a cheap digital watch style implementation, using a
32768 Hz watch quartz crystal. It claims "2 seconds/month" in a temperature
stable environment, which is a lot better than any computer can manage
on its own. A cesium or rubidium based device would cost a lot more, and
give much better results (which you probably don't care about).

http://www.atomictimeclock.com/clcaspecs.htm

http://www.atomictimeclock.com/mainspecials.htm

ClockCard PCI Server Reg: $279.95 Sale $249.95 (save $30)

http://www.atomictimeclock.com/client_server.php

I included a link for their client/server software, but if
your budget is tight, you just might be able to find something
free to use. You'd think they'd throw the server software in
with the card :-) If the software followed any standards at
all, you'd think the w32time client on the client PCs would be
good enough.

Paul

Zaphod Beeblebrox wrote on 05/09/2011 07:44 ET
> "davie" wrote in messag
> news
>> Hello
>> I have a closed windows network that I need to sync the times on.
>> would lik
>> to be able to have one of the xp computers as the master time tha
>> all th
>> othe
>> pcs synch to
>>
>> Hope someone can help
>>
>>
>>
>>
> Try NET TIME /SET MasterTimePCNam
>
> As I recall, you'll have to have users/permissions set correctly, bu
> should be doable
>
> HT
>
> Zapho
>
> "The best Bang since the Big One" - Eccentrica Gallumbit
>
Hi Zaphod

That works perfect. So I have put it in a bat file now, and scheduled it fo
al
the computers on the nework. so they should all be synced when I come i
tomorrow

Cheers

Dave.

"davie" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Zaphod Beeblebrox wrote on 05/09/2011 07:44 ET :
>> "davie" wrote in message
>> news:
>>> Hello,
>>> I have a closed windows network that I need to sync the times on.
>>> I
>>> would like
>>> to be able to have one of the xp computers as the master time that
>>> all the
>>> other
>>> pcs synch to.
>>>
>>> Hope someone can help,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> Try NET TIME /SET MasterTimePCName
>>
>> As I recall, you'll have to have users/permissions set correctly,
>> but
>> should be doable.
>>
>> HTH
>>
>> Zaphod
>>
>> "The best Bang since the Big One" - Eccentrica Gallumbits
>>
> Hi Zaphod,
>
> That works perfect. So I have put it in a bat file now, and
> scheduled it for
> all
> the computers on the nework. so they should all be synced when I
> come in
> tomorrow.
>

Glad I could help. Sometimes, it is the simple approach that works
best... :-)

--
Zaphod

Vell, Zaphod's just zis guy, ya know? - Gag Halfrunt