Server Tab

The Server tab page allows you to set characteristics of the time server function of the Windows Time service.

Windows Time Agent: Server tab   [Click for larger size]

The Time Server section allows you to specify whether the Windows Time service will act as an NTP server.

Disabled - The Windows Time service will not act as a time server.

Enabled - The Windows Time service will always act as a time server.

Automatic - The Windows Time service will act as a time server if the machine is a domain controller; it will not serve time if the machine is a domain member or stand-alone system.

Click the button to test the NTP time server function. The display will indicate if the server is active, what the time source was used, stratum information, and whether it is correctly serving time.

NOTE: This test does not necessarily test the Windows Time NTP server. It merely tests the machine for an NTP server and reports the results. If another program is serving NTP on the machine, the Test Server button will show a response, even if the Windows Time service itself is stopped and disabled.

The Reliability Flag section lets you change how Windows Time indicates the reliability of the time being served.

Never - The Windows Time service will not be announced as a reliable time server.

Enabled - The Windows Time service will always be announced as a reliable time server.

Automatic - The Windows Time service will be announced as a reliable time server according to its position in the domain heirarchy.

"A computer that is configured to be a reliable time source is identified by time clients as the root of the Windows Time service. The root of the Windows Time service is the authoritative server for the domain and typically is configured to retrieve time from an external NTP server or hardware device. Other time servers can be configured as a reliable time source to optimize how time is transferred throughout the domain hierarchy. If a domain controller is configured to be a reliable time source, the Net Logon service announces that domain controller as a reliable time source when it logs on to the network. When other domain controllers look for a time source to synchronize with, they select a reliable source first, if one is available."


--- from How to configure an authoritative time server in Windows Server 2003


The Net Time Flag section lets you determine if Windows Time will announce itself as a LanMan time server.

Advertise as a "Net Time" server... - If this box is checked, clients using the NET TIME command to synchronize will be able to find and use this server. This really has nothing to do with the Windows Time service, but is here for your convenience.

 Proceed to the Agent Tab page

 Back to the Client Tab page