Time Server, time change differenece in a country
Hello, We have a Windows Server 2003 sp2 as NTP server for our whole data center which includes every type of OS(linux, unix, bsd and windows) It is synchronizing with time.windows.com. All clusters depends on this NTP. We currently do not have any problem with it, but this year in our country (Turkey), because of an exam, time shift will be done at 28th March instead of 27th March. I wonder if time.windows.com servers are aware of this and if not what should i change. I apologize if this is not a good place to ask such a question, i haven't been able to find where should i go. Thanks and regards.MCTS, 2008R2 Server Virtualization http://erkanaksoy.net
March 11th, 2011 8:39am

time.windows.com would not be aware of the local time changes, but if your server is fully updated it "should be". The server is set by you to the local time zone and the appropriate offset from the UTC (Universal Time Conversion) or GMT (Greenwhich Mean Time). If you want to be sure you can download TZedit from Microsoft and manually verify and configure the date on which your time changes will take place. http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/8/a/58a208b7-7dc7-4bc7-8357-28e29cdac52f/tzedit.exeRob Williams
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March 11th, 2011 7:05pm

time.windows.com would not be aware of the local time changes, but if your server is fully updated it "should be". The server is set by you to the local time zone and the appropriate offset from the UTC (Universal Time Conversion) or GMT (Greenwhich Mean Time). If you want to be sure you can download TZedit from Microsoft and manually verify and configure the date on which your time changes will take place. http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/8/a/58a208b7-7dc7-4bc7-8357-28e29cdac52f/tzedit.exeRob Williams
March 11th, 2011 7:10pm

Rob, First of all thanks for the info. I have downloaded the tool you offered, and checked it. Please correct me if i am wrong. If I change any parameters on the "Edit" menu, that servers time changes will be handled by those settings even if the server has been set to use time.windows.com as NTP. For example in my case, i should change "Start Day" from "Last Sunday of March" to "Last Monday of March" and still have time.windows.com as NTP i will be done. Thanks.MCTS, 2008R2 Server Virtualization http://erkanaksoy.net
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March 12th, 2011 7:35am

That is correct. time.windows.com is a standard time for everybody based on UTC time in England. It knows nothing about your time zone or daylight saving start and end dates. The time zone and daylight saving offsets are handled by your server when you choose a time zone or make those edits.Rob Williams
March 12th, 2011 9:37am

Thanks for the info. Regards.MCTS, 2008R2 Server Virtualization http://erkanaksoy.net
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March 12th, 2011 1:29pm

You are very welcome. Cheers!Rob Williams
March 12th, 2011 1:49pm

I have tested that tool in a 2008R2, i set the clock change to be done at 3rd teusday of march (today, and in local time its now 8:37 am). In time settings i see "daylight saving time began on .....". Server has been set to synchronize time with time.windows.com but time is quite normal. I mean it didn't changed. What might be I am missing here? ThanksMCTS, 2008R2 Server Virtualization http://erkanaksoy.net
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March 15th, 2011 2:41am

Hello Erkan. I am sorry to hear it did not work for you. In reading some documentation for TZedit I see it states you may have to change the time zone twice. As I recall now from the year 2000, there was n oddity, you had to change the time zone to any other zone, apply, and then change it back for the changes to go into effect. I have included the instructions here: Apply the TZEDIT.exe process to your systems: 1. Exit out of all applications. 2. Launch the executable TZEDIT.exe as follows: a. Click Start > Run… b. Provide the full path, for example: C:\Program Files\TZ Editor\TZEDIT.exe and then press the Enter key on the keyboard. 3. Initially the operating system will display April and October for the start and end times for Daylight Saving Time. Click the Edit button and set appropriate values for Daylight Saving Time start and end. a. Select the time zone for your PC or Server and configure the information that is applicable for your time zone. o Set Start Day to Second Sunday, March and start time to 2:00 AM. o Set Last Day to First Sunday, November and end time to 2:00 AM. o Enter an Abbreviation name for the new time zone definition. o Set the Daylight Bias (difference) between your PC or server local time and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or in Windows, the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). b. Click the OK button to save your changes and close the Edit Time Zone window. 4. Close the Time Zone Editor window. If you need additional information, refer to the TZEDIT editor's Help. Edit Windows date and time zone entries You will need to change your PCs/server operating system time zone twice using the Windows Date and Time Control Panel. The requirement to set the time zone twice is explained in various Microsoft articles. 1. From the Start menu, click Settings > Control Panel and then click Date and Time. 2. Click the Time Zone tab. 3. Select the desired time zone and click Apply. 4. Now, select your time zone and click Apply, and then click OK. 5. Restart your applications. Once configured, your PC/Server will now adjust the clock of the operating system based upon the new DST configuration. From: http://www.tdiinc.com/Customer%20Documents/Using%20MS%20TZEDIT.pdf Rob Williams
March 15th, 2011 7:08pm

Hello Erkan. I am sorry to hear it did not work for you. In reading some documentation for TZedit I see it states you may have to change the time zone twice. As I recall now from the year 2000, there was n oddity, you had to change the time zone to any other zone, apply, and then change it back for the changes to go into effect. I have included the instructions here: Apply the TZEDIT.exe process to your systems: 1. Exit out of all applications. 2. Launch the executable TZEDIT.exe as follows: a. Click Start > Run… b. Provide the full path, for example: C:\Program Files\TZ Editor\TZEDIT.exe and then press the Enter key on the keyboard. 3. Initially the operating system will display April and October for the start and end times for Daylight Saving Time. Click the Edit button and set appropriate values for Daylight Saving Time start and end. a. Select the time zone for your PC or Server and configure the information that is applicable for your time zone. o Set Start Day to Second Sunday, March and start time to 2:00 AM. o Set Last Day to First Sunday, November and end time to 2:00 AM. o Enter an Abbreviation name for the new time zone definition. o Set the Daylight Bias (difference) between your PC or server local time and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or in Windows, the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). b. Click the OK button to save your changes and close the Edit Time Zone window. 4. Close the Time Zone Editor window. If you need additional information, refer to the TZEDIT editor's Help. Edit Windows date and time zone entries You will need to change your PCs/server operating system time zone twice using the Windows Date and Time Control Panel. The requirement to set the time zone twice is explained in various Microsoft articles. 1. From the Start menu, click Settings > Control Panel and then click Date and Time. 2. Click the Time Zone tab. 3. Select the desired time zone and click Apply. 4. Now, select your time zone and click Apply, and then click OK. 5. Restart your applications. Once configured, your PC/Server will now adjust the clock of the operating system based upon the new DST configuration. From: http://www.tdiinc.com/Customer%20Documents/Using%20MS%20TZEDIT.pdf this worked, thanks. MCTS, 2008R2 Server Virtualization http://erkanaksoy.net
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March 17th, 2011 2:50am

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