Windows 2008 R2 Domain Controller (PDC) - NTP server - time showing local CMOS clock

I'm having issues setting an external source on a Windows 2008 R2 domain controller (PDC emulator role for the domain)

Here is the output showing its source is the Local CMOS clock.

C:\Windows\System32>w32tm /query /status
Leap Indicator: 0(no warning)
Stratum: 1 (primary reference - syncd by radio clock)
Precision: -6 (15.625ms per tick)
Root Delay: 0.0000000s
Root Dispersion: 10.0000000s
ReferenceId: 0x4C4F434C (source name:  "LOCL")
Last Successful Sync Time: 06/11/2014 15:44:15
Source: Local CMOS Clock
Poll Interval: 6 (64s)

1) I have performed the following on the DC with the PDC role:

  • net stop w32time
  • w32tm /config /syncfromflags:manual /manualpeerlist:"0.pool.ntp.org, 1.pool.ntp.org, 2.pool.ntp.org"
  • w32tm /config /reliable:yes
  • net start w32time
  • w32tm /query /configuration 

[Configuration]

EventLogFlags: 2 (Local)
AnnounceFlags: 5 (Local)
TimeJumpAuditOffset: 28800 (Local)
MinPollInterval: 6 (Local)
MaxPollInterval: 10 (Local)
MaxNegPhaseCorrection: 172800 (Local)
MaxPosPhaseCorrection: 172800 (Local)
MaxAllowedPhaseOffset: 300 (Local)

FrequencyCorrectRate: 4 (Local)
PollAdjustFactor: 5 (Local)
LargePhaseOffset: 50000000 (Local)
SpikeWatchPeriod: 900 (Local)
LocalClockDispersion: 10 (Local)
HoldPeriod: 5 (Local)
PhaseCorrectRate: 7 (Local)
UpdateInterval: 100 (Local)


[TimeProviders]

NtpClient (Local)
DllName: C:\Windows\System32\w32time.DLL (Local)
Enabled: 1 (Local)
InputProvider: 1 (Local)
AllowNonstandardModeCombinations: 1 (Local)
ResolvePeerBackoffMinutes: 15 (Local)
ResolvePeerBackoffMaxTimes: 7 (Local)
CompatibilityFlags: 2147483648 (Local)
EventLogFlags: 1 (Local)
LargeSampleSkew: 3 (Local)
SpecialPollInterval: 3600 (Local)
Type: NTP (Local)
NtpServer: 0.pool.ntp.org, 1.pool.ntp.org, 2.pool.ntp.org (Local)

NtpServer (Local)
DllName: C:\Windows\System32\w32time.DLL (Local)
Enabled: 1 (Local)
InputProvider: 0 (Local)
AllowNonstandardModeCombinations: 1 (Local)

VMICTimeProvider (Local)
DllName: C:\Windows\System32\vmictimeprovider.dll (Local)
Enabled: 1 (Local)
InputProvider: 1 (Local)

But still showing the output:

  • C:\Windows\System32>w32tm /query /status
    Leap Indicator: 0(no warning)
    Stratum: 1 (primary reference - syncd by radio clock)
    Precision: -6 (15.625ms per tick)
    Root Delay: 0.0000000s
    Root Dispersion: 10.0000000s
    ReferenceId: 0x4C4F434C (source name:  "LOCL")
    Last Successful Sync Time: 06/11/2014 15:58:45
    Source: Local CMOS Clock
    Poll Interval: 6 (64s)

2. If I resync and rediscover the following error appears: 

  • w32tm /resync /rediscover 

Sending resync command to local computer
The computer did not resync because no time data was available.

3. I've also clearing the current time config, by

  • net stop w32time
  • w32tm /unregister
  • w32tm /register
  • net start w32time

But no change, it still shows the Local CMOS clock. 

4. This event is showing 

Log Name:      System
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Time-Service
Date:          06/11/2014 15:43:30
Event ID:      12
Task Category: None
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      
User:          LOCAL SERVICE
Computer:      domaincontroller1
Description:
Time Provider NtpClient: This machine is configured to use the domain hierarchy to determine its time source, but it is the AD PDC emulator for the domain at the root of the forest, so there is no machine above it in the domain hierarchy to use as a time source. It is recommended that you either configure a reliable time service in the root domain, or manually configure the AD PDC to synchronize with an external time source. Otherwise, this machine will function as the authoritative time source in the domain hierarchy. If an external time source is not configured or used for this computer, you may choose to disable the NtpClient.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Time-Service" Guid="{06EDCFEB-0FD0-4E53-ACCA-A6F8BBF81BCB}" />
    <EventID>12</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>3</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2014-11-06T15:43:30.465619200Z" />
    <EventRecordID>77295</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="256" ThreadID="2056" />
    <Channel>System</Channel>
    <Computer>domaincontroller1</Computer>
    <Security UserID="SID" />
  </System>
  <EventData Name="TMP_EVENT_DOMAIN_HIERARCHY_ROOT">
  </EventData>
</Event>

5. If I perform the below it appears DC2 is having problems but I'm not sure if related. 

C:\w32tm /monitor
DC1.domain.local *** PDC ***[192.168.1.1:123]:
    ICMP: 0ms delay
    NTP: +0.0000000s offset from DC1.domain.local
        RefID: 'LOCL' [0x4C434F4C]
        Stratum: 1
DC2.domain.local[192.168.1.2:123]:
    ICMP: 0ms delay
    NTP: -110.4925481s offset from DC1.domain.local
        RefID: (unspecified / unsynchronized) [0x00000000]
        Stratum: 0
DC3.domain.local[192.168.2.1:123]:
    ICMP: 0ms delay
    NTP: -0.0256084s offset from DC1.domain.local
        RefID: DC1.domain.local [192.168.1.1]
        Stratum: 2
DC4.domain.local[192.168.2.4:123]:
    ICMP: 0ms delay
    NTP: -0.0011524s offset from DC1.domain.local
        RefID: 80.84.77.86.rev.sfr.net [86.77.84.80]
        Stratum: 2

Warning:
Reverse name resolution is best effort. It may not be
correct since RefID field in time packets differs across
NTP implementations and may not be using IP addresses.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

November 6th, 2014 4:10pm

Hi,

In an active directory, all member computers will sync time with the PDC, so you only need to setup an external time source on the PDC.

Please try the command below, and check the result:

Net Stop W32Time
W32tm /config /syncfromflags:manual /manualpeerlist:"<ip addresses>"
W32tm /config /reliable:yes
Net Start W32Time
W32tm /config /update
W32tm /resync

Regards.

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November 7th, 2014 9:20am

Tried the above and get: 

C:\Windows\System32>w32tm /resync
Sending resync command to local computer
The following error occurred: Access is denied. (0
November 7th, 2014 10:05am

Tried the above and get: 

C:\Windows\System32>w32tm /resync

This is using elevated. 


If you get Access Denied error, you didn't use elevated command prompt or something went wrong in the OS insides. Try again or just wait, the system will resync eventually on its own.
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November 7th, 2014 10:20am

I suspected some issue with AV so uninstalled. 

To resolve the Access Denied I followed these steps: 

  • stop w32time
  • w32tm /unregister
  • reboot
  • regsvr32 /u w32time.dll
  • w32tm /register
  • sc query w32time -- you should see that the service is set to shared mode -- this is presumably how it should be -- if you try to start right now, you'll get the expected 1290 SID-related error
  • reboot
  • w32time should now automatically start at boot up and be running -- that was my result -- it's running as shared, started on its own, and I can do the w32tm /query commands successfully

After rebooting the time service started. 

I then repeated the steps: 

  • net stop w32time
  • w32tm /config /syncfromflags:manual /manualpeerlist:"0.pool.ntp.org, 1.pool.ntp.org, 2.pool.ntp.org"
  • w32tm /config /reliable:yes
  • net start w32time
  • w32tm /query /configuration 

And all worked. I'll wait a short while to see if this fixes the issue. I also have am SA case with MS so will confirm fix when resolved. 


November 7th, 2014 11:25am

I also found this to be a firewall issue not allowing port 123 outbound from our corporate firewall. 
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November 11th, 2014 4:37pm

Hi,

Thanks for your feedback and good sharing.

Regards.

November 12th, 2014 7:52am

Same problems here. I manually deleted the w32tm registry key in the end.
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April 22nd, 2015 9:51pm

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