How Machines Determine the Time Source Server Using NET TIME

ID: Q156460

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

This article describes the process by which a client computer attempts to synchronize with a time source server and how that server is located.


MORE INFORMATION

A Time Source server actually advertises itself through the browser function. You can obtain of list of the services running on a computer using the BROWSTAT utility from the Windows NT Resource Kit. To obtain this information, perform the following steps:

  1. Obtain a list of all active transports by typing the following command:

    BROWSTAT STATUS [-v] [Domain]

    This will return a list similar to the below: 
    
   Status for domain DOMAIN_NAME on transport \Device\NwlnkIpx
   Browsing is active on domain.
     Master browser is running build 1057
   1 backup servers retrieved from master DOMAIN_NAME

    NOTE: You will have a listing like the above for each transport available.


  2. List servers participating in browsing and show services available.

    BROWSTAT VIEW <transport>
    e.g. BROWSTAT VIEW \Device\NwlnkIpx

    This will return a list similar to the below: 
    
   Remoting NetServerEnum to \\FLAXON on transport
   \device\nwlnkipx with flags ffffffff
   7 entries returned.  7 total. 20 milliseconds

   \\ADMHAYN        NT   03.51 (W,S,NT,TS,PBR)
   \\AMINGRAH       WFW  04.00 (W,S,WFW,PBR)
   \\AGROBER        NT   03.51 (W,S,NT,PBR,MBR)
   \\ASTROLL        NT   04.00 (W,S,NT,TS,PBR,BBR,MBR)
   \\BATCAVE        NT   04.00 (W,S,NT,PBR,MBR)
   \\BTSHEET        NT   03.51 (W,S,NT,PBR,MBR)
   \\BTWAY          NT   04.00 (W,S,NT,PBR)


NOTE: See the Rktools.hlp file for details on all of the BROWSTAT flags. The "TS" entry shown above for the 1st and 4th entries is for the Time Source service.

Additional query words: prodnt sync 


Keywords          : ntreskit 
Version           : WinNT:3.1,3.5,3.51,4.0
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: January 21, 1999