The Windows Time service, W32Time, insures that all computers in your domain, that are running Windows 2000 or later, use a common time.
To guarantee this behavior, W32Time uses a hierarchical approach:
- All client computers and member servers nominate the authenticating domain controller as their in-bound time partner.
- All of your domain's domain controllers nominate the PDC (Primary Domain Controller) operations master as their authoritative time sever.
- All PDC operations masters follow the hierarchy of domains, up to the PDC operations master at the forest root.
If possible, you should use a hardware time source at the forest root PDC emulator, because synchronizing with an Internet time source has no authentication.
NOTE See the following tips:
How do I configure an authoritative time server in Windows 2000?
How do I configure the Windows 2000 time service to log when time is adjusted?
