Microsoft KB Archive/320258

= Windows XP Does Not Synchronize the Time Outside a Client's Site =

Article ID: 320258

Article Last Modified on 10/27/2006

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional

-



This article was previously published under Q320258



SYMPTOMS
If a Windows XP-based client is located in an Active Directory-defined site that does not contain a domain controller, the client does not synchronize the time by using the domain hierarchy.



CAUSE
If a client uses a domain hierarchy (that is, is a domain member) for time synchronization, the client does not try to locate another domain controller if the current site does not contain a domain controller.

You can use a Network Time Protocol (NTP) time source to synchronize the time. Group Policy for the Time service contains an entry for CrosSiteSyncFlags, but this entry is not used by Windows XP-based clients.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 How to Obtain the Latest Windows XP Service Pack

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:   Date         Time   Version      Size     File name -  02-Apr-2002  14:39  5.1.2600.41  158,720  W32time.dll 11-Dec-2001 16:55  5.1.2600.0    49,664  W32tm.exe



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, set the client's NTP time source by using Group Policy, or set the NTP time source manually.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Windows XP Service Pack 1.



MORE INFORMATION
After you applying this hotfix, you can synchronize the time outside the client's site if no domain controller is present. The Group Policy setting for CrossSiteSyncFlags is used. The Group Policy entry correlates to the following registry value:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpClient

CrossSiteSyncFlags REG_DWORD = 0x00000002 (default)

With CrossSiteSyncFlags set to 0, Windows XP-based clients do not try to synchronize outside the site.

With CrossSiteSyncFlags set to 2, Windows XP-based clients use out-of-site domain controllers for synchronization. This is the default value, but is not used for Windows XP-based clients before you apply this hotfix.

No matter what the CrossSiteSyncFlags value is set to, the client chooses the closest site domain controller to synchronize with if both a close site domain controller and an out-of-site domain controller are available.

Additional query words: kbMgmtAdmin w32time timesync

Keywords: kbhotfixserver kbqfe kbbug kbfix kbsysadmin kbwinxpsp1fix KB320258

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.