W32tm

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

W32tm

A tool used to diagnose problems occuring with Windows Time.

Syntax

{/config [/computer:ComputerName] [ [/update] [/manualpeerlist:ListOfComputerNames] ] [/syncfromflags:ListOfFlags] ] | /monitor | /ntte | /ntpte | /register|/resync [{:ComputerName] [/nowait] | [/rediscover}] | /tz | /unregister}

Parameters
  • **/config[ **/computer:**ComputerName] [ [ /update] [ **/manualpeerlist:ListOfComputerNames] ] [ /syncfromflags:ListOfFlags]
    Adjusts the time settings on the local or target computer. Time synchronization peers can be set with the /manualpeerlist switch. Changes to configuration are not used by Windows Time unless the service is restarted or the /update switch is used. /syncfromflags can be used to set the types of sources used for synchronization, and can be set to either MANUAL to use the manual peer list or DOMHIER to synchronize from a domain controller.
  • /monitor
    Monitors the target computer or list of computers.
  • /ntte
    Converts an NT system time into a readable format.
  • /ntpte
    Converts an NTP time into a readable format.
  • /register
    Register to run as a service and add default configuration to the registry.
  • **/resync[{ **:ComputerName] [ /nowait] | [ /rediscover}]
    Resynchronize the clock as soon as possible, disregarding all accumulated error statistics. If no computer is specified, the local computer will resynchronize. The command will wait for resynchronization unless the /nowait switch is used. Currently used time resources will be used unless /rediscover is used, which will force redetection of network resourced before resynchronization.
  • / tz
    Display the current time zone settings.
  • / unregister
    Unregister service and remove all configuration information from the registry.
  • /?
    Displays help at the command prompt.

Caution

  • Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. Before making changes to the registry, you should back up any valued data on the computer.
Remarks
  • This tool is designed for network administrators to use for diagnosing problems with Windows Time.

    For more information, see net time in Related Topics.

    Warning

    You should not use the net time command to configure or set time when the Windows Time service (W32time) is running. Also, running the command net time /querysntp displays the name of an NTP server with which a computer is configured to synchronize, but that NTP server is used only when the computer’s time client is configured as NTP or AllSync. Most domain member computers have a time client type of NT5DS, which means they synchronize time from the domain hierarchy. The only exception to this is the domain controller that functions as the primary domain controller (PDC) emulator operations master of the forest root domain, which is typically configured to synchronize time with an external time source. To view the time client configuration of a computer, run the W32tm /query /configuration command (from an elevated Command Prompt in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008) and read the Type line in the command output. For more information, see How Windows Time Service Works (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=117753) and Windows Time Service Tools and Settings (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=42984).

  • For the Windows Time service to use the changed made with W32tm, it must be notified of the changes. To notify Windows Time, at the command prompt, type w32tm /config /update.

Examples

To display the current time zone settings, type:

w32tm /tz

You can use the W32tm /query /configuration command (from an elevated Command Prompt in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008) to determine how your computer is configured to synchronize time. Review the Type line of the output. The possible time client type configurations are as follows:

  • NoSync: Do not synchronize time.

  • NTP: Synchronize time from an external time source; see the NtpServer line of the W32tm /query /configuration command output for the name of the time source.

  • NT5DS: Synchronize time from the domain hierarchy.

  • AllSync: Synchronize time from any available time source, including domain hierarchy and external time sources.

Formatting legend

Format Meaning

Italic

Information that the user must supply

Bold

Elements that the user must type exactly as shown

Ellipsis (...)

Parameter that can be repeated several times in a command line

Between brackets ([])

Optional items

Between braces ({}); choices separated by pipe (|). Example: {even|odd}

Set of choices from which the user must choose only one

Courier font

Code or program output

See Also

Concepts

Command-line reference A-Z
Command shell overview
Net time