Synchronize Windows 7 time to Linux NTP server

[^rooker]

[PROBLEM]
I want to Windows 7 clients to keep their system time up-to-date, by synchronizing to a local Linux NTP server (ntpd).

[SOLUTION]
Finally, it's quite straightforward.

1) Set up ntpd on your Linux server:
a) Install the NTP package:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install ntp

b) Configure your local timeserver 'ntpd':
Edit the file: /etc/ntp.conf
Here's an example:

driftfile /var/lib/ntp/ntp.drift

statistics loopstats peerstats clockstats
filegen loopstats file loopstats type day enable
filegen peerstats file peerstats type day enable
filegen clockstats file clockstats type day enable

# You do need to talk to an NTP server or two (or three).
server 0.debian.pool.ntp.org iburst dynamic
server 1.debian.pool.ntp.org iburst dynamic
server 2.debian.pool.ntp.org iburst dynamic
server 3.debian.pool.ntp.org iburst dynamic

# By default, exchange time with everybody, but don't allow configuration.
restrict -4 default kod notrap nomodify nopeer noquery
restrict -6 default kod notrap nomodify nopeer noquery

# Local users may interrogate the ntp server more closely.
restrict 127.0.0.1
restrict ::1

c) Start the NTP daemon (ntpd):

Code: Select all

sudo /etc/init.d/ntpd start

References:
- Debian / Ubuntu Linux Install NTPD To Synchronism Clock With Internet Standard Time Servers
- Howto: Einen Zeitserver unter Debian Lenny betreiben

2) Tell Windows to fetch the time from your Linux server:
(Here's a HowTo with colorful images)
a) right-click on the date/time in the lower-right corner of your taskbar
b) Select "change time/date"
c) Select the tab "Internet time"
d) Click on "change settings"
e) Aktivate the option to synchronize with an Internet time server
f) Enter the name (or IP) of your Linux server as time server
g) Click on "update now"

3) Increase the update interval:
By default, Windows7 updates each week.
According to the HowTo: "Nutzen des Zeitservices unter Windows 7", one has to modify the a value in the registry:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpClient

The value's name is:

SpecialPollIntervall

...and its value in Decimal is the interval (in seconds) when to update the time.

I've set it to '21600' - which is 2 hours (2 * 60 * 60).

References:
Windows Time Service Tools and Settings
Windows 7: Sync System Clock with Internet Time (HowTo)
Sync Windows 2003 to Linux NTP server
Nutzen des Zeitservices unter Windows 7