Roger Sohn

This is a common error found on domain controllers if NTP is not configured correctly.

Symptom:

When you try to synchronize your Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based computer to a Network Time Protocol (NTP) server that is not running Microsoft Windows, the synchronization may not succeed. When this problem occurs, the following events may be recorded in the System log:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: W32Time
Event Category: None
Event ID: 29
Date: Date
Time: Time
User: N/A
Computer: ComputerName

Description: The time provider NtpClient is configured to acquire time from one or more time sources, however none of the sources are currently accessible. No attempt to contact a source will be made for 15 minutes. NtpClient has no source of accurate time.

Cause:

This problem may occur when your computer sends synchronization requests by using symmetric active mode. By default, Windows Server 2003 domain controllers are configured as time servers and use symmetric active mode to send synchronization requests. Some NTP servers that do not run Windows respond only to requests that use client mode.

Resolution:

To resolve this problem, configure Windows Time to use client mode when it synchronizes with the time server. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then press ENTER.

2. At the command prompt, type the following commands in the order that they are given. After you type each command, press ENTER.

o w32tm /config /manualpeerlist:NTP_server_IP_Address,0×8 /syncfromflags:MANUAL

o net stop w32time

o net start w32time

o w32tm /resync

Additional Info:

The mode that Windows Time uses to send requests is set by the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpServer

If the value of the Enabled entry in this subkey is 1, Windows Time uses symmetric active mode. Otherwise, Windows Time uses client mode.

The 0×8 setting that is referenced in the command in the “Resolution” section sets Windows Time to use client mode.

The valid settings for the mode used with the /manualpeerlist switch include the following:

· 0×01 - use special poll interval SpecialInterval

· 0×02 - UseAsFallbackOnly

· 0×04 - send request as SymmetricActive mode

· 0×08 - send request as Client mode

Microsoft KB Article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875424