Configuration of TimeSyncTest

This test reports the time difference between the reference clock and that of the target environment, and thus helps assess the quality of time seen by the windows server. With the help of this test, you can also easily determine whether the reference time changed recently.

The default parameters associated with this test are as follows:

• The TEST PERIOD list box helps the user to decide how often this test needs to be executed.

• In the HOST text box, the host name of the server for which the test is to be configured has to be specified.

• The port number to which the server is listening is to be provided in the PORT text box. By default, this is NULL.

• NTP SERVER parameter is applicable only if the target server is a Windows server. By default, the NTP SERVER parameter is set to none indicating that the default designated reference clock would be used to synchronize the server clock. In Microsoft Windows, the Windows Time service automatically synchronizes your computer's internal clock with other clocks in the network. The time source for this synchronization varies, depending on whether the computer is joined to an Active Directory domain or to a workgroup. If the computers belong to an Active Directory domain, the Windows Time service configures itself automatically by using the Windows Time service that is available on domain controllers. The Windows Time service configures a domain controller in its domain as a reliable time source and synchronizes itself periodically with this source. This is why, if the Windows server being monitored is part of a domain, you need not disturb the default setting none of this parameter.

  When the computers are part of a workgroup on the other hand, you must manually configure the time synchronization settings. You must identify a computer as a locally reliable time source by configuring the Windows Time service on that computer to use a known accurate time source, either by using special hardware or by using a time source that is available on the Internet. You can configure all other workgroup computers manually to synchronize their time with this local time source. This is why, if the Windows server being monitored is part of a workgroup, you will have to manually specify the hostname or the IP address of the computer that should be used as the local time source, against this parameter.

• Once the necessary values have been provided, clicking on the UPDATE button will register the changes made.

When changing the configuration for specific servers, a "*" beside the text box corresponding to the parameter signifies that these values have to be manually configured by the user. The parameter values that require to be configured will typically be prefixed with a "$" or contain a series of "*". A value of "none" in the parameter value indicates that the corresponding parameter value can be changed if required.