Synchronize the Source Server time with an external time source for Windows SBS 2008 migration

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Updated: January 22, 2009

Applies To: Windows SBS 2008

The time on the Source Server must be within 5 minutes of the time on the Destination Server, and the date and time zone must be the same on both servers. If the Source Server is running in a virtual machine, the date, time, and time zone on the host server must match that of the Source Server and the Destination Server. To help ensure that Windows SBS 2008 is installed successfully, you must synchronize the Source Server time to the Network Time Protocol (NTP) server on the Internet.

To synchronize the Source Server time with the NTP server

  1. Log on to the Source Server with a domain administrator account and password.

  2. Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the text box, and then press ENTER.

  3. At the command prompt, type w32tm /config /syncfromflags:domhier /reliable:no /update, and then press ENTER.

  4. At the command prompt, type net stop w32time, and then press ENTER.

  5. At the command prompt, type net start w32time, and then press ENTER.

Important

During the Windows SBS 2008 installation, you have an opportunity to verify the time on the Destination Server and change it, if necessary. Ensure that the time is within 5 minutes of the time on the Source Server. When the installation finishes, the Destination Server synchronizes with the NTP. All domain joined computers, including the Source Server, synchronize to the Destination Server, which assumes the role of the primary domain controller (PDC) emulator master.