Windows 2016 Server: System Time Synchronization Issue

Windows 2016 Server System Time Synchronization Issue

In the last two months, many Windows 2016 Server users have reported an issue where the server time is set back by one hour every 10 days. This article will cover the key concepts related to this issue and provide a detailed context to help you understand and resolve it.

Understanding System Time Synchronization

Windows Server uses a service called the Windows Time (W32Time) service to synchronize the system time with a reliable time source. The W32Time service ensures that the system time is accurate and consistent across all servers and clients in the network. The time source can be an external time server, such as those provided by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) or the United States Naval Observatory (USNO), or an internal time server, such as a domain controller, that synchronizes its time with an external time source.

Identifying the Issue

The issue manifests itself as a system time change event in the Event Viewer, with an Event ID of 1, and a source of Kernel-General. The event description states that the system time has been changed, and the new time is one hour behind the previous time. This event is recorded every 10 days, causing the system time to become inaccurate and inconsistent with the rest of the network.

Causes of the Issue

The root cause of the issue is a bug in the Windows Time service that affects Windows 2016 Server. The bug causes the service to reset the system time to the default time source every 10 days, even if a reliable time source is configured. This results in the system time being set back by one hour, causing the issue.

Resolving the Issue

To resolve the issue, you can apply the following steps:

1. Configure the Windows Time service to use a reliable time source, such as an external time server or a domain controller that synchronizes its time with an external time source.
2. Stop and disable the Windows Time service.
3. Uninstall the Windows Time service by running the following command in an elevated Command Prompt:

4. Install the Windows Time service again by running the following command in an elevated Command Prompt:

5. Start the Windows Time service and set it to Automatic.

References

• Microsoft Support: A reliable time source cannot be found in your network

• Microsoft Docs: Windows Time Service (W32Time) Top-Level FAQ

• Microsoft TechNet: Windows 2016 Server System Time Synchronization Issue

By following the above steps, you can resolve the system time synchronization issue in Windows 2016 Server and ensure that the system time is accurate and consistent across all servers and clients in the network.