NTP question on Windows2003 Network

I hav configured my primary domain controller to sync time with an external
time server by editing the Registry as noted in the microsoft article.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/816042

I have another domain controller which is no longer my primary domain
controller that also gets time from an external time source. ( I think I did
this via net time /setsntp:nameofserver)

Questions:
1. Is there any difference in using net time /setsntp vs editing the
registry manually? (wondering why microsoft and other articles I saw are
making it more complicated by requiring you to edit the registry?).

2. How do I set my domain controller that is no longer my primary domain
controller to obtain time from the primary domain controller (default
settings) instead of the external time source. Should I edit the registry
settings or just do a net time /setsntp:nameofmynewprimarydomaincontroller??

For this answer I would like to know what the registry settings should for
the default setting on the server.
Example:
Do I change
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters\Type\NTP
back to
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters\Type\NT5DS
Delete this key (for some reason the nptserver entry wasn't in my primary
domain server so I had to enter
it)HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters\NtpServer
etc etc.

3. How do I check my other domain servers and member servers to ensure they
are getting time from the primary domain server? When I do a net time
/querysntp, I get The current SNTP value is: time.windows.com, 0x1. I
thought the default setting was that the other servers synched time with the
PDC.

Thanks.

Hello cst112,

Think this is an easier way and w32time is the new command:

PDCEmulator
http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/en/library/ce8890cf-ef46-4...-8e4a-2

old PDCEmulator
http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/4a63190b-c594-4...-9195-e

Clients
http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/f/?en/library/8990703a-a19...717-b6e

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
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> I hav configured my primary domain controller to sync time with an
> external time server by editing the Registry as noted in the microsoft
> article. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/816042
>
> I have another domain controller which is no longer my primary domain
> controller that also gets time from an external time source. ( I think
> I did this via net time /setsntp:nameofserver)
>
> Questions:
> 1. Is there any difference in using net time /setsntp vs editing the
> registry manually? (wondering why microsoft and other articles I saw
> are
> making it more complicated by requiring you to edit the registry?).
> 2. How do I set my domain controller that is no longer my primary
> domain controller to obtain time from the primary domain controller
> (default settings) instead of the external time source. Should I edit
> the registry settings or just do a net time
> /setsntp:nameofmynewprimarydomaincontroller??
>
> For this answer I would like to know what the registry settings should
> for
> the default setting on the server.
> Example:
> Do I change
> HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters\Type\NTP
> back to
> HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters\Type\NT5DS
> Delete this key (for some reason the nptserver entry wasn't in my
> primary
> domain server so I had to enter
> it)HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters\NtpServer
> etc etc.
> 3. How do I check my other domain servers and member servers to ensure
> they are getting time from the primary domain server? When I do a net
> time /querysntp, I get The current SNTP value is: time.windows.com,
> 0x1. I thought the default setting was that the other servers synched
> time with the PDC.
>
> Thanks.
>