How to get the domain controller time sync event?

Question

My computer is part of the domain. Say I manually adjust the clock to be off by 2min. Domain controller will sync this clock with its own at some point.

Is it possible to track domain controller time synchronization events on local computer?

Solution

Reference Configuring the Time Service to Log When the Time Is Changed

This article describes how to force the W32time service to log an event in the event log when the time has been adjusted.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To enable logging for W32time, use Registry Editor to add the following registry values:

Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters
Value name: Log
Data type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0x00000064 (Hex)

Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters
Value name: WriteLog
Data type: REG_SZ
Value: True

After you make these changes, you must stop and restart the W32time service.

When the time is adjusted, event ID 61 is logged in the System log. The text for this event is similar to:

The Time service synced time from time source (SOURCE)

This is followed by event ID 0:

Time set (offset < .5) second

If an error with synchronization occurs, event ID 11 is logged:

The NTP server didn't respond

Note

The above is for Microsoft Windows 2000 Server but may work in other versions of windows.

Comments

[marsh-wiggle]

The event you see when the time gets changed is Source: Kernel-General Event-ID: 1

[Kimi]

Aren't W32Time service and Domain controller synchronization two different things?

[DavidPostill]

Doesn't Windows use the W32Time service to do the synchronisation with the DC?

[Kimi]

Mp W32Time service is stopped and something is synchronizing a clock, can't figure out what and DC is a prime suspect.

[DavidPostill]

How to sync time on a client with the server time might help