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Time synchronization settings in Virtual Server 2005

Article ID: 887727 - View products that this article applies to.

INTRODUCTION

This article discusses the synchronization of the system time between the host computer and the virtual machine in Microsoft Virtual Server 2005. Virtual Server 2005 checks to make sure that the time setting difference between the virtual machine and the host computer is within preconfigured limits. The frequency that the time synchronization is performed and the time difference threshold can be configured in the virtual machine configuration (.vmc) file.

MORE INFORMATION

Virtual Server 2005 regularly examines the system time of a virtual machine at a frequency that is configured in the virtual machine configuration (.vmc) file. By default, Virtual Server 2005 is configured to perform this time synchronization check every 15 seconds. If the virtual machine and the host computer have a time setting difference that is more than the threshold that is configured in the virtual machine configuration (.vmc) file, Virtual Server 2005 synchronizes the virtual machine time setting to match the host computer.

The default time synchronization settings for a Virtual Server 2005 virtual machine are as follows:

Virtual Server 2005 examines the time setting on a virtual machine every 15 seconds.
If the host computer and the virtual machine have time settings that are more than 10 seconds apart, Virtual Server 2005 synchronizes the time setting on a virtual machine to match the host computer. If the time settings are within the 10 second threshold, Virtual Server 2005 does not synchronize the time setting on a virtual machine.

To change the default time synchronization settings for your Virtual Server 2005 virtual machine:

Locate the (.vmc) file that is associated with the virtual machine. By default, this file is stored in the following location:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Virtual Server\Virtual Machines\

Note The location of this file may be different on your computer.
Open the (.vmc) file in a text editor such as Notepad, and locate the following section:
<host_time_sync> <enabled type="boolean">true</enabled> <frequency type="integer">15</frequency> <threshold type="integer">10</threshold> </host_time_sync>
To change the default time synchronization frequency from the default 15 seconds, type a new value in the following line:
<frequency type="integer">15</frequency>
To change the default time difference threshold, type a new value for the number of seconds in the following line:
<threshold type="integer">10</threshold>