What is NTP (Network Time Protocol)?

NTP is a protocol which helps to computers to synchronize the time to a standard time. It uses UDP on port 123 as its transport layer. NTP uses Marzullo’s algorithm and providing 200 microseconds accuracy on a lan network. NTP is designed to resist the effects of variable latency. NTP is knows as one of the very old Internet protocols. It was firstly designed by Dave Mills and he still maintains it. The current NTP version is 4.

Why NTP is essential in corporate networks?

When you are in an environment where the timestamps plays a major role in the business, it is very essential so that the time will be accurate in every device on the network. Devices such as Routers, Servers, Time recording machines (User login machines) and workstations. If the time on the router is not accurate, while you troubleshoot a router problem it will be uneasy while you examine the router logs as it will not be in proper time stamp.

NTP Official Website http://www.ntp.org/

Here are the standard NTP servers hosted from ntp.org

Configuration

On a Domain network it is advised that the NTP should be configured on the Domain Controller so that the clients which are getting authenticated from the DC will get synchronized with the time on the DC.

1. Open the Registry on the DC and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\W32Time\Parameters

2. On the right hand side you will see NTPServer. Double click on that to edit the key.

3. Now replace “time.windows.com,0×9” with “pool.ntp.org.0×9” ( pool.ntp.org is provided by the Ntp.org)

4. Now open up the Command Prompt windows and execute the following commands to restart the time server on the DC.

net stop w32time

net start w32time

There are many free time servers are available. Even your local ISP will have one, so make sure you configure with the relevant time server according to your area.

ManageEngine Is generally a complete ITIL enabled helpdesk application which can be accessed using the internet browser from a single point.  They provide integrated Request management (Trouble Ticketing), Asset management, Purchase order management, Contract Management, Self-Service Portal, and Knowledge Base. Apart from this you can integrate an extra module for Remote Desktop support which is called Desktop Central and also this Software has the add on feature for a centralized software deployment tool something like Windows Software update Service(WSUS). The Asset scan will search everything in an Enterprise network and keep the record for every Workstations, Servers, Routers, Switches, Printers, and Scanners  later you can use it for a Remote Desktop, Asset inventory, Audit the history of an asset, Track the asset ownership. So that’s all about MangeEngine in a nutshell.

Lately we experience a problem in our Enterprise network which is mixed OS environment having Windows XP and Vista for workstations. I believe ManegeEngine was not coded well for Vista because often it was displaying blank pages. As it could be a problem related to ActiveX  and tried enabling all the required activex in IE but it was in vain. After all the great effort we received the workaround from MangeEngine.

• Click Start> Run

• Type in secpol.msc

• That will bring you to Vista’s security policy system. Once you are there Navigate to  Local Policies > Security Options and then find “Network Security: LAN Manager authentication level”

• Double click on it and change the setting from “Send NTLMv2 response only” to “Send LM & NTLM — use NTLMv2 session security if negotiated.

• Finally restart the computer and try to access the ServiceDesk!

• You can deploy this as a group policy in your network if you have many vista desktops

This can be applied to Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7

Click Start | Run and type cmd to open a command prompt.
At the prompt, type systeminfo

Scroll down the list of information to the line that says System Up Time.

Displayed will be the days, hours, minutes and seconds on how long the system has been up.

Note that this command only works in XP Pro, not in XP Home. You can, however, type net statistics workstation at the prompt in Home. The first line will tell you the day and time that the system came online.