Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

Yeah so, I have setup a domain controller (windows 2003) active directory machine and it is managing couple of windows servers and workstation. I also have couple of AIX machines that need to have the same time as other windows server and workstation hanging off of that domain controller.

Now DC uses SNTP to sync time with the windows machine but AIX can't use DC as a time server or can it? I can't install an NTP server on the domain controller because it'll conflict with the kerberos/SNTP time service. I've considered making AIX machines smbclient so it is managed by Active Directory and provide time sync service to the AIX machine, but not sure if this is possible. Can an AIX machine be in an Active Directory domain? Anyway I also though about setting up an NTP server on the member windows machine ans use that machines system time as stratum 1 time server for the AIX machine.

This test network is setup to simulate business hour and all the application that runs on it. So I need a turn-key (or close) solution so I can set the time on DC (or any member machine) any time I want (forward/backword/different timezone etc) and the rest of the windows and AIX machines will automatically (or semi?) synchronize their system clock to this newly set time. How would you do it? If you need further clarification feel free to ask. Thanks

Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

Try using ntpdate. We sync everyday with cron:
0 6 * * * ntpdate domain_controller_name

Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

Have a more simple way to do this.

First you need resolve the diference between time machines

1. ntpdate ipPDCserver

add a line to the /etc/ntp.conf

server ipPDCserver

#smit xntpd -> start service ande select BOTH to start now and boot

now you can way for 10 min before do anithing
after 10 min execute the folwing commands to check if its work;

1. ntpq -p
2. ntptrace

if you receive a list of ip and name server of NTP, cool its work so well..

Now your machine is alway sync with NTP server, and don´t want any line to cron.

Originally posted by: RCS101

This I'm sure will be too late a response for the original poster, but for any others with this issue currently check out Solution-Soft's Time Machine virtual clocks tool, where can set virtual clocks to any date and time in the future or past or by Time Zone (can also optionally speed up or slow down the virtual clocks too). Works with any application or database running on UNIX, Linux (including zLinux), or Windows. Simple, quick, safe (does not affect system clock and file system time stamps), no code changes needed, etc. solution-soft dot com.