TimeServ Uses 100% of System Resources (172831)


The information in this article applies to:

  • MSPRESS Microsoft Windows NT Resource Kit 3.51
  • MSPRESS Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Resource Kit ISBN 1-57231-344-7
  • MSPRESS Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Resource Kit ISBN 1-57231-343-9
  • MSPRESS Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Resource Kit, Supplement One ISBN 1-57231-559-8
  • MSPRESS Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Resource Kit, Supplement Two ISBN 1-57231-626-8
This article was previously published under Q172831

SYMPTOMS

Between 5 and 6 P.M. eastern time on August 13, 1997, the TimeServ service may have begun consuming 100 percent of your system's resources.

CAUSE

This problem appears to be caused by a change in the United States Naval Observatory's time server. At this time, the problem does not appear to be caused by an error in the TimeServ utility, or by a malicious attack.

WORKAROUND

Change the TimeServ.ini file to use a Simple Network Time Protocol Server instead of a TCP/IP Server by using the following steps.

NOTE: These steps will not work correctly if you are behind a firewall that passes TCP but not UDP (datagrams).

  1. Using the Services applet in the Control Panel, stop the TimeServ service.
  2. Open the \%SystemRoot%\TimeServ.ini using a simple text editor such as Notepad.
  3. Click Search, and then click Find. Search for the following line:

    TYPE=INTERNET

  4. Insert a semicolon (;) in front of the line TYPE=INTERNET if there is no semicolon present.
  5. Click Search, and then click Find. Search for the following line:

    TYPE=NTP

  6. If there is a semicolon in front of the line TYPE=NTP, delete it.
  7. Click Search, and then click Find. Search for the following line:

    NTPServer=

  8. Change the line to read as follows:

    NTPServer=tick.usno.navy.mil

    NOTE: You may also substitute another NTP server, such as tock.usno.navy.mil.
  9. Save your changes and close Notepad.
  10. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Command Prompt.
  11. Type timeserv -update, press ENTER, and then close the Command Prompt window.
  12. Restart the TimeServ service.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Additional information about this problem and other known issues with the Timeserv utility can be found at the following Web address:

http://home1.gte.net/dougho/TimeServ.html

Please note that this site is not under the control of Microsoft and may change without notice. For Microsoft's official statement regarding other servers, please see the following World Wide Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/misc/nonms.htm

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:3/8/2001
Keywords:kbprb KB172831
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