Current time is off on a Windows 2003 Server DC

Question

I have a single server that is also a domain controller in a cabinet, there are no other servers attached to its domain. I've reset the time in the BIOS (from what I recall) and in Windows to the current correct time, over a period of a few days the time will be off by about 20 minutes.

Since it's a DC it shouldn't be getting time over NTP, correct?

Does this mean the issue could be with the BIOS battery? The server is almost 4 years old and the CMOS battery is original.

Answer 1

Since it's a DC it shouldn't be getting time over NTP, correct?

No. Not unless you configured it that way.

How would a domain controller automatically configure itself to use an external NTP source? That would be a really bad default behavior for many reasons.

The DC holding the PDC emulator role is used as the time source for all other DCs. Then, all clients sync their time from any DC, usually their logon server but not always. Since you are in a single-DC environment, you still need to configure the Domain Controller to sync from a reliable external time source. I suggest syncing from the ntp.org sources if you don't have another in mind.

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Does this mean the issue could be with the BIOS battery? The server is almost 4 years old and the CMOS battery is original.

Probably not, but if you think that might be an issue, then replace it. They're only like $2.