Hey,

I'm working on a project where I NEED synchronized timestamps between my three computers.  The problem is, none of these computers will have access to Internet, so I can't just download some software and have them all sync the time from there.  I need to create a local network where one computer is the boss of the others in terms of time.

I read about how to do this when using Windows OS as both the server and the clients, as well as how to make the network when only using Linux computers.  The problem with all that is that I'm using a Windows XP and then two Linux ubuntu computers.  I can't use either of the suggested methods.

I've also found a few forum questions from other sites with a similar question to mine, but without a definitive answer.  If possible, I'd like to make the Windows computer the stratum 1 level meaning that it will broadcast the time to the two other Linux computers.

I've also read numerous warnings against this because the internal clock used in Windows is so inaccurate.  My response to that is I've found a way around it, so I don't care in this case.  Also, I'll say that I've only just started working with Linux, so if anyone answers, please explain step-by-step.

I've already downloaded the prescribed versions of NTP software for both Windows and Linux onto their respective computers.  The software appears to be working (the clock is updated from a chosen high stratum source), but as I said, I will not have access to Internet during the experiment.  The computers are connected directly and are able to 'see' each other when I used ping.

How do I get a local network of computers to recognize an internal hierarchy for the purpose of synchronizing time stamps?Hello!
You could do this:
http://www.watchingthenet.com/enable-auto-time-synchronization-in-ubuntu-and-kubuntu.html

Just uncheck any time servers from the internet and add your Windows XP stationThanks

This would have actually been helpful if I hadn't figured it out 10 minutes before I checked back .  That's how it always works I guess, but it was good to have the confirmation. 

Also the version of NTP on my Windows wasn't good with letting me change settings...eventually I found this one: NetTime Server and Client Advanced (if anyone's interested). 

http://www.sharewareconnection.com/download-net-time-server-client-from-sharecon.html

It seems pretty good so far, but unfortunately I just lost the ping connection between my computers , so I won't be able to say until I fix whatever's wrong now...Having tried LOTS of ntp clients, I've finally plumped with Dimension 4.  Free, comprehensive, robust.

Glad you got your config sorted.  Feel free to start a separate thread about your "ping connection" issue.Thanks - I might try it out if it turns out NetTime won't work for me, but it has been so far - intermittently ANYWAY.  I got the ping connection back; the physical connection to my Ethernet switch got messed up without me realizing it.  Good to have an easy fix for once lol.

I was able to synchronize the Linux client from my Windows server, but sometimes it just stops working and gives me an error or timeout message.  I'm not sure what's wrong... I WROTE down everything I did and recorded a visual copy of all the settings when it was working, but when I switched user accounts and came back, the sync system was no longer functioning.  I followed my instructions exactly and emulated all the settings from before, but it still wouldn't recover.  Sometimes it just starts working randomly even after I haven't done anything (play with settings, but put them back). 

This was the case this morning, but then I connected to Internet (which it wasn't before) and the sync stopped working.  I was trying to synchronize the server's time under the "Internet Time" tab under "Adjust Date and Time" which is found with a right click on the clock.  I had it set to auto-sync, which worked before (even with the NetTime program running), but now.  The long line of green light successful sync indicators is now replaced with a whole list of red error messages.  What's annoying is my server's clock didn't even sync it's own time for all that mess.  It gave me an error message that the computer couldn't connect to the server.  (The Internet's on though because I'm on here)

I'm trying to figure out by process of elimination what I can do without disturbing the connection, but it's always different things?  When it shuts off, I've always done something (adjusting settings but putting them back, OPENING a program, switching the user account and coming back, etc.).  Those shouldn't influence the connection though, should they?

I'm probably on my own with this problem because it has such unspecific signs for diagnosis, but if anyone does have some troubleshooting IDEAS, I'd definitely be open to them!!!If you can get hold of an ethernet cable tester, it would be worth while checking the cables are all okay.