Synchronizing time via the Internet is the ability of a computer, and more recently, not just a computer, to compare its time with the exact time servers on the Internet (see below). All modern operating systems have this feature. But it should be noted that in some cases you need to reinstall a couple of modules for the correct operation of this function.
The ability to synchronize is configured at the time of the first launch of the newly installed OS. After configuration, this function is carried out at a low level, therefore it does not depend on the applications installed on the user's computer.
How the system works
The synchronization starts unnoticed by the user at the time the computer boots up, if the Internet is accessed before the download. An example of this option can be called when your router goes to the network, and you connect to it. If the Internet starts after loading the system, then the time will be checked in the next free minute.
Can I turn it off?
Of course, it is impossible to exclude the moment when an inexperienced user can disrupt the function. Then time synchronization via the Internet will not be made. In principle, the computer itself does not care what time it is shown to it. The exact time in this case is of interest to the user himself. If the user's machine is new enough, then once the correct time is set for several years.
WinXP Sync
Many systems write the update frequency, and after a certain period of time, time is automatically synchronized via the Internet. Windows XP indicates this in the clock settings located on the taskbar. You can see the time of the last synchronization if you right-click on the clock and select "Date / Time Settings". In the window that opens, you need to go to the tab "Internet Time", which indicates when the last synchronization was and the time of the future.
The picture above shows that the previous synchronization failed. We can use the “Update Now” button for instant updates or select another address from the list. At first, the list of two addresses that belong to Microsoft, usually both work. At the same time, you can find other sites on the network that give the exact time. Having found such a server, we can add it to this list. To do this, you do not need to click on the arrow of the list, just click directly on the address in the line. It is necessary to select it and add your address instead (just in case, we note that the system settings, including those described above, will require an administrator login). In any case, no matter which server is used, a week is usually set between the lines.
The picture shows that there are several servers, and the synchronization period, if you pay attention to the dates, is one week.
Same function in Win 7
Timing, refresh rate, launch in Win7 is hidden in the same menu as in WinXP. Selecting the “Date / Time Settings” item described above, go to the “Time on the Internet” tab (here it is called that).
This is how this window looks in Russified Win7. There will be two messages in the window: how and with what result this function worked when the next time synchronization via the Internet will be. Windows 7 shows all the information, like WinXp, but the settings are hidden in an additional window. It opens by clicking on the button below the messages. We click on it and we get into a new window, where we see the already familiar button "Update Now" and the list of servers in the drop-down list. In the picture we have indicated that the function worked normally.
Software synchronization
Sometimes providers offer packages with traffic payments. This is often how mobile operators work. In such packets, as a rule, the speed is not limited, but there is a limit in the amount of data received. We will not discuss the pros and cons of such an Internet, but note that each synchronization is a traffic expense. Insignificant for one computer, and if computers 10, 50 or 100?
In addition to the tools built into the system, there is another way. Install a special program on a computer directly connected to the network. And on other devices, set up a time request. Traffic within the network, as a rule, is cheaper (and sometimes completely free) than the traffic of the provider. And instead of using the device of a separate temporary server, there is a solution and easier.
A program for synchronizing time via the Internet is far from one or two. Such a role may be, for example, Absolute Time Corrector. At the first start, the program will poll the list of resources included by default (there are more than 250 of them), check the settings and, choosing the fastest, will work with it in the future. You can configure startup at system startup, type of update manually or automatically, and many other parameters.
For most cases, automatic tuning is suitable. To do this, put a few ticks at the bottom of the window. In the picture above, a check is configured every hour and start at system startup. For use as a time server, it is recommended that you also set the second “Time Correction” checkbox on top and also set a few ticks at the top of the third tab. For convenience, the program provides not only visual, but also sound alerts.
Time servers
How does this feature work? If the Internet is available, the above program or the system itself sends a request to the Internet to a special computer. There are many of these in the network: in different countries, cities or data centers, but they all have one thing in common - these are time synchronization servers via the Internet, or they are also called exact time servers. At the same time, it is not necessary to configure a system time update to work through American sites. Russia has a lot of its servers, the addresses of which can be found on the Internet and, if you wish, switch the check to them.
In addition to time, a weather summary, sunrise, sunset, and even holidays are displayed. By the way, at one time Windows users, whose clocks were set to synchronize via Microsoft servers, experienced problems: in the Russian Federation, the translation of the hands was canceled. And if the synchronization of time via the Internet was checked with the clock in Russia, there were no problems. Any synchronization operates according to one principle - connection to such servers.
Conclusion
In most cases, time synchronization via the Internet works automatically on the computer. It can be done forcibly, but no particularly important settings are needed for this. By default, updates occur once a week, regardless of user actions. If for some reason you need a more frequent update, and the user does not want to adjust the services himself, you can put a program in which the desired update frequency can be set manually, bypassing the service.