Disabling Time Synchronization (1189)

Details
In the VMware Tools control panel, the time synchronization checkbox is unselected, but you may experience these symptoms:
When you suspend a virtual machine, the next time you resume that virtual machine it synchronizes the time to adjust it to the host.
Time is resynchronized when you migrate the virtual machine using vMotion, take a snapshot, restore to a snapshot, shrink the virtual disk, or restart the VMware Tools service in the virtual machine
(including rebooting the virtual machine).
Solution
The time synchronization checkbox controls only whether time is periodically resynchronized while the virtual machine is running. Even if this box is unselected, by default VMware Tools synchronizes the virtual
machine's time after a few specific events that are likely to leave the time incorrect.
There are two methods to completely disable time synchronization in the guest. Performone of these procedures:
Note: Unlike the normal periodic time sync, which can move the guest clock only forward, these special time syncs can move the guest clock either forward or backward. If you want your guests to never sync
backward in time, disable the options (by selecting "0" for each option).
For more information on time keeping, see Timekeeping in VMware Virtual Machines(http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/Timekeeping-In-VirtualMachines.pdf) .
Add configuration options in the virtual machine's .vmx file:
Open the virtual machine's configuration file (/ vmf s/ vol umes/ datastore_name/ vm_name/ vm_name. vmx) using a text editor. 1.
Set these options to zero. If the entries do not exist, add them.
Note: 0 =disabled, 1 =enabled.
t ool s. syncTi me = " 0"
t i me. synchr oni ze. cont i nue = " 0"
t i me. synchr oni ze. r est or e = "0"
t i me. synchr oni ze. r esume. di sk = " 0"
t i me. synchr oni ze. shr i nk = " 0"
t i me. synchr oni ze. t ool s. st ar t up = " 0"
t i me. synchr oni ze. t ool s. enabl e = "0"
t i me. synchr oni ze. r esume. host = " 0"
Note: In GSX, VMware Fusion, VMware Player and VMware Workstation, you must use " FALSE" instead of " 0". For example:
2.
t ool s. syncTi me = " FALSE"
t i me. synchr oni ze. cont i nue = " FALSE"
t i me. synchr oni ze. r est or e = "FALSE"
t i me. synchr oni ze. r esume. di sk = " FALSE"
t i me. synchr oni ze. shr i nk = " FALSE"
t i me. synchr oni ze. t ool s. st ar t up = " FALSE"
t i me. synchr oni ze. t ool s. enabl e = "FALSE"
t i me. synchr oni ze. r esume. host = " FALSE"
Add configuration parameters using the vSphere Client:
Select the virtual machine in the vSphere Client inventory and power it off. 1.
On the Summary tab, click Edit Settings. 2.
Click the Options tab and click General (under Advanced). 3.
Click Configuration Parameters, then click Add Row and add this information:
Name Value
t ool s. syncTi me 0
t i me. synchr oni ze. cont i nue 0
t i me. synchr oni ze. r est or e 0
t i me. synchr oni ze. r esume. di sk 0
t i me. synchr oni ze. shr i nk 0
t i me. synchr oni ze. t ool s. st ar t up 0
t i me. synchr oni ze. t ool s. enabl e 0
t i me. synchr oni ze. r esume. host 0
4.
Note: When adding t ool s. syncTi me via the Configuration Parameters in vSphere 5.x, it will not be displayed again after the entry has been accepted and closed. When you view the
vm_name. vmx file, you see the parameter inserted as t ool s. syncTi me = "FALSE" .
This Article Replaces
1006449
Update History
04/20/2012 - Added time.synchronize.tools.enable ="0" and added note about disbling backward time sync
06/17/2011 - Added time.syncronize.resume.host ="0" as an options
06/18/2013 - Added note on how to set the options in VMware Fusion/Workstation
03/03/2014- Added VMware Player to Note about using Flase for setting options
Request a Product Feature
To request a new product feature or to provide feedback on a VMware product, please visit the Request a Product Feature(http://www.vmware.com/contact/contactus.html?department=prod_request) page.
Permalink to: Disabling Time Synchronization(http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1189)
Read our blog(http://blogs.vmware.com/kb/) Watch KBTV (http://blogs.vmware.com/kbtv/) Request New Content(http://www.vmware.com/landing_pages/knowledgebase-content-request.html)
1(javascript:void( rate(1,this) ))
2(javascript:void( rate(2,this) ))
3(javascript:void( rate(3,this) ))
4(javascript:void( rate(4,this) ))
5(javascript:void( rate(5,this) ))
142 Ratings
Actions
Bookmark Document(javascript:addBookmark(actionBoxUtil.docURL, actionBoxUtil.docTitle);)
Email Document(javascript:emailDoc(actionBoxUtil.extId, actionBoxUtil.sliceId, actionBoxUtil.docTitle, actionBoxUtil.cpplayer, actionBoxUtil.bbid))
Print Document(javascript:window.print())
Subscribe to Document(/selfservice/microsites/microsite.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&docTypeID=DT_KB_1_1&externalId=1189&format=rss)
KB: 1189
Updated: Jul 16, 2014
Categories:
How to
Troubleshooting
Languages:
English
Product(s):
VMware ESX
VMware ESXi
VMware GSX Server
VMware Player
VMware Server
VMware Workstation
Product Version(s):
VMware ESX 3.5.x
VMware ESX 4.0.x
VMware ESX 4.1.x
VMware ESXi 3.5.x Embedded
VMware ESXi 3.5.x Installable
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Embedded
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Installable
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Embedded
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Installable
VMware ESXi 5.0.x
VMware ESXi 5.1.x
VMware ESXi 5.5.x