Network Time protocol

Firmware dated August 23 2016 and after have the capability of getting the time and date from a network time server. We call this NTP for short. This page will show you how you can select the proper IP address so that the NTP function can get the time from the NTP server of your choice.  There are mainly two options.  From your local computer, or from a Time server on the internet.  For the links on this page to function, your Gemini-2 must be turned on, and it must be able to access the internet.  It also must accept "NetBios" commands for http//gemini/ to work instead of http://IP address. In other words you must be able to see the Gemini 2's Web page with a web browser by typing http://gemini/
From a Internet time server:
  1. The Picture on the right is a link to the NIST Time servers in the USA. Clicking on the picture will open up that web page in a separate page or tab.
  2. You can use just about any of the listed IP address in the "Network Time Server box" on the Network Web page in the Gemini-2.   The Network link requires your Gemini-2 to be turned on, connected via Ethernet, and accept netbios names.  Otherwise go to the web interface of the Gemini-2 and select network.  An example page is here.
  3. Once you have selected and entered an IP address, do not forget to hit the set button at the bottom of the on the Network Web page.  Try to use an IP address close to you.  If you are not in the USA, I am sorry, but I don't have a list on international time servers.
  4. Now doubleclick on --> Site/Time.  Go down to "Query NTP server" and click in the "Query NTP Server" Box.  It will probably take a couple of seconds, but this will get the time and date from your computer.  The site/time link requires your Gemini-2 to be turned on, connected via Ethernet, and accept netbios names.  Otherwise go to the web interface of the Gemini-2 and select network.  An example page is here.
  5. If you have an network time server IP address in the Network web page, then at power on the Gemini-2 will go to that network time site and get the UTC time and date, without you doing anything.
Click on image to see larger View


From a computer on your local network:
The Below is only for a Window 7, 8.1 or 10 based computer. Please be very careful using any of the below files.  I recommend that you make a complete backup of your operating system before going any further or at least create a "restore point".  Modifying your registry can make your computer non-operational.  I have tested these registry patches only on a Windows 10 Pro X64 bit system. If you do not want to do this, then use an internet time server as explained above.
 ALSO NOTE: You must have the TIME ZONE set correctly for this to work.  Please note that most Windows PC's can act as a network time server.  They will need a registry patch to do this.  I am providing a zip file that includes these patches and also a Bat file that can find you computer's IP address (Windows only) and put it in the clipboard.
Please download NTP_Time.zip and put this file into a clean/empty directory.  Then please unzip it.  You will find the following files in the zip.
  • setLocalNTP.reg   Double clicking on this file will modify the registry of your computer so it can act as a Time Server.
  • clearLocalNTP.reg  This will stop you computer from acting as a local time server, but leave the registry patch in place.  It changes the value in the patch from a 1 to zero.
  • removeLocalNTP.reg   It totally removes the patch from the registry.
  • ComputerIP.bat  This batch file will find the IP of the computer it is run on, and put that IP address in the computers Clipboard.
  • NIST Time Servers USA is a web link to the page listed above "from a Internet Server"

Please only run the above listed registry patches once.
To set the Time and date from your local Windows PC, please follow the below steps.
  1. Please create a "restore point" before continuing.
  2. On a Windows machine please double click on the set LocalNTP.reg  You will be asked if you really want to do this, please answer "Yes" or "OK" according to the operating system you are using.  If you would prefer to manually edit the registry yourself here are instructions.
  3. Now doubleclick on the "ComputerIP.bat" file.  This will run a program and store your computer's IP address in the Clipboard.
  4. Make sure the Gemini-2 is turned on and connected to your local network.
  5. Now doubleclick on --> SetNTPServer.  This will bring up the network page in your preferred Web Browser.  You will probably have to log in.  (Name = admin  password = blank)
  6. Now put the mouse pointer in the "Network Time Protocol Server" box.  Clear out the box so it is empty.  Then use the "Ctrl" plus "V" key and paste in your computer's IP address.
  7. Now hit the "SET" Button at the bottom of the page.
  8. Now doubleclick on --> Site/Time.  Go down to "Query NTP server" and click in the "Query NTP Server" Box.  It will probably take a couple of seconds, but this will get the time and date from your computer.
Associated web pages:  Please note that if your system does not respond to Netbios commands like http://gemini then you will have to replace the gemini with your gemini-2 ip address.
http://gemini/sitetime.cgi   or http://your gemini-2 IP address/sitetime.cgi
http://gemini/network.cgi  or http://your gemini-2 IP address/network.cgi

Example pages:  /web/web-NTP.html and
/web/web-site-time.html

This section is only for ones who want to see the code in ComputerIP.bat and setLocalNTP.reg
This code has to be generated in Notepad.exe  any other text editor might leave hidden characters.

Code for ComputerIP.bat  is between white lines.
@ECHO OFF
FOR /F "tokens=*" %%i in ('ipconfig ^| find "IPv4"') do SET result=%%i
echo %result:IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : =% | clip

Code for setLocalNTP.reg is between the below white lines.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters]
"LocalNPT"=dword:00000001

In the above file if dword:00000001 = dword:00000000 then this patch will not let Windows act as a NTP server.
If the "LocalNPT" = dword:00000001 is changed to "LocalNPT"= -
Then the patch will be removed from the registry.

Please be very careful making changes to these files, as a wrong change can make your computer not run at all.  Make sure you have a full backup before using them.