The DCE Distributed Time Service (DTS) provides precise synchronization for system clocks in a network. In DFS, clock synchronization is important for communications between client machines using the Cache Manager and server machines running the File Exporter and other server processes. Clients and servers must refer to a common time standard for communications to remain constant and for data to remain available.
For example, each client that obtains tokens from a File Exporter has a lifetime with respect to that File Exporter. The client must renew its lifetime before it expires to ensure that its tokens are not revoked without its knowledge. If the client and File Exporter disagree on the current time, the File Exporter may believe the client's lifetime has expired before the client does. In this case, the File Exporter may revoke the client's tokens without its knowledge.
Clock synchronization is also important for replicated Fileset Location Databases and Backup Databases, which must be coordinated on different server machines. Machines that house replicated databases must remain in constant contact to ensure that each server has the current copy of the database. If the machines disagree on the time, they may believe they are no longer in touch with each other, in which case they can refuse all requests for information. Synchronization problems of this nature can result in unnecessary disruption of database access.