The Domain Time Server, Full Client, Thin Client, and Ultra Thin Client services have the option of displaying a handy application (DTTray)
in the Windows System Tray on the Start Bar.
Note: The Start Bar is not available on Windows Server Core, so the DTTray program is inaccessible on those versions of the operating system.
DTTray gives you quick access to common tasks (such as manually triggering the machine to sync with its time
source) as well as a quick way to launch Domain Time applications. It also gives you visual and audible alerts to your current time
sync status, traffic monitoring displays, drift analysis graphs, and a warm fuzzy feeling in your tummy.
Starting the Applet
When you double-click the system tray icon, you'll be shown the current client time statistics for this machine. Right-clicking the icon will
present you the DTTray context menu.
Note: Although the Domain Time services are installed and removed without requiring a reboot, some of the items on the DTTray
context menu (such as the Domain Time programs available to launch) will not be visible until the user logs off or the system is restarted.
Showing or Hiding the System Tray Applet
You can control whether the system tray application is displayed by using the Advanced Settings tab of the control panel applet (Server or
Full Client only) or by setting a registry value.
Command Functions
Quick access to other Domain Time II applications and actions.
Launching Domain Time II Components
The DTTray applet menu provides a quick way to start the various Domain Time programs and utilities.
You can pull up the Control Panel Applet for the service that's running on this machine (Server or Full Client) by selecting
Control Panel Applet... from the DTTray menu.
If the Management Tools are installed on this system, you'll also have Manager and its associated utilities listed on the menu. Also,
any additional services (like the Update Server or Monitor Service) will appear if they are installed.
Triggering a Time Sync
You can trigger the time service to synchronize with its time source by double-clicking the DTTray icon and then clicking the Sync Now
button on the Statistics screen. You can also select Synchronize Now from the right-click menu.
Check for newer versions
DTTray can check directly with the Domain Time Update Service over the Internet to see if any newer versions of the software are available.
If your software is currently under support contract, you may download a patch to upgrade you to the latest version directly from the website.
You may do this check on-demand or have the system check automatically every time you log in.
The Online Update Service dialog
In order to do version checks and install the patch, the logged-in user must have rights to browse the network, do HTTP file downloads, and have
sufficient priviliges to install software on the local machine.
Alert Functions
The System Tray Applet has a number of features that provide visual or audible feedback on the status of your clock synchronization.
Animate Clock During Timeset
While Domain Time is synchronizing the clock, the system tray icon will show a running clock icon. When the clock is successfully sychronized the icon will change to the standard Domain Time icon. You
can turn off this feature by unchecking the option from the right-click context menu.
The "Time Not Synchronized" Alert (The Flashing Clock)
This alert flashes a clock in the system tray to indicate the time is not synchronized.
If Domain Time is unable to synchronize its time with a time source, it will alert you to the problem by changing the
Domain Time icon in the system tray to a flashing clock icon. Once you have resolved the cause (usually
due to a network issue preventing Domain Time from contacting its time source) and re-synchronized, the icon will return to the normal
Domain Time icon.
Timeset Chime
The System Tray Applet can indicate a successful time synchronization with an audible signal.
Timeset Chimes are off by default. You can enable them by pulling up the context menu and selecting the sound device you wish to use to play
the chimes. The Timeset Chimes will play whether or not there is a logged-in user.
Choose Chime Off if you do not want the signal to play.
Time of Day Chimes
The Time of Day Chimes feature is a special function that plays sound files at particular times of the day (on-the-hour, and at 15, 30, 45 minutes past the hour) to emulate a chiming clock.
You may download selected chime packs from our site or create your own. See the Chimes page for details.
The Time of Day Chimes are off by default. You can enable them by pulling up the context menu and selecting the chime pack you want to use for the chimes. Note: You must
have downloaded and installed at least one chime pack before this feature will be available. See the Chimes page to download chime packs. There must
be a user logged in and the System Tray Applet must be active in that user's System Tray in order for the chimes to play.
Choose None if you do not want the chimes to play.
Activity Monitor
This window displays all Domain Time-related network traffic sent or received by this machine.
Statistical Functions
View detailed statistics and view drift graphs
Viewing System Statistics
You may view the current time statistics on this machine by double-clicking the system tray icon, or by right-clicking the icon and choosing
Client (and/or Server) Statistics from the menu. Note that Domain Time II Server acts as both a time client and a time server, so there
are two statistical displays available on Server.
The DTTray Client Statistics Screen (showing client stats on a DT II Server)
The DTTray Server Statistics Screen (This display is only available on DT II Servers)
Drift Graphs
In addition to detailed summary statistics, DTTray can show you a graphical representation of the accuracy of the clock on your machine sampled at the time it
synchronized with it's time source. You may scroll through the entire drift data to see how your clock has been performing over time.
The DTTray Drift Data graph (reduced size), showing an extremely
well-synchronized system (>1 millisecond worst case)
See many other interesting graphs on the Graphs page.
Proceed to the Time of Day Chimes page