Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Setup meinberg NTP client on Windows Server 2012 using ntp service account


I recently attempted to install the Meinberg NTP client on a Windows Server 2012 system, but ran into a problem during the installation.  At one point, the installer asks you what account to use for the service:  1)  a newly-created "ntp" service account, or 2) run as SYSTEM (there might be a third option, I don't remember.

Running ntp as SYSTEM seems like asking for trouble; you should always run services with the least privileges required.  So of course I chose to use the "ntp" service account.  I had successfully used it before on Windows 7 systems.

However, upon clicking "Next", the installer crashed!  Looks like the installer created an "ntp" account, but it was disabled, and had no password set.  Also, the service was not installed.

Here's what I did to workaround the issue:

  1. Run the installer again, this time using the SYSTEM account for the service
  2. Manually create the "ntp"user.  (optional:  set password to never expire)
  3. Open gpedit.msc 
  4. Under Local Computer Policy/Computer Configuration/Windows Settings/Security Settings/Local Policies/User Rights Assignment, add "ntp" to the following:
  • Change the system time
  • Deny access to this computer form the network
  • Deny log on as a batch job
  • Deny log on locally
  • Increase scheduling priority
  • Log on as a service
That done, you can open "services.msc" and change the service to log on as the "ntp" account.  Then restart the service.

Friday, August 4, 2017

Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart - lyrics to the second verse

The complete lyrics to Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" are nowhere to be found on the internet! They are all missing the second verse. I think this is it (transcribed by me)
Turn around, every now and then I get a little bit reckless
and I dream of something wild
Turnaround, every now and then I get a little bit helpless
and I'm lying like a child in your arms
Turnaround, every now and then I get a little bit angry
and I know I've got to get out and cry
Turnaround, every now and then I get a little bit terrified
but then I see the look in your eyes
Turnaround bright eyes, every now and then I fall apart
Turnaround bright eyes, every now and then I fall apart