Login to windows VM is failing with error : "There is a time and/or date difference between the client and the server."
Article ID: 436287
Updated On:
Products
Issue/Introduction
- Users are unable to log in to a Windows Virtual Machine.
- Error Message: "There is a time and/or date difference between the client and the server."
- VM Console confirms a significant discrepancy between the Guest OS system clock and the actual current time.
Environment
VMware ESXi 8.x
Cause
The virtual machine's system clock drifted from the correct time, and since host-level time synchronization was disabled and no other reliable NTP source was successfully updating the guest OS, the time delta exceeded the maximum allowable skew for the authentication protocol (Kerberos).
Resolution
To resolve this issue and prevent future drift, enable VMware Tools time synchronization in the Advanced Settings of the VM.
Log in to the vSphere Client.
Locate the affected Virtual Machine in the inventory.
Right-click the VM and select Edit Settings.
Select the VM Options tab.
Expand the VMware Tools section.
Locate Time, and check the box for Synchronize time with host.
Click OK.
Note: For the changes to take immediate effect without waiting for the next heartbeat, manually restart the VMware Tools service within the Windows Guest OS or perform a guest restart.
Additional Information
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