Chapter 7 - Entering Time and Date Information
This chapter explains how you enter the server's time zone, date, and time settings. When you finish configuring the communication cards (Chapter 6), the installation program presents the default time zones and gives you the opportunity to change them or create your own custom time zone.
This chapter covers the following topics:
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Planning your server's time settings ![]()
Setting your server's time zones ![]()
Changing the current date and time
If you are already familiar with time settings for Banyan servers or want to accept the default time zones, skip "Planning Time Settings" and go to "Setting the Time Zone" later in this chapter.
Every server must have a standard time zone setting. Your server uses time zone settings to synchronize network time by providing the proper offset to its users. For example, a server in Boston uses the Eastern Standard Time (EST) time zone to set its time three hours ahead of a server in San Francisco.
A server may also have an alternate time zone, but the alternate time zone is optional. The default standard time zone is EST and the default alternate time zone is Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
Only one of these time zones can be in effect at any time. During the installation, you specify the time and the date when you want the alternate time zone to take effect. For example, a server with EDT as the alternate time zone would use EDT when Daylight Saving Time goes into effect. If your server has no alternate time zone, the standard time zone is in effect throughout the year.
For more information on planning time settings, refer to Planning a Banyan Network and "Managing and Setting Time" in the Banyan Server Operations Guide.
Creating a Customized Local Time Zone
Your Banyan server software already includes predefined North American Time Zones: these are the standard Atlantic, Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones. If you do not want to use a standard predefined time zone, create a customized local time zone. You must base customized time zones on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
GMT represents the mean solar time at Greenwich, England from which time is calculated, by 15 degrees per hour, around the world. Time to the west of Greenwich is calculated by subtracting an hour for each 15-degree zone. Time to the east of Greenwich is GMT +1 for each zone.
Table 7-1 gives an example of several user-defined time zones. For instructions on how to set predefined time zones, refer to "Setting the Time Zone."
GMT | Time | Country |
GMT | 12:00:00 | England |
GMT + 1 | 13:00:00 | Belgium |
GMT + 9 | 21:00:00 | Japan |
GMT + 1 | 13:00:00 | Germany |
GMT - 3 | 09:00:00 | Argentina |
After you configure your server's communication cards (Chapter 6), the system displays the following message:
The current local time zone settings
for this server are:
The Standard Time zone is "EST"
The Alternate Time zone is "EDT"
Do you wish to change the time zones (y/n):
Table 7-2 describes the options for setting the time zone and which procedures to follow.
If you want to... | Follow the procedures in... |
Select the default standard and alternate time zone settings. | "To Select the Default Time Zones (EST and EDT)" |
Select a predefined North American time zone. | "To Select a Predefined Time Zone" |
Define your own local time zone settings. | "To Create a Customized Local Time Zone" |
To Select the Default Time Zones (EST and EDT)
1. The system displays the current local time zone settings and prompts you to change them.
2. Enter N to accept the default time zones.
3. To continue the installation, go to "Setting the Current Date and Time" later in this chapter.
To Select a Predefined Time Zone
1. The system displays the current local time zone settings and prompts you to change them.
2. Enter Y to change the time zones. The system displays the following choices:
1) Atlantic (AST/ADT)
2) North American Eastern (EST/EDT)
3) North American Central (CST/CDT)
4) North American Mountain (MST/MDT)
5) North American Pacific (PST/PDT)
6) Define other time zone
7) Cancel selection3. Select one of the predefined time zones. The following message appears:
Does your locale switch to an alternate time zone (such as daylight saving time) during the year? (y/n)
- Enter Y if your locale switches to an alternate time zone (predefined as Daylight Saving Time).
- Enter N if your locale does not switch to an alternate time zone.
4. The system displays the new time zone settings and prompts for their confirmation:
- Enter Y to confirm the new settings.
- Enter N to cancel the changes and retain the original settings.
5. To continue the installation, go to "To Change the Current Date and Time" later in this chapter.
To Create a Customized Local Time Zone
1. The system displays the current local time zone settings and prompts you to change them.
2. Enter Y to change time zones. The system displays the following choices:
1) Atlantic (AST/ADT)
2) North American Eastern (EST/EDT)
3) North American Central (CST/CDT)
4) North American Mountain (MST/MDT)
5) North American Pacific (PST/PDT)
6) Define other time zone
7) Cancel selection3. Select Define other time zone. The system prompts you for a 3-letter abbreviation for your standard time zone.
4. Enter a 3-letter abbreviation. The system prompts you to enter the amount your time zone is offset from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
5. Enter the appropriate offset from GMT in the +-HH:MM format:
- If GMT is later than (ahead of) your time zone, enter a positive offset (+HH:MM). Examples are provided on the screen. Refer to Table 7-1 for more information.
- If GMT is earlier than (behind) your time zone, enter a negative offset (-HH:MM). Examples are provided on the screen. Refer to Table 7-1 for more information.
The system prompts you whether your locale switches to an alternate time during the year.
6. At the prompt:
- Enter N to use only the standard time zone. The system displays the new time zone settings and prompts for their confirmation. Go to step 7.
- Enter Y to use an alternate time zone. Go to step 7.
7. Define the alternate time zone as follows:
- Enter a 3-letter abbreviation for your alternate time zone.
- Enter the time offset from GMT, subtracting the change of time (for example, 1 hour) from the offset you entered in step 4.
- Enter the day of the year when the alternate time zone goes into effect (the default is the date of Daylight Saving Time in the United States). Use the MM/DD/YY format. If you use the default date, go to the end of this step.
- Enter the time when the alternate time zone goes into effect. The default is 24:00, midnight. Use the HH:MM format.
- Enter the day of the year when the alternate time zone ends and switches back to the standard time zone. Use the MM/DD/YY format (the default is the date of Daylight Saving Time in the United States).
- Enter the time when the alternate time ends and switches back to the standard time zone. The default is 24:00, midnight. Use the HH:MM format.
8. The system displays the new time zone settings and prompts for their confirmation:
- Enter Y to confirm the new settings.
- Enter N to cancel the changes and retain the original settings.
9. To continue the installation, go to "Setting the Current Date and Time."
Setting the Current Date and Time
After you select the time zone settings for your server, you can change the current date and time for your server.
To Change the Current Date and Time
1. The system displays the current date and time for the chosen time zone, and displays the following prompt:
Do you wish to change the time? (y/n)
- Enter N to retain the current date and time, and go to Chapter 8 to continue the installation.
- Enter Y to change the date and time. The system prompts you for the new date.
2. Enter the date in MM/DD/YY format. The system prompts you for the new time.
3. Enter the time in HH:MM format. The system displays the new current date and time and prompts you to confirm them:
- Enter Y to accept the new date and time. To continue the installation, go to Chapter 8.
- Enter N to reject the new date and time. The system redisplays the original prompt. Return to step 1.