Document revision date: 30 March 2001

## OpenVMS System Manager's Manual

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## 6.2 Setting Time Zone Information on OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.3 and Later

This section contains instructions for setting time zone information on OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.3 and later. For instructions on setting time sone information on OpenVMS Alpha prior to Version 7.3 and on OpenVMS VAX, see Section 6.3.

Note If you are using the Distributed Time Synchronization Service (DTSS), you must use the procedures supplied with DTSS to set time zone information. See Section 6.1.1.

Use the procedure SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP.COM to set time zone information.

Note SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP.COM has some undocumented uses that are not supported and can lead to inconsistent or incorrect time zone information, For this reason, you should use SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP.COM only in the ways that are documented here.

To use SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP.COM, you must have the following privileges enabled: OPER, LOG_IO, SYSPRV, SYSNAM and CMEXEC. To ensure that these privileges are enabled, execute the following command:

    $ SET PROCESS/PRIVILEGES=(OPER,LOG_IO,SYSPRV,SYSNAM,CMEXEC)

If these privileges are not enabled, you can encounter errors or incorrect results.

You can use SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP.COM to display current time zone information or to set time zone information.

### 6.2.1 Displaying Time Zone Information

After ensuring that the required privileges are enabled (see Section 6.2), execute the following command:

    $ @SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP SHOW

This results in the following (or similar) display:

    AUTO_DLIGHT_SAV is set to "1".
    OpenVMS will automatically change to/from Daylight Saving Time.
    (in timezones that use Daylight Saving Time)

        LOCAL TIME ZONE          = EASTERN / US -- DAYLIGHT TIME
        LOCAL SYSTEM TIME        =  4-OCT-2000 11:14:00.51
                                   (EDT)
        TIME DIFFERENTIAL FACTOR = -4:00
        TIME ZONE RULE           = EST5EDT4,M4.1.0/02,M10.5.0/02

If the AUTO_DLIGHT_SAVE system parameter is set to 0, you may receive a display similar to the following:

    AUTO_DLIGHT_SAV is set to "0" and DTSS is not in use.
    You will have to manually change to/from Daylight Saving Time.

    You can do this by executing SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP.COM,
    or you can use SYS$EXAMPLES:DAYLIGHT_SAVING.COM.

        LOCAL TIME ZONE          = EASTERN / US -- DAYLIGHT TIME
        LOCAL SYSTEM TIME        =  4-OCT-2000 11:17:40.05
                                   (EDT)
        TIME DIFFERENTIAL FACTOR = -4:00
        TIME ZONE RULE           = EST5EDT4,M4.1.0/02,M10.5.0/02

You may also receive messages indicating that some time zone parameters are not correctly set. If so, correct the time zone information and rerun the procedure.

### 6.2.2 Setting Time Zone Information

After ensuring that the required privileges are enabled (see Section 6.2), execute the following command:

    $ @SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP

Do not include any parameters with this command. This results in the following (or similar) display:

      Configuring the Local Time Zone

      TIME ZONE SPECIFICATION -- MAIN Time Zone Menu

          1) AUSTRALIA            14) IRAN                 27) ROK
          2) BRAZIL               15) ISRAEL               28) SINGAPORE
          3) CANADA               16) JAMAICA              29) SYSTEMV
          4) CET                  17) JAPAN                30) TURKEY
          5) CHILE                18) LIBYA                31) UCT
          6) CUBA                 19) MET                  32) UNIVERSAL
          7) EET                  20) MEXICO               33) US
          8) EGYPT                21) NAVAJO               34) UTC
          9) FACTORY              22) NZ-CHAT              35) W-SU
         10) GB-EIRE              23) NZ                   36) WET
         11) GREENWICH            24) POLAND               37) ZULU
         12) HONGKONG             25) PRC
         13) ICELAND              26) ROC

          0) GMT

Table 6-1 lists and describes the acronyms that appear in the Main Time Zone Menu.

Table 6-1 Time Zone Acronyms
Time Zone Acronym | Description
--- | ---
CET | Central European Time
EET | Eastern European Time
Factory | Specifies no time zone
GB-Eire | Great Britain/Ireland
GMT | Greenwich Mean Time
MET | Middle European Time
NZ | New Zealand
NZ-CHAT | New Zealand, Chatham Islands
PRC | People's Republic of China
ROC | Republic of China
ROK | Republic of Korea
SystemV | Specific to System V operating system
UCT | Coordinated Universal Time
US | United States
UTC | Coordinated Universal Time
Universal | Coordinated Universal Time
W-SU | Middle European Time
WET | Western European Time

At the prompt, enter the number that best represents your time zone. For example, if you are in the United States, enter 33.

    Select the number above that best represents the desired time zone: 33

If you enter a country that has more than one time zone, the system displays areas with different time zones and asks you to select your area within the country. For example, if you entered 33 (US), information similar to the following will be displayed:

     US Time Zone Menu

          1) ALASKA                5) EAST-INDIANA          9) MICHIGAN
          2) ALEUTIAN              6) EASTERN              10) MOUNTAIN
          3) ARIZONA               7) HAWAII               11) PACIFIC
          4) CENTRAL               8) INDIANA-STARKE       12) SAMOA

          0) return to Main Time Zone Menu

At the prompt, enter the number that best represents your time zone. For example, if you are in the eastern United States, enter 6.

    Select the number above that best represents the desired time zone: 6

If you enter 0, you are retured to the Main Time Zone Menu.

Next, your choices are displayed and you are asked to confirm the displayed information or to enter another time zone. For example:

    You selected US / Eastern as your time zone.
    Is this correct? (Yes/No) [YES]: [Return]

If you enter No, you are returned to the Main Time Zone Menu.

If you answer Yes or press Return to accept the default, time zone information is set. This includes:

- The following system logical names, which are set with the time zone information:
  - SYS$LOCALTIME
  - SYS$POSIXRULES
  - SYS$TIMEZONE_DAYLIGHT_SAVING
  - SYS$TIMEZONE_NAME
  - SYS$TIMEZONE_RULE
- The following files, which are written so that time zone information can be reset when the system is rebooted:
  - [VMS$COMMON.SYSEXE]SYS$TIMEZONE_SRC.DAT
  - [VMS$COMMON.SYS$STARTUP]TDF$UTC_STARTUP.COM

The system next displays the TDFs for standard and daylight saving time that correspond to the time zone you have selected, and information about the TDF. For example:

        Default Time Differential Factor for standard time is -5:00.
        Default Time Differential Factor for daylight saving time is -4:00.

        The Time Differential Factor (TDF) is the difference between your
        system time and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).  UTC is similar
        in most repects to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

        The TDF is expressed as hours and minutes, and should be entered
        in the hh:mm format.  TDFs for the Americas will be negative
        (-3:00, -4:00, etc.); TDFs for Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia
        will be positive (1:00, 2:00, etc.).

Note that the system displays daylight saving time information only for time zones that use daylight saving time. If the time zone you selected uses daylight saving time, you must indicate whether daylight saving time is or is not currently in effect. Answer Y (Yes) or N (No) when you are prompted. For example:

    Is Daylight Savings time in effect? Y

You are then prompted to enter the TDF. A default, based on your time zone and daylight saving time information, is provided. In the following example the default is -4:00. Compaq recommends that you press Return to accept the default.

    Enter the Time Differential Factor [-4:00]: [Return]

This results in the following (or similar) display:

        If this is a seasonal time change, it may also be necessary to
        modify the system time.  Generally, seasonal time changes result
        in adding 1:00 hour, or adding -1:00 hour to the system time.

When you are prompted, enter Yes or No.

    Do you wish to modify the local system time [N]: Yes

If you answer Yes, the following is displayed:

        Enter the time adjustment value you would like to add to
        the local time.  You can enter hours only (hh) or hours and
        minutes (hh:mm)  The value can be positive (hh:mm or +hh:mm)
        or negative (-hh:mm).

You are then asked to enter the time adjustment, usually either -1:00 or +1:00.

    Enter the time adjustment value: -1:00

Finally, the TDF and the time adjustment (if any) is displayed, and you are asked to confirm that they are correct.

        NEW SYSTEM TIME DIFFERENTIAL FACTOR = -4:00
        ADDING -1:00 TO THE LOCAL TIME.

    Is this correct? [Y]:

If you answer Yes, the TDF is set, and the system logical name `SYS$TIMEZONE_DIFFERENTIAL` is defined.

If you answer No, you are returned to the TDF information display, from which you can reenter your TDF and time adjustment choices.

## 6.3 Setting Time Zone Information on OpenVMS VAX Systems

This section presents instructions for setting time zone information on OpenVMS VAX and on OpenVMS Alpha prior to Version 7.3. For instructions about setting time zone information on OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.3 and later, see Section 6.2.

You use the command procedure SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP.COM to set time zone information, including:

- Setting your local time zone, your TDF, or both
- Modifying your system's local time to adjust for daylight saving or standard time
- Displaying the local time and TDF for your system

If you set the time zone and the TDF on one node in a cluster, the values you set take effect on other nodes in the cluster when those nodes are rebooted.

For your convenience, the instructions for using the command procedure have been split into two sections:

- Setting the time zone
- Setting the TDF

Beginning the Procedure

To use SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP.COM, follow these steps:

1. Log in to the SYSTEM account or enter the following command to enable LOG_IO and OPER privileges:

       $ SET PROCESS/PRIVILEGES=(LOG_IO,OPER)

2. Enter the following command to start UTC$TIME_SETUP.COM:

       $ @SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP.COM

       %UTC-I-UPDTIME, updating Time Zone information in SYS$COMMON:[SYSEXE]

3. Press Return to accept the default of BOTH or enter one of the other choices in answer to the following question:

       Configure which time parameter (TIMEZONE/TDF/BOTH/NONE)? [BOTH]

   Note Compaq recommends that you set both the time zone and the TDF. If you set the TDF without setting the time zone, the procedure cannot provide default TDF values.

If you answer BOTH or TIMEZONE to the time parameter question in the command procedure, continue in Section 6.3.1. If you answer TDF to the question, continue in Section 6.3.2.

### 6.3.1 Setting the Time Zone on Your System

The local time zone is the location you want to consider your default local time zone. Usually this local time zone is the same as the local time zone in which your system is located.

You set the local time zone by making choices in a command procedure.

The system first displays the following information:

        Configuring the Local Time Zone

        TIME ZONE SPECIFICATION -- Main Time Zone Menu

          1) Australia       11) GMT             21) Mexico          31) Turkey
          2) Brazil          12) Greenwich       22) NZ              32) UCT
          3) CET             13) Hong Kong       23) NZ-CHAT         33) US
          4) Canada          14) Iceland         24) Navajo          34) UTC
          5) Chile           15) Iran            25) PRC             35) Universal
          6) Cuba            16) Israel          26) Poland          36) W-SU
          7) EET             17) Jamaica         27) ROC             37) WET
          8) Egypt           18) Japan           28) ROK             38) Zulu
          9) Factory         19) Libya           29) Singapore
         10) GB-Eire         20) MET             30) SystemV

          0) None of the above

Table 6-1 lists and describes the acronyms that appear in the Main Time Zone Menu.

To select a time zone, follow these steps:

1. Enter a number after the following question; for example, 33, for the United States:

       Select the number above that best describes your location: 33

   If you enter 0, the system defaults to GMT.
2. If you enter a country that has more than one time zone, the system displays a message and asks for a confirmation like the following one (if not, skip to the explanation following step 4):

       You selected US as your time zone.
       Is this correct? (Yes/No) [YES]: [Return]

3. The system displays areas with different time zones and asks you to select your area. Enter a number, for example, 6:

           US Time Zone Menu

              1) Alaska           4) Central          7) Hawaii          10) Mountain
              2) Aleutian         5) East-Indiana     8) Indiana-Starke  11) Pacific
              3) Arizona          6) Eastern          9) Michigan        12) Samoa

              0) None of the above

       Select the number above that best describes your location: 6

4. Confirm the displayed information or enter another number after the following prompt; for example:

       You selected US/Eastern as your time zone.
       Is this correct? (Yes/No) [YES]: [Return]

   When you confirm the last statement, the system redefines the following system logical names:
   - `sys$localtime`
   - `sys$posixrules`
   The Compaq C RTL uses these logical names to compute the time zone rules for your applications. The system also writes this information to SYS$TIMEZONE.DAT. The system uses this file to reset SYS$LOCALTIME and SYS$POSIXRULES when you reboot.
   The system then displays the TDFs for standard and daylight saving time that correspond to the time zone you have selected:

           Default Time Differential Factor for standard time is -5:00.
          *Default Time Differential Factor for daylight saving time is -4:00.

   * The system displays daylight saving time only for time zones that use daylight saving time.

### 6.3.2 Setting the TDF on Your System

If you answer TDF or BOTH to the time parameter question at the beginning of the command procedure, the system displays prompts for the TDF on your system.

To set the TDF, answer the following questions:

1. Select option 2 to display the TDF the system has calculated for you:

           Configuring the Time Differential Factor (TDF)

           Enter ? anytime for help

           [0]     Exit
           [1]     Set the Time Differential Factor
           [2]     Display the Time Differential Factor

       Please pick an option number [2]: 2

   The system displays information similar to the following items:

           SYSTEM TIME DIFFERENTIAL FACTOR = -4:00  (-14400 seconds).
           LOCAL SYSTEM TIME               = 22-JAN-2001 10:49:45.20.

2. Select option 1 to verify the TDF displayed or to enter a new one:

           Configuring the Time Differential Factor (TDF)

           Enter ? anytime for help

           [0]     Exit
           [1]     Set the Time Differential Factor
           [2]     Display the Time Differential Factor

       Please pick an option number [2]: 1

   The system then displays the following information:

           The Time Differential Factor (TDF) is the difference between your
           system time and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).  UTC is similar
           in most respects to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

           The TDF is expressed as hours and minutes, and should be entered
           in the hh:mm format.  TDFs for the Americas will be negative
           (-3:00, -4:00, etc.); TDFs for Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia
           will be positive (1:00, 2:00, etc.).

   The system displays the following question only if you set the time zone as well. However, some time zones do not have daylight saving time; if they do not, the system also does not display this question.
3. Answer Yes or No to the following question:

       Is Daylight Saving time in effect? (Yes/No):

4. After the following prompt, either press Return to accept the displayed default or enter the correct TDF. (If you have not set the time zone, the system does not display a default TDF value.)

       Enter the Time Differential Factor [-4:00]:

   The system then explains the need to modify the system time as well for season time changes:

           If this is a seasonal time change, it may also be necessary to
           modify the system time.  Generally, seasonal time changes result
           in adding 1:00 hour, or adding -1:00 hour to the system time.

5. To the following question, answer Yes if you need to modify the local system time or No if you do not:

       Do you wish to modify the local system time [N]:

   If you answer Yes, the system leads you through a dialogue similar to the one in Section 6.5.3
   If you answer No, the system next displays the new TDF:

           NEW SYSTEM TIME DIFFERENTIAL FACTOR = -4:00.

6. Answer Yes to confirm the displayed TDF or No if it is incorrect:

       Is this correct? [Y]:

   If you answer No, the system returns to step 1 in this section.
   If you answer Yes, the system displays both the TDF and the local system time.

           SYSTEM TIME DIFFERENTIAL FACTOR = -4:00  (-14400 seconds).
           LOCAL SYSTEM TIME               = 22-JAN-2001 10:52:37.36.

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