[Zope] Time zones (another try)

[ken]

I don't know what OS you're using, but there's probably three things
going on here.  On typical UNIX systems-- and this includes Linux--
there's (1) a hardware clock, (2) a system clock, and then (3) whatever
time the database may think it is-- (3) should be the same as (2).

The default install on UNIX systems I know about set the hardware clock 
to GMT (changed by an international standards group to "UTC").  Part of 
the system  configuration is setting the timezone.  Different Unices do 
this configuration differently.  MS OSs again different.

I'd recommend setting the hardware clock to UTC, then set the correct
timezone so that system time tells the correct local time.  Then see
what time the database thinks it is.  Doing the quick fix you're
contemplating below will come back to bite you.  E.g., what are you
going to do in the DST flips?  No one wants the wrong time attached to
their data, but, at the same time, I'm sure you don't want to sit there
at 2am twice a year to change the time.  I've been using Linux for ten 
years and for ten years it's handled the switch to/from DST perfectly.  
This is really the way you want to go.

While you're there, look into rdate.  This won't get you out of the
UTC/localtime configuration; rdate fetches the correct time from time a
server (my systems do this once a day) and so keeps the time on your
system accurate.  

All of this really should be required for an enterprise system.


hth,
ken

Richard Wesley at 09:34 (UTC-0800) on Wed, 11 Dec 2002 said:

= A few days ago I mentioned a problem I was having with MySQLDA 
= assuming that datetime data types are stored in the time zone used by 
= Zope (rather than GMT) and asked if there was a good solution to this 
= problem.  Unfortunately, no one seems to have dealt with this before, 
= so I am muddling through to a solution myself.
= 
= The next quick fix would seem to be changing the time zone that Zope 
= thinks it is running in to GMT.  Is there a way to configure this or 
= do I have to change the machine's time zone?
= 
= TIA,
= Sincerely,
= 
= Richard Wesley
= Co-President, Electric Fish, Inc.
= <http://www.electricfish.com/>
= (v) +1-206-493-1690x210
= (f) +1-206-493-1697
= 
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