Time
Configure the time zone (TZ) on Linux systems
Having the right time zone on Linux systems helps with troubleshooting. Learn how to see and configure the right time zone on most Linux distributions.
Summary
Having the right time set on a Linux system is important for data synchronization, forensics, and troubleshooting. Next step is to configure the correct time zone. This article will help you:
- See the current time configuration
- Learn how to configure the time zone
Time zone information
We will have a look on how to check and configure the time zone on Linux systems.
Show current time zone
Most new Linux distributions use systemd now. With the timedatectl command we can quickly see the existing time information, including the time zone.
Troubleshooting Linux Time Synchronization with NTP
Time synchronization is an important system administration task for Linux systems. This guide explains how to configure, and also troubleshoot time issues.
Summary
Time Synchronization
The network time protocol helps computer systems to synchronize their time. We know this protocol by its shorter name NTP. In the past, it was not really a big issue if your system was a few minutes off. This changed with the interconnected world we are now living in. One of the better examples is networks relying on the authentication protocol Kerberos. If your system time is not correct, you may not be able to authenticate. This is because granted tickets have a built-in protection against timing attacks. While you may not be an attacker, the system will refuse to work when it finds requests being from the past or future.