"Time" saving programming tips for iSeries

Step one: Get the PTF

In March nearly everyone in the U.S. had the amazing shock of an extra hour taken away (or given back – I always get that mixed up!) because of Daylight Saving Time (DST). OS/400 has been equipped with a new set of standards for time zones which deal specifically with Standard and DST. The IBM website has a link to program temporary fixes (PTF) and information explaining the DTS changes that are a result of the Environment Protection act of 2005 Download DTS PTF for i5 or iSeries).

Once these PTF's have been applied, your system sets DTS automatically. No more early morning telnet sessions with the servers the morning your own clock radios are messed up.

Step two: Program iSeries self-setting feature

Program OS/400 to set itself using the internet to the "standard time" CFGTCP

You'll see Handy dandy Option 19 Take it

And set your NIST Time server – I chose

Note that you can use multiple clients to poll from.

Now there are two servers working here: the "Client" to get the information and a Server to tell your systems how to set themselves. Yes – how, you say?

By pointing your PCs to your iSeries or i5 you will force it to set the time from it. So go to the PCs command line and look at the "NET TIME" command as follows;

So if you'd like your PC to point to your server and synchronize it's time, you'd simply type ; NET TIME /SETSNTP xx.yy.zz.aa

where xx.yy.zz.aa is the address of your iSeries or i5. To force the PC to set itself again, type ;

NET TIME /QUERYSNTP

To stop and restart the PC's Time service type;

NET STOP w32time
NET START w32time

Like what you see? Now set your watch to your server!

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