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diff --git a/FAQ.in b/FAQ.in index aee939dde5..adda0fb06a 100644 --- a/FAQ.in +++ b/FAQ.in @@ -945,6 +945,31 @@ Also, make sure you have a suitably recent kernel. As of the 970401 snapshot, according to Philip Blundell <Philip.Blundell@pobox.com>, the required kernel version is at least 2.1.30. +?? When I set the timezone I'm by setting the TZ environment variable + to EST5EDT things go wrong since glibc computes the wrong time + from this information. + +{UD} The problem is that people still use the braindamaged POSIX +method to select the timezone using the TZ environment variable with a +format EST5EDT or whatever. People, read the POSIX standard, the +implemented behaviour is correct! What you see is in fact the result +of the decisions made while POSIX.1 was created. We've only +implemented the handling of TZ this way to be POSIX compliant. It is +not really meant to be used. + +The alternative approach to handle timezones which is implemented is +the correct one to use: use the timezone database. This avoids all +the problems the POSIX method has plus it is much easier to use. +Simply run the tzselect shell script, answer the question and use the +name printed in the end by making a symlink to +/usr/share/zoneinfo/NAME (NAME is the returned value from tzselect) +from the file /etc/localtime. That's all. You never again have to +worry. + +So, please avoid sending bug reports about time related problems if +you use the POSIX method and you have not verified something is really +broken by reading the POSIX standards. + Answers were given by: {UD} Ulrich Drepper, <drepper@cygnus.com> |