In this blog post, we will discuss three ways to change the time on your Linux machine. The first way is to use the date command, the second way is to use the timedatectl command. The third way is to use hwclock command. We will also discuss some of the pros and cons of each method. Let’s get started!
What is time in Linux
In Linux, time is represented by a number called “seconds since the Epoch”. The Epoch is a specific moment in time, which is used as a reference point for all other moments. For most systems, the Epoch is January first, 1970. This means that every moment after the Epoch is represented by a larger number.
change time on Linux with date command
The date command is the most common way to change the time on your Linux machine. To use the date command, you will need to be logged in as the root user. Once you are logged in as the root user, you can issue the following command: date -s “YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS”
Where “YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS” is the new date and time that you want to set. For example, if you wanted to set the date and time to January 15th, 2030 at 12:00pm, you would issue the following command: date -s “2030-01-15 12:00:00”
Once you have issued the command, the date and time on your Linux machine will be updated. Keep in mind that this change is only temporary and will be reverted back to the hardware time after you reboot your machine.
change time on Linux with timedatectl command
Another way to change the current time in Linux is to use the timedatectl command. You can use the timedatectl command to change the system time and date by using the following syntax: timedatectl set-time “YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS”
This command allows you to view and change the system time and date settings. To use the timedatectl command, type “timedatectl” at the command prompt. This will display the current system time and date settings.
For example, if you wanted to set the system time and date to January 15th, 2030 at 12:00pm, you would type the following command: timedatectl set-time “2030-01-15 12:00:00”
change time on Linux with Hwclock command
The hwclock command is another way to change the time on your Linux machine. The hwclock command will update the hardware clock on your machine, which is independent of the system clock. To use the hwclock command, you will need to be logged in as the root user. Once you are logged in as the root user, you can issue the following command: hwclock -w
This will write the current system time to the hardware clock. Keep in mind that this change is permanent and will not be reverted after you reboot your machine.
Which method should you use to change time in Linux?
Now that we have discussed both methods, you may be wondering which one you should use. The answer to this question depends on your needs. If you need to change the time on your machine temporarily, then you should use the date command. However, if you need to change the time permanently, then you should use the hwclock command.
What is the difference between the hwclock command and the date command?
The hwclock command writes the current system time to the hardware clock, while the date command allows you to view and change the system time and date settings.
Why do we need to sync time in Linux?
Syncing time in Linux is important because it helps to keep your system running smoothly and prevents errors. When the system time is not synced, it can cause issues with applications and services that rely on accurate timekeeping.
How often should we sync time in Linux?
It is generally recommended to sync time in Linux at least once a day. However, if your system is critical or you are using applications that require accurate timekeeping, you may need to sync more often. If you don’t sync time in Linux, it can cause issues with applications and services that rely on accurate timekeeping. This can lead to errors and system instability.
What is the best way to sync time in Linux?
The best way to sync time in Linux is to use the ntpdate command. This command will query an NTP server and update the system time accordingly.
What is the difference between the ntpdate command and the date command?
The ntpdate command will query an NTP server and update the system time accordingly, while the date command allows you to view and change the system time and date settings.
How to configure NTP in Linux?
The Network Time Protocol (NTP) is a protocol used to synchronize the clocks of computers over a network. To configure NTP in Linux, you will need to edit the /etc/ntp.conf file. You will need to add the following lines to this file:
server 0.pool.ntp.org
server 0.us.pool.ntp.org
restrict 127.0.0.0
We hope that this blog post has been helpful in showing you how to change the time on your Linux machine. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below and we will do our best to answer them. Thanks for reading!