Workstation date & time 11.. PPuurrppoossee Changing the workstation time is a simple matter, once you understand how fancy _L_i_n_u_x is. Here is the story: Internally, _L_i_n_u_x uses GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). All operations are done in GMT. File time stamps are stored this way. Displaying the time in "local time" is a user interface issue. This strategy allows meaningful data exchange over a WAN (over the Internet for one example). To show the time correctly, _L_i_n_u_x must be told about your time zone (how many hours separate your location and GMT?). 22.. SSeelleeccttiinngg aa zzoonnee The zone field allows you to select the zone/country code which reflects how the time is managed at your location. This selection also influences the deviation from normal time used in some countries (winter time vs. summer time). Type Ctrl-X to get an endless list of zone/country codes. 33.. HHooww ttoo ssttoorree tthhee ddaattee iinn CCMMOOSS If your computer exclusively uses _L_i_n_u_x, then select the universal format. If your computer uses another operating system as well, don't select this option. The drawback of not selecting this option is that you will have to manually update the time a few times a year (twice in many countries). No big deal... 44.. GGeett ddaattee ffrroomm sseerrvveerr Here you may specify one or more servers to query for the time. This will be done only at boot time, whenever the network is configured. To get a more complete synchronization, you can either call /usr/sbin/netdate from root's crontab or use the xntp time server. This is not yet supported by _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f, but is not incompatible with it either. 55.. SSppeeccttaaccuullaarr eeffffeecctt The screensaver built into _L_i_n_u_x may surprise you. Be aware that if you advance the time of your computer, the screensave will notice. So if you jump 15 minutes ahead, it sees it as 15 minutes without activity. The last time I saw the screen go black right after I hit "Enter" on a computer was with another so called _O_S designed to crash...