Current Time Difference

Hi, all!

I am not sure if this is an Oracle problem, or a AIX problem but I thought I'd start here.

I am getting the wrong system time returned to me on a Win NT box using SQLPlus, as well as ODBCTest, with the "SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'format') FROM DUAL;" command. The time returned is exactly one hour earlier than the current time. (I forget the actual 'format' syntax right now, something like MM-DD-YYYY HH24:MI:SS)

The Win NT box is an application server that uses ODBC to connect to an AIX box, and even table triggers that grab the SYSDATE for columns are getting the earlier time.

Additionally, the "date" command when run at the AIX box command line gives the correct time. SVRMGRL run on the AIX box also returns the correct time with the same SELECT statement as above.

Additionally, a text editor called Ultra-Edit can browse the directories on the AIX box, and it too is showing file date/times one hour earlier than the current time and one hour earlier than an "ls -l" command run at the AIX command line.

I have a second AIX box and I do NOT have this problem on that AIX box. Even Ultra-Edit is showing the correct date/time for files on the second AIX box.

I think the problem is something specified on the AIX box, but I don't know what, I am not really an AIX guy, I am a DBA.

I am using Oracle for AIX 64-bit 8.1.6.2.0, and IBM AIX v4.3.3.3.

I contacted Oracle via Metalink and they would like me to try another tool on the Win NT box other than ODBCTest. However, the Win NT box I am having trouble with is a production application Win NT Server and I am not exactly at liberty to install more software on it right now due to my company's operational constraints. SQLPlus was used from other client boxes when it was used to test for this problem.

Here at home I was just able to duplicate these findings from my PC at home using VPN to connect to my network at work, and use Win 98's TelNet and Ultra-Edit to compare date/times.

My Unix SysAdmins are stumped. MetaLink does not seem to have a clear answer yet. The vendor for the application is also stumped.

A few weeks ago my SysAdmin installed patch 8.1.6.2.0 overtop of 8.1.6.0.0 and he reports that it was done correctly, so I have almost eliminated that as the cause of this.

Coincidently, the time difference problem was not noticed until after Eastern Daylight Time went into effect. I am in Philadelphia PA USA and the earlier time we are seeing just happens to look like Eastern Standard Time. My Unix SysAdmin says that all the Unix timezone settings are correct and such.

If anyone can shed any light on this subject I would surely appreciate it. And, if anyone thinks this is really an AIX issue, I will re-post this in some other ng.

Many thanks.

Charles Received on Wed May 09 2001 - 17:25:40 CDT