Flashes (Alerts)
Abstract
Sometimes countries change their Daylight Saving Time (DST) start and end dates. Original DST start and end dates programmed into operating systems and into Java™ software will be incorrect. As a result, operating systems and Java installations need to be updated.
Content
How do DST changes affect my system?
When do I need to update my system?
I need to update straight away. What must I do?
How do I validate DST changes?
How do DST changes affect my system?
Java applications that are sensitive to time and date information will require updating to ensure that all relevant time and date calculations are correct. Many IBM products contain Java technology and are affected by these changes.
When do I need to update my system?
The latest DST information is included in new product service refreshes and your systems will be updated as part of your planned maintenance schedule. You need to update your systems ahead of this schedule only if you are affected by recent DST changes.
Consider the following:
- Do you run Java applications that perform time and date processing?
- Is it important for your applications to function correctly on the affected dates? Consider the risks to your business and your customers business if your applications calculate time incorrectly.
- Are the countries significant to your business changing their DST?
- Does your system already contain DST updates for the countries significant to your business?
To see which time zone updates are included in Java SDK or JRE service refreshes, see Java SDK Olson time zone updates.
To search for SDKs and JREs on your system and see the current update level, see How do I validate DST changes?
I need to update straight away. What must I do?
For your Java applications to work correctly with the new DST updates, you must update both your operating system and your Java SDK and JRE. Java relies on the operating system to provide an accurate clock and it relies on locale information to indicate the active time zone. Inaccurate settings will cause Java to represent time incorrectly.
For your Java applications to work correctly with the new DST updates, you must update both your operating system and your Java SDK and JRE.
Updating your operating system
The update process you must follow depends on your operating system.
- IBM AIX, z/OS, IBM i, Linux on IBM hardware, VIOS. See IBM Support and Downloads.
- Red Hat Linux: Use normal update procedures.
- Novell SUSE Linux. Use normal update procedures.
- Sun Solaris: See Sun Solaris Support.
- HP HP-UX: See HP Support.
- Apple macOS: See How to get updated time zone information for your Apple device
- Microsoft Windows: See Microsoft Support. Note: Use a Microsoft patch or the tzedit.exe utility to update your Microsoft Windows system. See Java Daylight Saving Time: Known problems and workarounds for more information.
- Other operating systems: Contact your vendor.
Updating your Java SDKs and JREs
You might have more than one SDK or JRE on your system that needs updating. Follow these steps until you find a suitable update method for each SDK or JRE.
| 1. | Java on IBM i See Updating Java for Daylight Time Saving changes on IBM i platforms. |
| 2. | Java embedded in an IBM product, including JDKs supplied by IBM for products on Solaris, HP-UX, or macOS. Consult the product support pages. Where possible, use a product specific patch to update your SDK or JRE. |
| 3. | Java provided with your operating system For Java on AIX and z/OS, see the support pages for your operating system. For other platforms, follow the instructions in the next step. |
| 4. | Java installed separately If your SDK or JRE was downloaded from IBM Support or supplied by a Linux distributor, install the latest Java service refresh. For information about the level of Java required, see Java SDK Olson time zone updates. You can download Java from IBM Support. |
| 5. | If IBM product service or a Java service refresh is not yet available for the country updates you need, or If you are using the IBM 32-bit Runtime Environment for Java 2 (JRE) Windows Edition on IBM Personal Computing products manufactured prior to 1 Apr 2005, or If you are using the IBM Development Package for Eclipse. Use the IBM Time Zone Update utility for Java (JTZU), which applies the latest time zone update information directly to IBM Java SDKs and JREs. For more information and to download JTZU, see Java SDK Time Zone Update Utility . |
| 6. | If you are using an obsolete version of Java Upgrade to a supported level of the IBM product or the Java SDK or JRE. |
Deciding between applying service and using JTZU
Update your IBM SDK or JRE by applying a Java Service Refresh, Fix Pack or interim fix. However, there are some situations when this might not be possible, for example:
- You require DST updates for countries not yet covered by the Service Refresh, Fix Pack, or interim fix.
- You require DST updates ahead of your maintenance schedule and cannot bring the schedule forward.
- You have applied an interim fix for an essential "custom" service and you want to avoid reverting the interim fix.
In these circumstances you can use JTZU to update your IBM SDK or JRE.
Note: JTZU does not support Java on IBM i platforms. To apply Daylight Saving Time changes to Java on IBM i systems, see Updating Java for Daylight Time Saving changes on IBM i platforms.
How do I validate DST changes?
After updating your system, you can validate the changes to a Java SDK or JRE by using JTZU.
Using JTZU
Running JTZU in DISCOVERONLY mode will search your system for IBM JREs and SDKs. All JREs and SDKs found are listed in the SDKList.txt file, including their current Olson time zone update level. To see which time zone updates are included, see Java SDK Olson time zone updates.
For more information and to download JTZU, see Java SDK Time Zone Update Utility .
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Modified date:
25 September 2022
UID
swg21251761