System date resetting when rebooting (FC4)

[Kam Leo]

On 6/16/06, Keith G. Robertson-Turner
<fedora-gmane.00002 at genesis-x.nildram.co.uk> wrote:
> Kam Leo wrote:
> >> On Fri, 2006-06-16 at 15:51 -0500, Stéphane Bruno wrote:
> >>>> Stéphane Bruno wrote:
>
> >>>>> I installed FC4 on several Dell PowerEdge servers (PowerEdge
> >>>>> 850, SC420, etc.), but I notice that every time I reboot the
> >>>>> server, the system date is changed.
>
> >>> I notice that when I shutdown I see an error printed on the
> >>> screen like "Syncing hardware clock to system time... timeout or
> >>> something" and it prints that the operation failed. Also, at
> >>> startup, I notice an error message, something about a timeout
> >>> occuring for clock tick.
>
> Check dmesg, but IMO this is either:
>
> a) ... A dead clock battery, or
> b) ... A missing kernel module/parameter required for that mobo's timer
> functions. And/or a kernel bug.
>
> For the former, obviously just replacing the battery will help :)
>
> For the latter, try building a custom kernel RPM using the guide I wrote
> on: http://fedoranews.org/cms/node/414 ,and check for anything specific
> to your chipset.
>
> You mentioned that you installed FC4 onto "several" servers, but you
> didn't explicitly state whether or not your problem was affecting all of
> them. Is it just one of the machines or all of them? If it's just one,
> and the others are the same hardware, then I'd go with the "dead clock
> battery" theory.
>

The dead battery problem should be detected and logged during boot
when NTPD encounters a large time difference.  During shutdown the
clock chip is receiving power from the power supply and does not use
its battery/coin cell.

> > Disabling UTC will probably fix your problem.
>
> The OP has already stated that: "I did not choose the option 'My System
> clock uses UTC' when installing".
>

Yes, I read that part of the post.  However, I have learned that one
needs to verify.

> -
> K.
>