Thread

I have set my system preference time localisation settings to UTC (-8) as my remote server is located in LA. My user settings our UTC (+10) Melbourne Australia. When I view my new site it will show all dates -/- 18hours. When I reset the system preference time localisation settings to UTC (+10), which does not make sense, I see all times and dates perfectly, but I am told in Ireland the times shown are incorrect.

Before I reverse the system preference time localisation settings back to UTC (-8) pacific time:
I would like someone (in the States)  to check this page and tell me the dates shown? (should be 3rd October - 15th October 2007

Thanks

Wimy, yes, I do see 3rd October to 15th October as a non-logged in user.

Thanks Sue!

Perhaps you could clarify this behaviour, as the manual states:

Server Time Zone
This setting lets you specify the time zone where your server is located. ExpressionEngine uses native PHP functions to deal with dates and times, which base their output on the timezone of the server. If you do not set this preference so that it correctly reflects the location of your server it may cause problems with your dates and times. If you are not sure where you server is located please ask your hosting provider.

My host runs PHP 5.2.2 on my server and, after some performance checks, they suggested that it might be a “bug” in my EE configuration.

Your admin localization should probably match the actual physical location of the server since the EE gets its timezone from PHP itself (a call to a PHP function), not the webserver software. I’d consider submitting a bug report if setting the timezone to Pacific in the admin settings and keeping the user localization the way it is doesn’t work since your server reports the correct local time here.

I will request more checks from people in Europe to confirm the correct time display, but I would like to know this behaviour for future projects.

Appreciate your support:-)

I THINK both EE and your host are saying the same thing.  The difference is- EE has two settings.  The server timezone and the user timezone.  When your host says ‘Your admin localization should probably match the actual physical location of the server’- that’s true.  That’s what you base your sever time zone setting on.  Then you can ignore the issue when setting the user’s ‘Select Time Zone’- which should be your individual time zone.

That make sense- or am I missing something in the above explanation?

(Also- be sure you’re running the very latest version if you run into timezone issues- I know 1.6 addressed a problem that cropped up on some servers- related to server time and DST.)

Hi Robin, thanks for your support. Contrary to both my hosting company and EE’s recommendation I have the System Preference Time localisation settings on UTS (+10) Melbourne and all times seems to be properly showing in both Europe,US and at home.

Does that make sense?

I think that’s right- the Server Time Zone should be -8, your localization setting should be +10.  Of course- the time will be ‘wrong’ for me- but if I signed up and set MY localization setting correctly to -5, it should then be correct.  And… all of the above ignored the issue of DST.

No, that does not make sense to me. Sorry, to be so pedantic:

Settings are:
CP Home ›  Admin ›  System Preferences ›  Localization Settings > (UTC +10 hours) Melbourne, Papua New Guinea, Sydney, Vladivostok.
CP Home ›  My Account ›  Localization Settings > (UTC +10 hours) Melbourne, Papua New Guinea, Sydney, Vladivostok

My server = Los Angeles (UTC -8 hours) Pacific Time
My IP = Victoria, Australia =  (UTC +10 hours) Melbourne, Papua New Guinea, Sydney, Vladivostok

Despite the server settings being my local time, instead of it’s local time,  all times and dates are showing properly worldwide, contrary to what EE & my host are saying, right?