Source

RETAIN tip: H192310

Symptom

The Daylight Savings Time (DST) function for systems having Remote Supervisor Adapter (RSA) II, RSA, or ASMA options installed may not operate correctly after the year 2006.

In 2007, DST started at 2:00 AM on March 11 and ended at 2:00 AM on November 4.

Affected configurations

This tip is not hardware specific.

The system is configured with one or more of the following IBM Options:

• Remote Supervisor Adapter II, Option 39Y9566
• Remote Supervisor Adapter II, Option 59P2984
• Remote Supervisor Adapter II, Option 73P9341
• Remote Supervisor Adapter, Option 09N7585

The RSA II firmware for the installed system is affected.

This tip is not software specific.

Solution

Systems, including Cluster 1350, that have one of the RSA II Adapter options installed should update the RSA II firmware or update the on-board clock manually.

RSA II firmware is system dependent. Below is a link that lists firmware update links for download based on server name and Machine Type, such as System x3550 (Type 7978):

http://www.ibm.com/support/alerts/server/us/

Although no hardware or System BIOS update is required, each server must apply the DST network operating system patch as required. Contact the network operating system and application vendors for details.

There is no firmware update for the RSA and Advanced System Management PCI adapter (ASMA) Options. The new DST change causes minimum impact to the system for most applications. The timestamp of the log file could be off by one hour. This does not effect the system function. However, systems that use RSA or ASMA for scheduled system power on and off, the on-board clock can be changed manually.

Workaround

1. The system's time of day clock can be manually set prior to the start and end of DST:
   • Refer to System SETUP menu to set the system time of day.
   • Refer to network operating system document to set the clock.
2. The RSA II clock operates independent to the system and network operating system clock . Refer to the IBM RSA II and RSA II Slimline User's Guide for instructions to disable the previous DST setting and change the RSA II clock.
3. The RSA clock operates independent to the system and network operating system clock . Refer to the IBM RSA User's Guide for instructions to disable the previous DST setting and change the RSA clock.
4. The ASMA clock operates independent to the system and network operating system clock . Refer to the IBM Advanced Systems Manager Adapter Software User's Guide for instructions to disable the previous DST setting and change the ASMA clock.

Additional information

The following link provides additional details concerning 2007 United States DST changes, along with products impacted by these changes:

http://www.ibm.com/support/alerts/daylightsavingstimealert.html