How to change time zone from command line on RHEL 9

Can I change the time zone on RHEL 9 without root privileges?

No, changing the time zone on RHEL 9 requires administrative privileges. You need to use the ‘sudo’ command before executing the ‘timedatectl’ command to set the new time zone.

Will changing the time zone affect the system’s date and time settings on RHEL 9?

No, changing the time zone only adjusts the offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) used for displaying local time. It does not directly affect the system’s date and time settings. However, it may indirectly affect them if the time zone change results in a difference in local time.

What happens if I set an invalid time zone identifier on RHEL 9?

If you specify an invalid time zone identifier when using the ‘timedatectl set-timezone’ command, you will receive an error message indicating that the time zone is not valid. It’s essential to ensure that you provide a valid time zone identifier from the list of available time zones.

Can I change the time zone for a specific user on RHEL 9?

No, the time zone setting is a system-wide configuration in RHEL 9 and applies to all users on the system. There is no built-in mechanism to set different time zones for individual users from the command line.

Will changing the time zone on RHEL 9 affect scheduled tasks or cron jobs?

Yes, changing the time zone can potentially affect scheduled tasks or cron jobs that are configured to run at specific times. It’s essential to consider the implications of the time zone change on any scheduled tasks and adjust their schedules accordingly if necessary.

Correctly setting the time zone on a Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 9 system is crucial for ensuring accurate time synchronization and proper functioning of various applications and services. While graphical tools are available for configuring the time zone, administrators often prefer command-line methods for efficiency and automation. In this guide, we will explore how to change the time zone from the command line on RHEL 9, providing step-by-step instructions along with examples and explanations.