Setting the time zone during an attended IPL

You can set the Time zone (QTIMZON) system value during an attended initial program load (IPL) of the IBM® i operating system. This is the preferred method if you are installing software on a new system or partition because it ensures that the time zone can be set correctly as soon as you complete the IPL.

The IPL Options display allows you to specify the date, time, and time zone for your system (indirectly your offset from UTC is also set). If the system time zone field is changed, verify that the date and time are set correctly. By setting these three fields, the appropriate date and time system values are set to reflect these field values.

If you want to set your time zone during an attended IPL, complete the following steps:
  1. On the IPL Options display, move the cursor to the row that contains the System time zone field and specify the identifier of a time zone, or press F4 (Prompt) to open the Select Time Zone Description display.
    IPL Options screen
  2. If you are using the Select Time Zone Description dialog box to select a time zone, complete the following steps:
    1. On the Select Time Zone Description display, type 1 next to the time zone that you want to use.
    2. Press Enter to return to the IPL Options display. The System time zone field is updated with the time zone you selected.
  3. Ensure the System time field is correct.
  4. Ensure the System date field is correct.
  5. Press Enter to continue the IPL.
Note: If you set the System time zone field on the IPL Options display, then this new value takes precedence over the previous value set by the system.