Remedies for Daylight Saving Time Change
The Texas Department of Information Resources has brought together information and online resources that may be useful to our customers as they address the impact of expanded Daylight Saving Time (DST) on their computer and communications systems.
I. An Introduction to the Issue
In 2005, the US Congress determined that Daylight Saving Time should be expanded by four weeks effective this year. Instead of starting the first Sunday in April and ending the last Sunday in October, this year clocks will spring forward on March 11 and fall back on November 4.
For information and communications technology professionals, this change could spell trouble as many applications and systems are programmed to automatically change dates to accommodate DST in April and October. This means that for four weeks of the year, the internal clocks of time- and date-sensitive systems can be off by one hour. Applications such as electronic access control key card systems for facilities, employee time reporting systems, transaction receipts and intelligent transportation systems are some of those that may be affected by this change.
Many software and application providers have already made patches and upgrades available online or offered remediation advice via their websites. To minimize business disruption, organizations should ensure they have taken appropriate steps to accommodate the DST change. This information is provided as a helpful resource only and you should be sure to evaluate your own needs carefully and contact appropriate subject matter experts for specific guidance.
II. Microsoft Patch Offered at No Cost
DIR has obtained patches from Microsoft for products in the Extended Lifecycle. These products are typically in the Windows and Exchange 2000 family of products It does not cover NT4 or Exchange 5.5 . These patches, usually costing $4,000 and requiring a Support Agreement through Microsoft, are available to all DIR eligible customers through SHI Government Solutions, the DIR Microsoft vendor. To access these patches, customers should send the patch request via email to texas@gs.shi.com. In the email you must provide customer name, entity/agency name, and email address and indicate if you need the Windows Patch, the Exchange Patch, or both. For more information about which products are in the Microsoft Extended Lifecycle, visit www.microsoft.com/lifecycle and www.microsoft.com/dst2007. Support of these patches is not provided by DIR or SHI. Access will be limited to a one-year period.
III. Other Patches Available
Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of all patches available. If you know of additional links that should be added please contact Chandra Thompson.
Apple:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303411
Cisco:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk648/tk362/technologies_tech_note09186a00807ca437.shtml
IBM:
http://www.ibm.com/support/alerts/us/en/daylightsavingstimealert.html
Juniper:
http://kb.juniper.net/CUSTOMERSERVICE/index?page=kbdetail&record_id=02520301412e75010ed2ca5414006fc5
MySQL:
http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/time-zone-support.html
Novell:
http://www.novell.com/info/daylight_savings.html
Oracle:
Impact on PeopleSoft Applications
Many third party vendors are requiring patches including ones for OS, JVM, Application Servers, Web Servers and Process Scheduler Servers. If you have already completed the patch installation please check Customer Connection to review the latest updates. http://www.peoplesoft.com/psp/portprd/CUSTOMER/CRM/c/C1C_MENU.C1_SOLN_SUMMARY.GBL?page=C1_SOLN_SUMMARY&SETID=SHARE&SOLUTION_ID=201027921
For additional information on other Oracle products: http://maintenance.peoplesoft.com/softwaredownloads/home/content/documents/dst_umbrella.htm
RedHat:
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHEA-2005-656.html
Sun Java:
http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/Intl/USDST/
Sun Solaris:
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-102775-1
Symantec:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2007011911191539?Open&src=w
IV. Relevant Events/Webcasts
Microsoft is hosting a series of DST 2007 question & answer sessions the first half of March. During these sessions, Microsoft product and engineering experts will be available to answer your questions regarding Daylight Saving Time issues and concerns. Below is the session schedule:
Daylight Saving Time Q & A Session
3/8/2007 3:00 - 4:30 pm Eastern Time
Duration: 90 Minutes
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032332200&culture=en-US
Daylight Saving Time Open Q & A Session
3/10/2007 Noon - 1:00 pm Eastern Time
Duration: 60 Minutes
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032332204&culture=en-US
Daylight Saving Time Open Q & A Session
3/10/2007 2:00 - 3:00 pm Eastern Time
Duration: 60 Minutes
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032332205&culture=en-US
Daylight Saving Time Open Q & A Session
3/11/2007 Noon - 1:00 pm Eastern Time
Duration: 60 Minutes
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032332213&culture=en-US
Daylight Saving Time Open Q & A Session
3/11/2007 2:00 - 3:00 pm Eastern Time
Duration: 60 Minutes
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032332214&culture=en-US
Daylight Saving Time Open Q & A Session
3/12/2007 3:00 - 4:00 pm Eastern Time
Duration: 60 Minutes
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032332215&culture=en-US
Note: All attendees must install Microsoft Office Live Meeting 2005 Service Pack 7 (SP7) prior to joining a Live Meeting event. SP7 updates your system to the latest version of Live Meeting. It also ensures compatibility with Office 2007 and Windows Vista presentations being shown in Live Meeting.
To install Office Live Meeting 2005 Service Pack 7 - please visit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=8BB36446-1465-4F52-B820-433B7ECDA7D6&displaylang=en
Also, the February 22, 2007 web cast is now available for On-Demand viewing. This webcast provides an overview of DST, Microsoft resources, impacted products, updates and tools. There is guidance for small and medium businesses, as well as a lengthy discussion on remediation efforts for large businesses and a focus on the Exchange Time Zone Data Update Tool. To view the webcast, visit: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/lmevents/view?id=msft022207dtE&pw=WG987A
V. General Information
DIR issued an MS-ISAC Information Bulletin on this subject that provides additional resources to the Texas government technology community.
http://www.dir.state.tx.us/security/emergency/index.htm
National Association of State Chief Information Officers Issue Briefing
http://www.nascio.org/publications/documents/NASCIO-CIOActionAlertOnDST.pdf
Oracle Issue Briefing:
http://blogs.oracle.com/schan/2006/11/29#a988
