time issue...
 

I just installed Debian Sarge through the Debian-Installer RC3 disc. Everything went smoothly but I mistakenly set the time to local time instead of UTC. So my clock was set 2 hours back. I didn't know about this and continued with configuring the system, apt-getting many packages.

Then, I realised the clock was slow. I booted into windows(this is a dual-boot system) and sync-ed the time there with a remote time server. Now the clock is correctly set again.

I would like to ask if this will ever cause problems to the systems(both debian and windows)?

Thanks.

I've certainly never had a problem with time changes. OS's are built to compensate for time changes due to dead batteries for the BIOS and daylight saving so I cant see it being an issue. I think its a case of crossing the bridge if you come to it.

If you want to set the time,you can do it from linux,no need for windows;
month-day-time-year

Ok, so it should be no problems.

But one thing that I don't understand is, what is the difference between UTC and local time? I know that time is stored in CMOS(?) so why do we have to have two ways of calculating it?

The difference between UTC and local depends on your location on the planet.
UTC stands for Coordinated Universal Time AKA Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) AKA Zulu time. The world is divided into 24 time zone i.e. every 15 degrees of longitude and each one is designated with a letter , A-Z (not including I & O). Z (zulu) is the same as UTC.

http://www.worldtimezone.com/


AKA - also Known as