Server time

canuckster · 29th December 2007, 11:02 PM

I've googled and searched these forums, but remain confused, so I'll just ask.

I'm writing a script which I'll eventually submit as a cron job, and it relies on knowing the date and time. When I upload my script and test it, any call to php's date() function simply shows my local time, but I'm interested in the server's time, so I can write everything properly for when this becomes a cron.

So -- if date() gets called remotely (like from my web browser), obviously it returns local time, and I'm guessing that if it's called locally on the server (cron) then it returns the server's time. If that's true, it would solve my problem, but I'd still feel better being able to call on some function to explicity check the time on the server, regardless of where the script is being called from (call it testing paranoia).

BTW I'm still on PHP 4.

Any suggestions?

ngray · 30th December 2007, 12:29 AM

because PHP is executed on the server, any date/time functions will return data from the server's date/time.

canuckster · 30th December 2007, 01:43 AM

Yes, but when I test it, it shows my local time. Here's a test file to show what I mean:

http://www.visionarytennis.com/php/time.php

All it contains is this:

PHP Code:

  <?

 
echo ('Right now it is ' . date ('Y-m-d, H:i'));

 
?>

I'm on the gamma server, which so far as I know is located in the UK, but it shows me local Eastern Standard Time -- and I can only assume it would show local time for whatever user accesses it. What I'd like to is to be able to see the server time, even when accessing it via the web like this test page.

Does that make sense?

ngray · 30th December 2007, 02:19 AM

Running a traceroute, it appears gamma is in the US. As above, PHP is run on the server so will return the date and time of the server. If the server is in the US it will return a US time.

Charles · 30th December 2007, 04:23 AM

If the gamma server is in the US and it is in Colo4Dallas, then the server would be located in CST Zone. I am on Ranger which is in Colo4Dallas and the server time is UTC(GMT). I had asked about this being changed to CST but was told it will remain UTC. That is ok with me.

You can also do a time off set with PHP to your time zone. I have PHP scripts that do this(CubeCart). I also have a backup script but it is using the servers time which is good from a backup standpoint.

I think that in some ways it is better to have the server in UTC zone as you don't have to worry about Daylight Saving Time changes every year which is probably why ranger will remain UTC. At least I know that the time zone won't change on the server. It probably makes things easier for UH Staff when doing things on the server.

canuckster · 30th December 2007, 05:02 AM

Hmmm, interesting stuff. As no one from UH has had a chance to weigh in on this thread yet, I think I'll open a ticket to clarify the situation. Thanks for all the responses!

canuckster · 30th December 2007, 03:46 PM

Well Matt has solved my confusion -- gamma is, in fact, in the U.S. and following Eastern Standard/Daylight Time.