User's Manual

Chapter 3: Basic Switch Parameters
32
Setting the System Date and Time
This procedure explains how to set the switch’s date and time. Setting the
date and time is important if you plan to view the events in the switch’s
event log or send the events to a syslog server. The correct date and time
are also important if the management software sends traps to a
management workstation or if you plan to create a self-signed SSL
certificate. Events, traps, and self-signed certificates should contain the
date and time of when they occurred or, in the case of certificates, when
they were created.
There are two ways to set the switch’s date and time. One method is to set
it manually. This method is not recommended because the date and time
are lost if you reboot the switch.
The second method uses the Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP). The
AlliedWare Plus Management Software comes with the client version of
this protocol. You can configure the AlliedWare Plus software to obtain the
current date and time from an SNTP or Network Time Protocol (NTP)
server located on your network or the Internet.
SNTP is a reduced version of the NTP. However, the SNTP client software
in the AlliedWare Plus Management Software is interoperable with NTP
servers.
Note
In order for the management software on the switch to communicate
with an SNTP or NTP server, there must be an interface on the local
subnet from where the switch is reaching the server. The switch
uses the IP address of the interface as its source address when
sending packets to the server.
Note
The default system time on the switch is midnight, January 1, 2000.
Choose from the following procedures:
 “Setting System Time Manually” on page 33
 “Setting An SNTP or NTP Server” on page 35