How to set date and time in Linux

You want to change your date time system but your machine doesn't have GUI. Don't worry, this tips will show you how to do that.
Because date time is a system part, so you need to have root privileges to do that. Here we go.


Linux Display Current Data and Time

Just type this command and then enter

$ date

Sample outputs:

Wed Mar 18 22:38:41 ICT 2015

Linux Display The Hardware Clock (RTC)
Type the following hwclock command to read the Hardware Clock and display the time on screen:

# hwclock -r

Or

# hwclock --show

Or show it in Coordinated Universal time (UTC):

# hwclock --show --utc

Sample outputs:

Wed 18 Mar 2015 10:42:59 PM ICT  -0.078791 seconds

Linux Set Date Time Command Example

Use the following syntax to set new data and time:

date --set="STRING"

For example, set new data to Mar 02 2015 14:30:00, type the following command as root user:

# date -s "Mar 02 2015 14:30:00"

Or

# date --set "Mar 02 2015 14:30:00"

You can also simplify format using following syntax:

# date +%Y%m%d -s "20150302"

Linux Set Time Only Command Example

To set time use the following syntax:

# date +%T -s "10:13:13"

10: Hour (hh)
13: Minute (mm)
13: Second (ss)
Use %p locale's equivalent of either AM or PM, enter:

# date +%T%p -s "6:10:30AM"
# date +%T%p -s "12:10:30PM"

References

• cyberciti.biz