User guide

Chapter 1: Basic Switch Parameters
32 Section I: Basic Operations
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 will be sending 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. The AT-9400 Switch has an onboard battery that maintains
the date and time even when the unit is powered off or reset.
The second method uses the Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP). The
AT-S63 Management Software comes with the client version of this
protocol. You can configure the AT-S63 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 AT-S63 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. For background information on
routing interfaces, refer to the AT-S63 Management Software
Features Guide.
Note
The default system time on the switch is midnight, January 1, 1980.
To set the system time manually or to configure SNTP client, do the
following:
1. From the Home Page, select Configuration.
2. Select the System Time tab.