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timedatectl command

Detailed Explanation

timedatectl is a utility provided by systemd for controlling the system time and date. It allows you to query and change the clock, the time zone, and enable or disable Network Time Protocol (NTP) synchronization.

Basic Syntax

timedatectl [command]

Common Commands

CommandDescription
statusShow current time settings (default behavior).
set-time [TIME]Set the system time (e.g., "2023-10-26 14:30:00").
set-timezone [TZ]Set the system time zone.
list-timezonesList known time zones.
set-ntp [boolean]Enable or disable network time synchronization (NTP).

Real-world Examples

Show the current time and date configuration:

timedatectl

List all available time zones:

timedatectl list-timezones

Set the system time zone to 'America/New_York':

sudo timedatectl set-timezone America/New_York

Enable automatic time synchronization via NTP:

sudo timedatectl set-ntp true