Limits of Cinnamon Date & Time GUI in Updating RTC Mode
0 reputation · 01 Mar 2021, 15:33 UTC
Goal
Ensure that changing the time zone through Linux Mint’s Cinnamon Date & Time settings leaves the hardware clock (RTC) in a state that is consistent with the chosen zone and with systemd’s NTP synchronization.
Background
The Cinnamon GUI writes the zone to /etc/localtime and updates systemd-timedated, but it does not explicitly adjust the RTC mode via timedatectl set-local-rtc. The default hardware clock is set to UTC, and switching to local time can create conflicts on dual‑boot systems.
Uncertainty
It is unclear whether the GUI triggers a change in RTC mode when the zone is altered, or whether the mode must be set manually after a GUI change. This may leave the system in an inconsistent state, affecting NTP and daylight‑saving adjustments.
Questions
- Does the Cinnamon Date & Time module automatically invoke
timedatectl set-local-rtcwhen a new zone is selected? - If the RTC mode is not updated, what is the documented impact on NTP synchronization and daylight‑saving transitions?
- What steps, if any, are recommended to guarantee that the RTC mode matches the GUI‑selected zone on Linux Mint 21 and later?
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