UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

I need to know how to update our UNIX systems for 2007 DST. Problem is, I have no idea what version of UNIX we have or how to even find out what version it is. I work in the IT department and none of my co-workers know anything about UNIX either.

So, I have two questions. First of all, how do I tell what version of UNIX I'm running. Second, how do I either update the time or install a DST fix (if one is available).

These UNIX systems run some metal stamping machines in our factory. They rarely need anything done to them. In fact, I can count on one hand in the 8 years I've worked here how many times I've had to even look at them.

Any help would be appreciated.

To find out your version of unix run the command:
uname -a

To get some clues about the dst change read Understanding Unix Timekeeping

I found the version, this is what it said:

OSF1 WSYS410 V4.0 878 ALPHA

I have no idea what any of that means, except the WSYS410, that is the system name...can you help me to understand the rest?

And, I totally don't get the info about Unix Timekeeping...

HELP!

I'm not trying to be hostile or mean in any other way, so don't take my suggestion wrong.

I think you should find a consultant with significant Unix experience to deal with this for you. Especially if it is a vital production machine which your description makes it sound like. If you don't know any Unix a few suggestions from a message board are not going to be enough for you to successfully fix this. It is (or at least can be) very complicated and involve updating the entire O.S. patch set to fix. Not something I'd recommend a beginner tackle themselves.

If you have just one machine or a small handful to do a consultant familiar with your version of unix should be able to handle it in a few days at most.

Good luck.

Yea, I was going to ask that too. It'd be easier to snag a local consultant. Heck, you could probably do it with someone long distance if you have some sort of terminal servers hooked up. Check guru.com. You probably need someone to at least part time admin the boxes anyway if none of you guys are familiar with Unix. Who knows how far out of patchlevel you are right now.

Carl

Mine says that as well.
This is "Digital UNIX v4.0" on Alpha architecture, the predecessor of Tru64 Unix.