New DST rules 2007 and java problems.

[Christian Tremblay]

The new daylight savings time changes for 2007 not only affects the OS which can easily be patched with patches that modify the tzdata file but has also an impact on java as it maintains it's own internal tables.

This is a more serious problem since many java applications use older java versions that do not support the new DST rules and will not work using a more recent java version that do.

IBM has issued a tool called the java time zone updater: JTZU, which searches for all installed versions of java and updates the EXISTING versions with the new DST rules; thus
relieving the need to install a more recent java version that may break installed apps.

http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/java/jdk/dst/index.html

Although you can download versions of that tool for most OS including Windoze and HP-UX it is stated that the tool will only work with java versions issued by IBM :-(

Does anybody know if such a tool will be made available for HP java versions too ?

What is the point of providing a HP-UX version if no IBM java is installed on HP-UX ?

thx

Chris

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Chris:

> Does anybody know if such a tool will be made available for HP java versions too ?

I don't know the answer to that.

> What is the point of providing a HP-UX version if no IBM java is installed on HP-UX ?

That's obvious. It's an enticement. It suggests that the competition has better support for products that you buy from *them*.

Regards!

...JRF...

[Christian Tremblay]

Anybody from HP would like to comment on this issue which surely affects a lot of customers facing a similar problem ??

[Jaime Bolanos Rojas.]

Christian,

Like most OS's HP-UX offer support for the problems presented in their OS.
To the knowledge of my extend all companies should worry about thier support to their customers, all companies are aware of the changes in DST for the indiana state for the year 2007.

HP did worry about their customers creating the propers patchs, and in my opinion Java should have done the same for their customers creating the proper patch for the change.

Some OS's work in different ways, and probally in IBM's version of Unix, it was their job to create the patch or tool for Java becuase that is the way they support their kernel.

I would open a ticket with Java and ask them what they are going to do about it.

Regards,

Jaime.

[Christian Tremblay]

"I would open a ticket with Java and ask them what they are going to do about it."

I wish I could, but there is no Java Inc. where I could open a call.

The trademark belongs to Sun but each vendor
provides it's own Java, so does HP at:

http://www.hp.com/products1/unix/java/?jumpid=go/java

Chris

[Andrew C Fieldsend]

Sun's Java versions to fix the DST changes are at:

http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/Intl/USDST/index.html

They also point out that a number of other countries may follow suit, so more changes can be expected.

Andy

[Dennis Handly]

I told the HP Java team about the Y2K7 problem in 2005 and they said they needed a separate fix other than tztab. I'll forward your question.

>I wish I could, but there is no Java Inc. where I could open a call.

You should call the HP Response Center.

>so does HP at:
http://www.hp.com/products1/unix/java/?jumpid=go/java

Off that page is a "For U.S. DST Information" link:
http://www.hp.com/products1/unix/java/DST-US.html

Do you have an older Java version?

[Christian Tremblay]

Right now, admins are checking on all servers company wide: windows, UNIX etc. for installed java versions older than:
JDK 6 Project (beta)
J2SE 5.0 Update 6 or later
J2SE 1.4.2_11 or later
J2SE 1.3.1_18 or later which support the DST changes.

Some older versions are still in use and upgrading to a compliant version may in some cases break the application. This is why we would like in those cases to have a tool like IBM JTZU to update the existing old java versions with the new DST rules instead of upgrading.

Chris

[Christian Tremblay]

Sun has followed suite to IBM and issued a Java Updater Tool that will update existing old java versions with the new DST 2007 rules

It is still a beta version available at:

http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/tzupdater_README.html

Any HP equivalent in the workings ???

[Martha Mueller]

I'm trying to decide if we are going to have problems come March. I have installed the latest java depot from hp, released last month. That gives me java version "1.5.0.05". But sun's web site says that "You can download any of the following Java platform versions to resolve this DST issue:

JDK 6 Project (beta)
J2SE 5.0 Update 6 or later "

The HP web page: www.hp.com/products1/unix/java/DST-
US.html says that JDK 5.0.3 or later is safe, but the version
listed to download from HP lists the version as JDK 5.0.05
released in Nov., 2006.

So is 5.0.05 later than 5.0.3? Does that mean that the Nov., 2006 java depot is safe?

[Dennis Handly · Accepted solution]

>Chris: Any HP equivalent in the workings ???

The Java team said:
Yes, HP will have the same tool available very soon, also in beta form - customers can watch the Java website http://www.hp.com/go/java in the upper right hand corner for DST news.

[Christian Tremblay]

Thanks a lot Dennis, that is really good news for everybody.

Chris

[IT Response]

For java check www.hp.com/go/java. There is a link off the main page in red. Also, before month end there may be a tool available, similar to sun and IBM's that will change Java TZ files without having to install a whole new Java version.
Also check:
8606420800 - YK changes in librwtool and in lib++.a
fix
Applications linked shared can just apply the aC++ Runtime patch.
If linked archive, the application must be relinked.

For librwtool the following patches exist:
[PHSS_33941/PACHRDME/English] 11.00
[PHSS_33942/PACHRDME/English] 11.11
[PHSS_34041/PACHRDME/English] 11.23

lib++.a is only fixed with the A.03.70 release.



8606430960 - DCE and Daylight Saving changes in U.S.


Fix Release : - 11.31
11.11 : - December 2006
11.23 : - December 2006
cheers,
Nick