How to Set a Cisco Router Clock and Time Zone

Set a Cisco Router Clock and Time Zone:

Before you set the time on your router, you need to configure a proper time zone. You need to do this thing first because if you set the time zone after setting the time, you may have to reset the time once again.

Knowing the exact time zone is not enough, you must also know how many hours it is away from Greenwich Mean Time. In case you are in the eastern standard time zone in the United States, then that means you are 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time.

This will be indicated by a -5 sign on your router. Once you are well aware of your time zone value, then the next thing that you need to do is to set your time zone. 

Configuration of Daylight Saving Time

Once you are done setting the time zone, you must configure the router for adjusting the Daylight Saving Time. This can easily be done by using the summer-time command.

This command states that the Daylight Saving Time is the same as the Central Daylight Time, which will automatically appear as per the predefined times and dates on your router for the annual time changes in the month of October and April. 

Configuration of Clock

After you configure the Daylight Saving Time and the Time Zone, the next thing that you need to do is to configure the clock of your router. You should do this in a non-global configuration mode. In case you haven't done this before, then you may find the format a little tricky.

Below are a few things that you need to keep in mind. 

• Add the year and date
• Mention seconds while setting time
• Specify the month using the first three letters
• Use military time
• Set command using clock
• View Time

Once you are done configuring the time zone, clock and DST, you will be able to see the clock by giving the voice command of "Show Clock". Don't forget that the Cisco switches and routers do not have internal clocks, which store the time when you turn it off. However, the time zone settings won't change as the router stores it in configuration.