ietf-nntp Section 11.5 - NEWNEWS

[Clive D.W. Feather]

Charles Lindsey said:
>>> + The date and time are given in the server's approximation to UTC
>>> + (commonly referred to as GMT).
>> UTC is *not* GMT. Or anywhere near it. This is the source of the problem.
> Eh? Surely by your description UTC and GMT should be within a second of
> each other

Um, yes, they're close in that there's a maximum difference, but I meant
that they're not the same in terms of definitions. In particular, saying
that "UTC [is] commonly referred to as GMT" is plain wrong.

> Since your typical server is likely to be a few seconds out, and internet
> protocols should make allowance for this, the only sensible thing is for
> the Internet to run on a fictitious "POSIX time" in which each year
> contains exactly 365*24*60*60 seconds (plus extra in leap years), which is
> kept broadly in line with UTC by means of every server syncing itself
> whenever it (or its admins) sees fit. That is essentially what happens
> currently, and we have to live with it.

Yes, you're right (except that "POSIX time" means yet another thing, which
isn't that).

-- 
Clive D.W. Feather  | Work:  <clive at demon.net>   | Tel:  +44 20 8371 1138
Internet Expert     | Home:  <clive at davros.org>  | Fax:  +44 20 8371 1037
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