PLCnextEngineer sets wrong date and time

PLCnext Engineer
1

Hi,
I have observed this behaviour on all versions up to PLCnext Engineer 2024.0.3.
When I set the date and time of an EPC1502 through the cockpit, it takes the local time and uses it to set the UTC time on the device. Before setting the time through PLCnext Engineer, the time is correct: Tue Jul 30 12:44:51 UTC 2024 Afterwards: Tue Jul 30 14:44:57 UTC 2024. It’s Tue Jul 30 2024 14:44:26 GMT+0200 on my local time.

2

Hi ingfu,
thanks for your request.
In general does PLCnext using utc as system time and is the foundation for e.g. datalogger or OPC UA. As the PLC could be installed everywhere in the world this is also the only common time.
PLCnext does also offer a various way to sync the time, those could be done via PLCnext Engineer (local system time or manually), integrated ntp client or function blocks (like PLCnext Base lib).
Please find more details in the plcnext infocent.
System time (plcnext.help)
Using the PLCnext Cockpit will send the system time (local settings) to the plc and the plcwill take this time as utc.
Means, if the local time is e.g. utc+1, this time will be utc0 on the plc.
Hope that helped,
Frank

3

Hi Frank,
thanks for Your reply. You are right, it’s stated in the info center.
However, in my opinion its unexpected behaviour and setting the time via the button should either set the computer’s UTC time to the PLC’s UTC time or the local time and the corresponding time zone.
The UTC time is unambiguously defined and interpreting a local time as UTC time creates confusion.

4

Hello!
I think you have to modify binding of plc /etc/localtime file. It will make it all work as expected.
Please take a look at https://www.plcnext-community.net/forum/#/discussion/comment/13150
BR

5

Hello!</p>I think you have to modify binding of plc **/etc/localtime </strong> file. It will make it all work as expected.</p>Please take a look at [https://www.plcnext-community.net/forum/#/discussion/comment/13150</a></p>BR</p>

https://pxc1.esc-eu-central-1.empolisservices.com/service-express/portal/project1_p/document/en-so-deb95804-1aba-4247-8d77-da744c190b90?context={}
This is knowledge base source.

6

[https://forum.plcnext-community.net/discussion/comment/13542#Comment_13542</a></p>[https://pxc1.esc-eu-central-1.empolisservices.com/service-express/portal/project1_p/document/en-so-deb95804-1aba-4247-8d77-da744c190b90?context=%7B%7D</a></p>This is knowledge base source.</p>

Sorry, user admin is not allowed to execute ‚/bin/ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/America/New_York /etc/localtime‘ as root on epc1502.

7

https://github.com/plcnextusa/PLCnext-Guides/blob/master/Appendices/Appendix%204%20How%20to%20create%20a%20root%20user%20in%20SSH.pdf

8

[https://github.com/plcnextusa/PLCnext-Guides/blob/master/Appendices/Appendix%204%20How%20to%20create%20a%20root%20user%20in%20SSH.pdf</a></p>

thx