> >>>>> "RJ" == Richard B Johnson <root@chaos.analogic.com> writes:
>
> RJ> On Mon, 5 Jan 1998, Jason Wilkins wrote:
> >> I need documentation concerning Linux's year 2000 compliancy, can anyone
> >> point me to it?
> >>
> >> Jason Wilkins
> >>
> RJ> No Unix machine has a problem with the year 2000, no matter how poorly
> RJ> it may have been implemented.
>
> Machines physically have problems. The RTC for example, may not work.
> This may be at least in part a kernel issue.
Not true. Read the documentation. The current year at offset 0x09, is a
byte in BCD. The current CENTURY at offset 0x32 is a byte in BCD. This
allows time to be kept to 9999. Even the BIOS allows it to be set to
2099 which is greater than the BIOS time can be kept (2033).
>
> RJ> The problems, if they exist at all, are in __applications__ code! It is
> RJ> very difficult to make application code using the 'C' runtime library,
> RJ> that would not work beyond the year 2000. The year 2000 means nothing
> RJ> special to Unix machines.
>
> Wrong. date at least the old one I have will die in the year 2000.
>
`date` is an APPLICATION as stated above.
> RJ> Of course one could set the machine time and do a sample run, but
> RJ> that would be too easy.
>
> Easy test as you said set the machine time, and do a sample run and be
> suprised at how much breaks.
>
> Eric
Not supprised. It's being done all over the world. The most common problem
is with forms. Many programs are written to fill in "19__" on a form.
Again, this is not a kernel issue. It is an application program problem.
The problem is no more complicated than having the telephone company
change your area code (which happened here). It is a printing issue.
Although it costs area business probably ten million dollars in printing
costs (sue the telephone company), it is still not a technical issue.
Forms have to be reprinted to allow 4-digit years. Application programs
that have printed only two digits have to be modified to print 4.
Check your bank statement, your telephone bill, etc. It's already been
done.
Cheers,
Dick Johnson
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