AWS RDS : Changing OS time zone

This entry helps you change the database time zone: http://cloudconclave.blogspot.com/2013/08/aws-rds-timezone.html

However, it does not address changed the operating system time zone.  With RDS, the OS timezone can’t be changed (UTC, by design).  Each database engine supports different functions that query OS (for Oracle it is sysdate),   database engine, or session level parameters for timezone information . 

Here’s a quick synopsis of each DB engine’s datetime function details which identifies which calls are OS, database instance, or session based and which include timezone information or if its implied:

·         MySQL: http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.5/en/date-and-time-functions.html

·         Oracle: http://docs.oracle.com/cd/B19306_01/server.102/b14225/ch4datetime.htm#g1010984

·         SQL Server: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms186724.aspx

AWS RDS timezone

Changing the time zone can be found here:

http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/Appendix.Oracle.CommonDBATasks.html

Near the bottom you will find this:

Setting the Database Time Zone

You can alter the time zone of a database by running the rdsadmin_util procedure as shown in the following table. You can use any time zone name or GMT offset that is accepted by Oracle.

Oracle Method	Amazon RDS Method
alter database set time_zone = '+3:00';	exec rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.alter_db_time_zone('+3:00');

After you alter the time zone, you must reboot the DB Instance for the change to take effect.

There are additional restrictions on setting time zones listed in the Oracle documentation.

Oracle RDS timezone

The default time zone for your RDS instance is UTC and cannot be changed on the DB. You can set the desired timezone (EST) per database connection. The time zone will only be valid for the connection therefore it needs to be done for each connection (and each time you connect).

The following page outlines  how to do this http://aws-musings.com/amazon-relational-database-service-rds-the-timezone-problem