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Debugging timezone conversion problems with datetotime in Tivoli/Netcool OMNIbus probe rules files

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Extra debugging available for timezone conversions using the rules file function datetotime().
When using the rules file datetotime() function: https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSSHTQ_8.1.0/com.ibm.netcool_OMNIbus.doc_8.1.0/omnibus/wip/probegtwy/reference/omn_prb_datetimefncs.html there can be problems especially if spanning Daylight Savings Time (DST) timezones.

For example, running a probe in a "UK/London" location specific timezone and converting a timestamp that is in a different timezone, for example "Australia/Sydney". Further complication occurs at certain times of the year when different countries enter/exit Daylight Savings Time at different times.
In order to help debug these situations the NDE_DATETOTIME_DEBUG environment variable can be set (to any value) prior to running the probe in order to trigger mode debugging information to be logged to the probe log file at DEBUG level. Some example output is as follows:-
2020-10-03T01:14:26: Debug: D-UNK-998-101: DATETOTIMEDEBUG: TZ=[(unset)] Source=[2020/10/01 09:10:11 +0000] Format=[YYYY/mm/dd HH:MM:SS ZZZZ] uts_time=637371402001100000
2020-10-03T01:14:26: Debug: D-UNK-998-102: DATETOTIMEDEBUG: TZ=[(unset)] Source=[2020/10/01 09:10:11 +0000] Format=[YYYY/mm/dd HH:MM:SS ZZZZ] unix_time=1601543400
2020-10-03T01:14:26: Debug: D-UNK-998-104: DATETOTIMEDEBUG: TZ=[(unset)] Source=[2020/10/01 09:10:11 +0000] Format=[YYYY/mm/dd HH:MM:SS ZZZZ] time_out64=1601543400
2020-10-03T01:14:26: Debug: D-UNK-998-105: DATETOTIMEDEBUG: n_localtime pre = { s=0, m=10, h=19, mday=1, mon=9, year=120, wday=4, yday=274, isdst=0 }
2020-10-03T01:14:26: Debug: D-UNK-998-106: DATETOTIMEDEBUG: overriding tm_isdst with 0
2020-10-03T01:14:26: Debug: D-UNK-998-107: DATETOTIMEDEBUG: final after clearing = { s=0, m=10, h=19, mday=1, mon=9, year=120, wday=4, yday=274, isdst=0 }
2020-10-03T01:14:26: Debug: D-UNK-998-108: DATETOTIMEDEBUG: final value [(unset)] [2020/10/01 09:10:11 +0000] [YYYY/mm/dd HH:MM:SS ZZZZ] = 1601543400
This information will be useful for L2/L3 support in order to troubleshoot the problem.

[{"Line of Business":{"code":"LOB45","label":"Automation"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU053","label":"Cloud & Data Platform"},"Product":{"code":"SSSHTQ","label":"Tivoli Netcool\/OMNIbus"},"ARM Category":[{"code":"a8m500000008a5FAAQ","label":"Probes->Rules File"}],"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Version":"8.1.0"}]

Document Information

Modified date:
29 March 2021

UID

ibm16340707