The tzdata package includes data files documenting current and historic time zone transitions. Red Hat picks up tzdata updates within 24 hours of an upstream release. We modify the packaging files to pick up the new time zone
transitions and thoroughly test to verify any changes prior to releasing on RHEL 4, 5, 6, and 7. For more information on this process see: https://developers.redhat.com/blog/2014/11/12/time-zone-data-tzdata-changes-redhat-updates/
2015 included several updates to tzdata, not the least of which was the addition of a new leap second. When we look at time zone changes, we refer to the effective date. This is the date that the change will occur. The leap second effective date was June 30, 2015 but the code to implement the change was well documented in IERS Bulletin C 49 which allowed us to release the update in February, well in advance of the effective change. Despite some initial concerns about the impact the change might have, the transition appeared to pass without any significant issues.
Continue reading “Review of tzdata Updates for 2015”