Bug#1040251: debian-installer: Add UTC timezone selection for all locales
Hi Cyril,
Expert Installation provides the behavior I was looking for, specifically adding the extra option of UTC at the end of local timezones.
There does seem to be quite a few extra steps involved in the expert install vs the normal install, especially if the only reason you are running expert mode is to just set the timezone to UTC.
However, I do notice the non-expert installer is opinionated about a lot of options vs the expert installer, so if this has been decided as a feature folks don't normally use - then I think it is OK to be relegated to the expert installer (or have someone just use the preseed with the correct value / set the TZ post installation via configuration management or a `dpkg-reconfigure tzdata`).
Appreciate the fast response.
./brent
------- Original Message -------
On Monday, July 3rd, 2023 at 14:37, Cyril Brulebois <kibi@debian.org> wrote:
>
>
> Hi Brent,
>
> Brent Kolasinski b@brentk.io (2023-07-03):
>
> > * What led up to the situation?
> > When using the text based debian installer, I would like to be able to
> > choose the UTC timezone (etc/UTC) as an option for my timezone. When
> > the timezones are displayed for selection, a set of timezones are
> > displayed based on the user's locale selection. Users should have the
> > option of selecting UTC in addition to the options present in their
> > locale.
> > * What exactly did you do (or not do) that was effective (or
> > ineffective)?
> > When choosing en_us for my locale during installation, I am only presented
> > with US specific time zones. If only presenting timezone associated with
> > the users locale, UTC should also be present, as folks use UTC in many
> > server deployments, regardless of their actual locale setting.
> > * What was the outcome of this action?
> > No UTC option is available in the installer.
> > * What outcome did you expect instead?
> > To have the UTC timezone available in addition to the locale specific
> > timezones.
> >
> > In addition to the notes above, if using a preseed file, the timezone can
> > be specified regardless of local information. This is specifically for
> > interactive text based installation, where the system owner may want to
> > use UTC instead of a local time zone.
>
>
> Looks like something that should be possible via the expert install
> option. Have you tried that?
>
> For normal installs and users selecting a country with a unique
> timezone, I'm not sure we want to actively add a prompt to make them
> pick between that unique timezone and UTC… so I think that should only
> happen in expert mode.
>
>
> Cheers,
> --
> Cyril Brulebois (kibi@debian.org) https://debamax.com/
>
> D-I release manager -- Release team member -- Freelance Consultant
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