[arch-general] /etc/timezone and /etc/localtime

[Tom Gundersen]

On Wed, Aug 15, 2012 at 5:18 PM, Paul Gideon Dann <pdgiddie at gmail.com> wrote:
> Does anyone know why both /etc/timezone and /etc/localtime are required for
> systemd?  It looks like duplicated data.  Also, "man 5 timezone" seems to flash
> something for a split second and close, which is also rather strange...

It was originally introduced for compatibility with other distros.
However, we have requested it be dropped as it is indeed not needed
any longer (it used to be when /usr might not be mounted on early
boot).

There are patches to deprecate /etc/timezone on the systemd
mailinglist and replace the manpage with one documenting localtime
instead. They have been through some rounds of reviews so hopefully
they'll go in in the near future.

-t