Scheduling Based on Agent Time Zone

While jobs normally run from the master’s time reference, you can launch jobs according to what time it is in the agent’s time zone. Selecting the Use Agent Time Zone option on the Master tab of the System Configuration dialog will launch jobs according to the time where the agent resides. This change will take effect the next time any schedule is compiled. While the jobs will launch at the intended times in the agent’s time zone, the master’s viewpoint will be compiled in for the job time windows and start time. Since the master will compensate for the offset, users should not think about the difference between the different master and agent time zones when defining jobs rules. In a nutshell, using the master time zone imposes an absolute time reference while using the individual agent time zones imposes a relative time reference.

Note: The master will be unable to predict shifts in times when compiling future schedules. Times will be calculated as an offset to the master time based on the timezone of the agent. If the agent shifts times, the master will not be able to predict this shift, as international daylight savings time laws constantly change, country to country. The schedule must be compiled under the influence of the new agent times.

The example illustrates the differences to be accounted for when the master and the agent reside in different time zones. The master in this example is three time zones ahead of the agent. A job defined to run at 2300 on the production day of August 10th will actually be launched by the master at 0200 on the production day of August 11th to account for the difference in time zones.

Agent Residing Three Time Zones Behind Master (No Production Date Offset):

The figure is another example of the master and agent in different time zones without a production offset. This example shows a master that is seven hours behind the agent. A job defined to run at 0500 on the production day of August 11th is actually launched by the master at 2200 on the production day of August 10th to account for the difference in time zones

Agent Residing Seven Time Zones Ahead of Master (No Production Date Offset):

Using a Positive Production Day

Agent Running Ahead of the Master

Setting a positive production day offset moves the start of the production day forward. In the example below, the difference between time zones is shown in a solid line and the production day offset is shown in a dotted line.

Positive Production Day Offset With the Agent Running Ahead of the Master:

The example shows an agent that is five hours ahead of the master. A production day offset of positive three (+3) shifts the start of the production day (0000) three hours ahead in calendar time for master and agent. A job defined to run at 0500 on the production day of August 11th launches at 0000 on August 10th on the master’s production day.

Agent Running Behind the Master

Setting a positive production day offset moves the start of the production day forward. In the example below, the difference between time zones is shown with a solid arrow and the production day offset is shown with a dotted arrow. This example has a positive production day offset of two hours ahead with the agent running eight hours behind the master. Thus a job defined to run at 2200 on the production day of August 10th is launched at 0600 on August 11th due to the difference in time zones.

Positive Production Day Offset With Agent Running Behind Master:

Using a Negative Production Day Offset

Agent Running Ahead of the Master

Setting a negative production day offset moves the start of the production day back from midnight. In the example below, the difference between time zones is shown with a solid arrow and the production day offset is shown in a dotted arrow. The example shown below has a negative 4 offset so the start of the production day is moved back four hours behind the start of the calendar day. A job defined to run at 2200 on the production day of August 11th is launched at 1600 on August 10th on the master due to the time difference.

Negative Production Day Offset With Agent Running Ahead of Master:

Agent Running Behind the Master

Setting a negative production day offset moves the start of the production day back from midnight. In the following example, there is a negative four hour production offset moving the start of the production day four hours behind the start of the calendar day. In the example below, the difference between time zones is shown with a solid arrow and the production day offset is shown with a dotted arrow.

Negative Production Day Offset With Agent Running Behind Master:

The configuration has an agent that is running five hours behind the master. A job defined to run at 2300 on the production day of August 10th is launched by the master at 0300 on August 11th.