lfs-book/chapter06/config-glibc.xml

<sect2><title>Configuring Glibc</title>

<para>
We need to create the /etc/nsswitch.conf file. Although glibc should provide
defaults when this file is missing or corrupt, it's defaults don't work work
well with networking which will be dealt with in a later chapter. Also, our
timezone needs to be setup.
</para>

<para>
Create a new file <filename>/etc/nsswitch.conf</filename> by running the
following:
</para>

<literallayout>
<userinput>cat &gt; /etc/nsswitch.conf &lt;&lt; "EOF"</userinput>
# Begin /etc/nsswitch.conf

passwd: files
group: files
shadow: files

publickey: files

hosts: files dns
networks: files

protocols: db files
services: db files
ethers: db files
rpc: db files

netgroup: db files

# End /etc/nsswitch.conf
<userinput>EOF</userinput>
</literallayout>

<para>
The <userinput>tzselect</userinput> script has to be run and the questions 
regarding the user's timezone have to be answered.
When the user is done, the script will give the 
location of the needed timezone file.
</para>

<para> 
Create the <filename class="directory">/etc/localtime</filename> symlink
by running:
</para>

<blockquote><literallayout>
	<userinput>cd /etc &amp;&amp;</userinput>
	<userinput>ln -sf ../usr/share/zoneinfo/&lt;tzselect's output&gt; 
		localtime</userinput>
</literallayout></blockquote>

<para>
tzselect's output can be something like <emphasis>EST5EDT</emphasis> or
<emphasis>Canada/Eastern</emphasis>.
</para>

<para>
The  symlink a user would create with that information would be:
</para>

<blockquote><literallayout>
	<userinput>ln -s ../usr/share/zoneinfo/EST5EDT localtime</userinput> 
</literallayout></blockquote>

<para>
Or:
</para>

<blockquote><literallayout>
	<userinput>ln -s ../usr/share/zoneinfo/Canada/Eastern localtime
		</userinput>
</literallayout></blockquote>

</sect2>