Description

This test case tests whether a given desktop environment correctly configures and reflects changes to the system time and date.

Setup

Launch the desktop's date and time configuration tool (if it has one). For the GNOME desktop, go to the Overview and search for control-center date
If the tool allows it, try enabling and disabling network time (NTP), and check that the time is correctly adjusted when you enable it (i.e. change the time to an incorrect value when it's disabled, enable it, and see if the time is corrected)
If the tool allows it, try enabling and disabling automatic timezone selection, and check that the timezone is correctly adjusted when you enable it (i.e. change to an incorrect timezone while it's disabled, enable it, and see if the timezone is corrected)
With network time disabled, try changing the date and time manually. See if the changed date and time are reflected in the desktop panel, and at a console with the date command
If the tool allows it, try changing the time zone. See if the time changes appropriately for the timezone change, and if the changes are reflected in the desktop panel, and at a console with the date command. It may take a few seconds for the desktop panel to reflect the change
Leave the desktop configuration tool and open a console
Use the date command to set the system date and time: the format is date MMDDhhmm, for instance, date 02051600 to set the date and time to 16:00 on the 5th of February in the current year
Again check if the changes are reflected in the desktop panel, allowing a few seconds

Changes made to the date and time in the desktop's own configuration app and with the console date command should all work correctly and be reflected in the date displayed within the desktop