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# SSH to the Cisco 7970G and set the date/time
- URL: https://blog.tsd.digital/ssh-to-the-cisco-7970g-and-set-the-datetime/
- Published: 2008-05-27T20:20:21.000Z
- Updated: 2008-05-27T20:20:21.000Z
- Author: Tim Gaunt
- Tags: #Cisco, #7970G, #Import 2025-04-01 05:37

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/64/5b/645b11c2-b436-444c-a523-58dca4ca7bd8/content/images/tim/img/phone_clock.jpg)

 As everything so far with getting the Cisco's 7970G to work on a SIP provider has been a nightmare, I thought I would share a few of my experiences. Sometimes it's the little things that make the biggest difference so this is how you correct the date and time!

Setting the Cisco 7970G's time is actually pretty simple:

1. Download [putty.exe](http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/putty.exe?ref=blog.tsd.digital) and [puttygen.exe](http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/puttygen.exe?ref=blog.tsd.digital) from the [putty download page](http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html?ref=blog.tsd.digital)Generate a key using [puttygen.exe](http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/puttygen.exe?ref=blog.tsd.digital)Update the "Key Comment" value to default@ciscoSave the public key in a text file called authorized\_keys and save it in your TFTP file folder Save the private key in your TFTP file folder Run [putty.exe](http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/putty.exe?ref=blog.tsd.digital)Enter your phone's IP in the "Host Name" box Go to *Connection --> SSH --> Auth* and click the "Browse" button and select your private key file (in your TFTP folder) Go to *Connection --> Data* and enter default under the "Auto-login username" (Optional) Save the settings in case you want to login again Click "Open" at the bottom of [putty.exe](http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/putty.exe?ref=blog.tsd.digital) to start the session Login using the username default and password userAt the command prompt, type: /bin/date yyyyMMddhhmm (replacing the letters for the respective values)

Dependant on which firmware version your phone is running, the date/time might need to be in CST. If you're like me and in GMT this [time website](http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/central-time/?ref=blog.tsd.digital) is pretty useful to keep in touch with things time wise.

When I moved the phone to 8.3.4 SR1 I found that the phone was (finally) pulling through the date/time setting correctly so I didn't need to use CST anymore. I've also set the NTP values which should automatically set the date/time which seems to be working on my phones but I've heard reports that it's not on others...