What would happen if the date and time on the SMA are set to a previous day?

When the date and time on the SonicWall Secure Mobile Access (SMA) appliance are set to a previous day, it can lead to significant issues with the functioning of the device. This is primarily because many services and features within the SMA rely heavily on accurate date and time settings to validate licenses, manage session timeouts, and synchronize with other network components.

If the date is set incorrectly, particularly to a previous day, it can cause the SMA to interpret its licenses as expired or invalid, resulting in a complete disabling of services. Without a current and valid date, the SMA may not be able to authenticate users correctly or enforce security policies effectively. This means that all operational aspects that depend on the licensing system would cease to function until the date is rectified.

Given the critical nature of date and time configuration for functionality and compliance within the SMA, the outcome of these incorrect settings is a complete service disruption, necessitating action such as reinstallation of licenses or even troubleshooting beyond merely resetting the date. This is why the correct understanding of how date and time settings impact SMA operations is vital for effective administration and maintenance of the system.