[SOLVED] Crontab for specific user

deepGC · 06-17-2015, 10:23 AM

Hi folks,

I have a script that needs running on reboot but not as root, but as another user.

This is the line in my crontab:

Code:

@reboot housefm /home/housefm/bootscript

However, I get this message from the server:

Code:

/bin/sh: housefm: command not found

whereas housefm is the specific user

suicidaleggroll · 06-17-2015, 10:27 AM

You don't put the username you want to use in root's crontab, you put the entire job in the user's crontab instead and leave root's crontab alone.

Keith Hedger · 06-17-2015, 10:29 AM

if housefm is not in the default PATH try using an absolute path to the command

translator1111 · 06-17-2015, 10:31 AM

hello deepGC,
maybe I am wrong, but i think you are not using crontab correctly
http://unixhelp.ed.ac.uk/CGI/man-cgi?crontab+5
the command has to be after the user name
in the crontab line you need the

Quote:

Each line has five time and date
fields, followed by a user name if this is the system crontab file,
followed by a command

Faithfully,
M.

deepGC · 06-17-2015, 10:34 AM

So, to resolve this I should log in as housefm, and edit crontab within the housefm user account? (Also delete that job from the root crontab)

suicidaleggroll · 06-17-2015, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepGC

So, to resolve this I should log in as housefm, and edit crontab within the housefm user account? (Also delete that job from the root crontab)

Yes

deepGC · 06-17-2015, 10:38 AM

Give this man cookies ^

suicidaleggroll · 06-17-2015, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by translator1111

hello deepGC,
maybe I am wrong, but i think you are not using crontab correctly
http://unixhelp.ed.ac.uk/CGI/man-cgi?crontab+5
the command has to be after the user name
in the crontab line you need the

Faithfully,
M.

Note: The "system" crontab file is NOT the same as root's personal crontab (what you get when you log in as root and run "crontab -e").