Hello.

I am trying to run a php script from crontab:

# m h dom mon dow command
25 0 5 * * root php -f /var/www/optimum/check_macs.php

I want it to run every 5th day of the month at 12:25am. I ran a test changing the system's time and setting it to about 5 minutes prior but, when it comes time, the script doesnt run.

I edited the crontab by issuing crontab -e as root and it generated a crontab for root.

I almost forgot to mention that, when I run the script from the command line: php -f /var/www/optimum/check_macs.php it works.

Does anyone have an idea of why the script is not running?

Thanks in advanced.

One fairly common problem with cron jobs is that cron has a fairly skimpy PATH. The php compiler may not be on your cron's PATH. Try giving the full path to the php command in your cron statement.


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Steve Stites

That didn't work either.

I tried /usr/bin/php in the crontab and still didn't work.

Another method may be to create a script with your command in it, then run the script from cron.

cheers,

Tried that and still not working... The script is not running but, I noticed something in the /var/log/auth.log file:

Feb 5 00:09:01 debian CRON[2256]: pam_unix(cron:session): session opened for user root by (uid=0)
Feb 5 00:09:01 debian CRON[2256]: pam_unix(cron:session): session closed for user root
Feb 5 00:20:01 debian CRON[2303]: pam_unix(cron:session): session opened for user root by (uid=0)
Feb 5 00:20:01 debian CRON[2303]: pam_unix(cron:session): session closed for user root
Feb 5 00:25:01 debian CRON[2357]: pam_unix(cron:session): session opened for user root by (uid=0)
Feb 5 00:25:02 debian CRON[2357]: pam_unix(cron:session): session closed for user root
Feb 5 00:39:01 debian CRON[2376]: pam_unix(cron:session): session opened for user root by (uid=0)
Feb 5 00:39:01 debian CRON[2376]: pam_unix(cron:session): session closed for user root
Feb 5 00:40:01 debian CRON[2386]: pam_unix(cron:session): session opened for user root by (uid=0)
Feb 5 00:40:01 debian CRON[2386]: pam_unix(cron:session): session closed for user root
Feb 5 00:59:01 debian CRON[2404]: pam_unix(cron:session): session opened for user root by (uid=0)
Feb 5 00:59:01 debian CRON[2404]: pam_unix(cron:session): session closed for user root
Feb 5 01:05:01 debian CRON[2417]: pam_unix(cron:session): session opened for user root by (uid=0)
Feb 5 01:05:01 debian CRON[2417]: pam_unix(cron:session): session closed for user root
Feb 5 01:09:01 debian CRON[2426]: pam_unix(cron:session): session opened for user root by (uid=0)
Feb 5 01:09:01 debian CRON[2426]: pam_unix(cron:session): session closed for user root
Feb 5 01:17:01 debian CRON[2436]: pam_unix(cron:session): session opened for user root by (uid=0)
Feb 5 01:17:01 debian CRON[2436]: pam_unix(cron:session): session closed for user root
Feb 5 01:39:01 debian CRON[2462]: pam_unix(cron:session): session opened for user root by (uid=0)
Feb 5 01:39:01 debian CRON[2462]: pam_unix(cron:session): session closed for user root
Feb 5 01:40:01 debian CRON[2476]: pam_unix(cron:session): session opened for user root by (uid=0)
Feb 5 01:40:01 debian CRON[2476]: pam_unix(cron:session): session closed for user root

That looks like is trying to do something with cron but some how my script doesn't run.

What else can I do? I'm lost.

In a user's crontab (even root's) you should not include the sixth field you have included. Remove "root" from that entry.

Also, it is a good idea to check the user's mail when you are having cron job issues.

Ok.

I got it working.

Here's the solution:

instead of having 25 0 5 * * root php -f /var/www/optimum/check_macs.php with the root user in the line

I removed the root
25 0 5 * * php -f /var/www/optimum/check_macs.php

and it seem to work.

Thanks everyone for your help.