can't get cron working on debian

steve51184 · 09-01-2013, 05:08 PM

i'm trying to set up a cron to run a simple command and yet anything i try never actually works

i'm on debian 7 and i've checked that crond is running

the test cron i've been using is this:

file: /etc/crontab

Code:

*/1 * * * * echo "testing cron" >> /home/test.txt

the above should of course made a text file containing 'testing cron' saved to '/home/test.txt' and to do that every 1min but it's failing to do so

any tip on getting cron working?

rosehosting.com · 09-01-2013, 05:55 PM

is there anything logged in your log files? if you haven't modified your (r)syslog configuration then check syslog for any messages. also, if you use /etc/crontab the syntax you need to use is:

Code:

*/1 * * * * <USER> echo "testing cron" >> /home/test.txt

you can also use 'crontab -u <USER> -e' to manage cron jobs for particular <USER> .

steve51184 · 09-01-2013, 06:12 PM

'Missing newline before EOF, this crontab file will be ignored'

i swear that wasn't there last time i checked.. i've added the EOF line and its' working now...

TenTenths · 09-02-2013, 07:03 AM

You'll also find that */1 is technically not required, * indicates every minute.

gdr · 09-03-2013, 04:00 AM

"/home/test.txt" - does this file exist and is it writable by the user with whose privileges the cron job runs?