CRON : running shell script as root
 

Hi - I'm trying to stop / start Apache using a bash script with CRON. The script needs to run as root, and works when I run it from a terminal while signed in as root.

When CRON runs it apache doesn't restart. I see no messsages in syslog, and cron log shows that the script has run.

Script /usr/local/sbin/skdailyA06 :

#!/bin/bash

echo '--- CronRoot test' >> /etc/httpd/logs/cronroot.txt

service httpd stop >> /etc/httpd/logs/cronroot.txt

service httpd start >> /etc/httpd/logs/cronroot.txt

exit

crontab -u root -e & /var/spool/cron/root has :

09 16 * * * /usr/local/sbin/skdailyA06

Cron log :

Jun 16 16:09:01 hostname crond[17834]: (root) CMD (/usr/local/sbin/skdailyA06)

/etc/httpd/logs/cronroot.txt contains just the line : "--- CronRoot test", and Apache is running with the same task number as before cron ran the script.

I'm using RHEL5.5, and ( as you can probably see ) this is my first 'serious' attempt at cron.

Thanks in advance,

Sean

Restarting daemons with cron
 

Hi,

I will bet cron isn't finding the service command. Cron itself runs under a very limited environment. I would recommend for that service command that you make the path explicit: /sbin/service (or whatever the output of `which service` says). Also, I recommend you pause between stop and start.

Another way to do it would be to call the rc script directly (This is pretty much what the service command does):

Jason - You da man !
 

Hi Jason - Your bet was 100 % right - Followed your suggestion which worked perfectly !

Thank you sir - Much appreciated.

Cheers

Sean

You are very welcome!

--jason