Cron job not quite working...

simba_cubs · 10-12-2006, 03:25 AM

I have created a cron job which I need to run every Friday at 20:05.
I have edited the crontab file by using the crontab -e command and inserted the following text...

SHELL=/bin/bash
PATH=/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin
MAILTO=me@mydomain.com
HOME=/
#!/bin/bash
05 20 * * 5 root /usr/sbin/vmsnap_to_local > /var/log/vmsnap_to_local_`date +%F_%T`.log 2>&1

I've tried to break this down as to where it's not working and if I run the "/usr/sbin/vmsnap_to_local" command it runs the script.

If I create the output file manually "/var/log/vmsnap_to_local_`date +%F_%T`.log" that works.

But it doesn't seem to work on the schedule. Can anyone give me a clue

Many thanks in advance for your help

acid_kewpie · 10-12-2006, 04:00 AM

you're editing your personal crontab but using the formatting of the system wide /etc/crontab file. even root has their own priviate crontab and these do not contain the user column after the time logic to define who the command is run as. basically remove the word "root" and i expect it will work ok, as that column is not expected there, so it trying to run "root" as the actual program.

simba_cubs · 10-12-2006, 05:23 AM

ok thanks I'll give it a go.

If that is my personal crontab, where would I place that scheduled job - in the cron.weekly schedule, if it's a system wide job that needs to run every week?

Thanks again

trickykid · 10-12-2006, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simba_cubs

ok thanks I'll give it a go.

If that is my personal crontab, where would I place that scheduled job - in the cron.weekly schedule, if it's a system wide job that needs to run every week?

Thanks again

Either that way or just place it directly in root's crontab.

simba_cubs · 10-12-2006, 05:41 AM

I'll give that a go - many thanks for your help and prompt reply.

simba_cubs · 10-16-2006, 03:55 AM

Hi me again

I checked to make sure the schedule task ran, but unfortuantely it didn't
This is the syntax within the crontab of root.

05 07 * * sat /usr/sbin/vmsnap_to_william >/var/log/vmsnap_to_william_`date +%F_%T`.log 2>&1

For the time being I have run the script manually and it's chugging away, but I really need to get this working via the crontab please...

Thanks

Tinkster · 10-16-2006, 04:21 AM

what exactly is failing? What do you get when you remove the re-direct
at the end, anything in the mail?

Cheers,
Tink

simba_cubs · 10-16-2006, 10:19 AM

To be honest I haven't tried, so I need to run it as....

05 07 * * sat /usr/sbin/vmsnap_to_william

That correct?

Sorry to be vague I'm a newbie to Linux

Thanks

Tinkster · 10-16-2006, 12:26 PM

Yeah. That should give you whatever the script produces in crons output.

Cheers,
Tink

ygloo · 10-16-2006, 12:57 PM

....................................

simba_cubs · 11-08-2006, 06:27 AM

Hi tried editing the crontab using crontab -e.

My crontab looks like this...

SHELL=/bin/bash
PATH=/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin
MAILTO=me@mycompany
HOME=/
#!/bin/bash
20 14 * * mon root /usr/sbin/vmsnap_to_local

I've also tried this...

SHELL=/bin/bash
PATH=/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin
MAILTO=me@mycompany
HOME=/
#!/bin/bash
20 14 * * mon /usr/sbin/vmsnap_to_local

When I exceute the "file" command against vmsnap_to_local, it returns the following...

vmsnap_to_local: Bourne-Again shell script text executable

Would that make any difference?

Thanks in advance for your help.