Shell script fails when running in cron

roffeboffe · 09-22-2021, 01:37 AM

Hi

This scripts works fine when ran from command line:

Quote:

#!/bin/sh
export PASSWD=duhmmy-password
killall -9 openconnect
sleep 3
nohup echo $PASSWD | openconnect --protocol=gp --user rosc vpngateway.mycomp.com &

As stated, this works perfectly when running from command line, but it doesn't work when putting it into this cron job:

Quote:

0 */12 * * * /root/vpn-up.sh

Any tips?

Running on an old rasperry pi. Purpose is to have an always on network monotoring screen at home, but our firewall drops the vpn connection after 24 hours.

Turbocapitalist · 09-22-2021, 02:36 AM

Make sure you set the $PATH variable. It is different in the cron environment from the one in the interactive shell.

Code:

#!/bin/sh

PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin

...

Add in the paths for the location of openconnect and the other parts you are using.

pan64 · 09-22-2021, 02:41 AM

the usual way to diagnose an issue like this is to catch the error. Either by checking the log of cron or:

Code:

0 */12 * * * /root/vpn-up.sh > /path/to/logfile 2>&1

And you will see the real problem. From the other hand cron has its own environment and need to be adjusted (see post #2). I would suggest you to use full path with your commands in that script (and probably do not need to export PASSWORD)