crontab not running php script

qwertyjjj · 04-18-2011, 01:31 AM

I have a crontab that is supposed to run 2 PHP scripts but they never run.
30 */3 * * * php /var/www/html/mkimages.php
0 */3 * * * php /var/www/html/import_historic_data.php

Both of these files are owned by root, is it a permissions thing?
How can I get get cron to run the files?

brownie_cookie · 04-18-2011, 01:34 AM

Maybe it is a permission thing, so take a look at those
make sure they are executable!

after you made your cronjob file, did you use this command?

Code:

crontab filename_of_cronjob

qwertyjjj · 04-18-2011, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownie_cookie

Maybe it is a permission thing, so take a look at those
make sure they are executable!

after you made your cronjob file, did you use this command?

Code:

crontab filename_of_cronjob

Isn't it dangerous to make a file in the www folder executable?

brownie_cookie · 04-18-2011, 01:45 AM

i don't know but a script must be made executable in order to let it working.
But did you do that command?
If not, first try that

brownie_cookie · 04-18-2011, 01:48 AM

and maybe try with your php command the option -f

qwertyjjj · 04-18-2011, 02:26 AM

I get this error because the script has relative paths:
BNZL.L CPI.L JpGraph Error: 25107 Can't write to file "http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/images/BNZL-CPI.jpg".
Is it better to change the script or is there a way of running the crontab in the var/www/ foldeR?

ALternatively, how can I get the crontab to call a webpage instead and run the script from a URL call?

qwertyjjj · 04-18-2011, 02:41 AM

FFR, I have followed this:

Code:

Be sure your "script.php" has the necessary permissions to be executable ("chmod 755 script.php"). Now you are all set!
Apache module
If your PHP is installed using the Apache module, the approach is a little different. First, you need access to Lynx (Lynx Browser for more information). Lynx is a small web browser, generally available on Unix and Linux. Running your PHP script will not require you to add any additional lines. You simply have to edit your /etc/crontab file and add the following line:

* * * * * lynx -dump http://www.somedomain.com/cron.php

Please note that in general, you have to specify the entire URL (with "http://" and so on). But depending on your Lynx's configuration, the URL might be relative; I suggest always using the absolute reference as in my example above - it always works. Again execute the following from the command line:

Seems to work and scripts do not need to be esxecutable

qwertyjjj · 04-18-2011, 02:42 AM

Although when I try to run the crontab script it says:

Code:

[root html]# crontab crontab
crontab: No such file or directory
[root html]#

what does the crontab line do?

brownie_cookie · 04-18-2011, 02:47 AM

Code:

man crontab

Quote:

NAME
crontab - maintain crontab files for individual users (ISC Cron V4.1)

SYNOPSIS
crontab [-u user] file
crontab [-u user] [-l | -r | -e] [-i] [-s]

DESCRIPTION
Crontab is the program used to install, deinstall or list the tables used to drive the cron(8) daemon in ISC
Cron. Each user can have their own crontab, and though these are files in /var/spool/ , they are not intended
to be edited directly. For SELinux in mls mode can be even more crontabs - for each range. For more see
selinux(8).

If the cron.allow file exists, then you must be listed therein in order to be allowed to use this command. If
the cron.allow file does not exist but the cron.deny file does exist, then you must not be listed in the
cron.deny file in order to use this command. If neither of these files exists, only the super user will be
allowed to use this command.

if you get that error you posted, mayeb the filename is incorrect..
do a

Code:

ll

and see if you (accidentially) have used an extension (like crontab.txt) and change if needed

lrtward · 04-18-2011, 11:48 AM

I run a php script each night from cron and here is how my setup varies from yours.

I do NOT run "php scriptname" in cron, I just run the script:

Quote:

5 0 * * * /root/scripts/myscript

The first line in my script indicates that it is a php script:

Quote:

# head /root/scripts/myscript
#!/usr/bin/php -q
<?php
$today = date('Y-m-d');
....
?>

My script is executable, but only by root; dunno if that matters, I've never tried changing the perms because it works as is:

Quote:

# ls -l /root/scripts/myscript
-rwx------ 1 root root 2614 Mar 17 14:54 /root/scripts/myscript

arizonagroovejet · 04-18-2011, 12:27 PM

FWIW I run PHP scripts from cron and do it the same way lrtward does except the scripts are neither owned by nor run as root.

I think maybe you are confusing running PHP as an Apache module with just using it as a scripting language. Are your PHP scripts being used as part of pages that Apache is serving? If not, then why are they in /var/www/html/ ?

themanwhowas · 04-18-2011, 08:31 PM

I second what arizonagroovejet says. You can make a php script in your home directory and it will run just the same. You only need it in www if you want it to run from a browser.

hks1233 · 04-19-2011, 12:31 AM

Make your crontab entry like this

30 */3 * * * /installation_path/bin/php -q /var/www/html/mkimages.php
0 */3 * * * /installation_path/bin/php -q /var/www/html/import_historic_data.php