Cron Schedule Issue

richinsc · 03-01-2008, 11:53 AM

After editing my crontab to include my backup script a new error has started appearing that i have tried to correct but have so far been unsuccessful. I have for the past two days been receiving the following email every hour. Below is the msg.

Code:

/bin/sh: root: command not found

Here is my crontab. I have check to make sure that there are no extras spaces then is required.

Code:

# /etc/crontab: system-wide crontab
# Unlike any other crontab you don't have to run the `crontab'
# command to install the new version when you edit this file
# and files in /etc/cron.d. These files also have username fields,
# that none of the other crontabs do.

SHELL=/bin/sh
PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin
MAILTO=myemail@domain.com

# m h dom mon dow user  command
17 *    * * *   root    cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.hourly
25 6    * * *   root    test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.daily )
47 6    * * 7   root    test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.weekly )
52 6    1 * *   root    test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.monthly )
#

# Backup of County data and system configuration
# m h dom mon dow user  command
00 21   * * *   root    /etc/cron.daily/backup.cron
#

I had to add the line for my backup script directly because cron wouldn't execute it even thought it was included in /etc/cron.daily directory. Any advice would be well appreciated.

Edit: Forgot to add that this error is only for the /etc/cron.hourly line.

bathory · 03-01-2008, 04:36 PM

IIRC you cannot have a dot "." in the command/script you want cron to run. So rename your script to just plain backup and see if it works.

Regards

billymayday · 03-01-2008, 04:57 PM

I cetrtainly call my scripts .sh, and I run these from cron with a dot in them OK.

Why not just put your backup in root's crontab with crontab -e, but omit the user, ie:

Code:

00 21   * * *   /etc/cron.daily/backup.cron

instead of

Code:

00 21   * * *   root    /etc/cron.daily/backup.cron

choogendyk · 03-01-2008, 05:32 PM

If you are getting this error every hour, what makes you think it is your daily cron?

where is "run-parts"? If sh can't find something, and it is happening every hour, it would seem you might want to look at that.