[Solved] randomize time of Crontab actions

hkjz · 02-24-2022, 04:10 AM

i have a program that runs in 'crontab -e',
it is set up to run periodically, and looks like this

Code:

*/3 * * * * sudo action_a

how could i randomize its periodicity? How to make the time of change of mac more random?

so in fact i would like to change number '/3' into some random number in range between 1-10

Thanks

pan64 · 02-24-2022, 04:17 AM

do you mean something like this: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/...in-given-hours ?

hkjz · 02-24-2022, 04:23 AM

@pan64 thanks
would that ↓ do?

Code:

0 * * * * perl -le 'sleep rand 600' && *command goes here*

pan64 · 02-24-2022, 04:42 AM

just test it. I would rather put it in a shell script, but you can do that way too.

hkjz · 02-24-2022, 07:15 AM

what worked is

Code:

*/1 * * * * perl -le 'sleep rand 6000' && sudo /usr/local/bin/my_script

computersavvy · 02-24-2022, 10:38 AM

Just for simplicity sake and so you know
this line is functionally the same

Code:

*/1 * * * * perl -le 'sleep rand 6000' && sudo /usr/local/bin/my_script

as this line

Code:

* * * * * perl -le 'sleep rand 6000' && sudo /usr/local/bin/my_script

hkjz · 02-24-2022, 10:48 AM

@computersavvy
yup! makes sense

thanks