[SOLVED] Cron not working

pratstercs · 09-23-2012, 03:08 PM

I have a Netgear Stora, and cron is not working, nor is cron.d.

I'm trying to run:

Code:

*/20 * * * * root /root/flexget-dev/bin/flexget --cron >> /flexget.log

I tried crontab -e and putting it in, that didn't work. I also have that in /etc/cron.d/flexget, which also doesn't run.
Running ps aux | grep cron gives:

Code:

root      1861  0.0  0.8   3408  1124 ?        Ss   20:26   0:00 crond

I also tried adding

Code:

*/20 * * * * root echo "hi" >> /flexget.log

to crontab and cron.d, also to no response.

Any help?
Thanks!

sackboy · 09-23-2012, 04:46 PM

Hi,

As the root user, try this:

crontab -e

Then add this:

*/20 * * * * echo "hi" >> /flexget.log

Not sure why you're adding the word "root" before the command.

rosehosting.com · 09-24-2012, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sackboy

Not sure why you're adding the word "root" before the command.

because AFAIK that's the place for the 'user' who runs 'command'. look at the layout below:

Code:

#|   |   |   |   |  user command
#|   |   |   |  weekday (0-6) (Sunday=0)
#|   |   |   month (1-12)
#|   |   day (0-31)
#|   hour (0-23)
#minute (0-59)

OP, is there anything logged in your log files? Did you reload your cron?

chrism01 · 09-24-2012, 06:00 AM

Specifying the user is optional.
If not specified, the crontab's owner will be the user it runs as .

pratstercs · 09-24-2012, 12:47 PM

I've tried removing the root, and the "echo hi" command seems to work and add it to the log file like I wanted. Just tested, and it all works now. Thanks!

However, why would having the username there stop it from running; as said before, it should be optional?

sackboy · 09-24-2012, 09:37 PM

Hi,

Were you putting this in root user's cron?

pratstercs · 09-25-2012, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sackboy

Hi,

Were you putting this in root user's cron?

Yeah, I only use root on the machine (bad practise, I know, but still) so I used root's crontab. I also tried cron.d, and it didn't work with "root [command]" there either.