Auto Run Scripts

ignignokt · 09-22-2006, 07:10 AM

I have a script (SH) that needs to run automatically every couple hours on a Solaris 9 box. Is this possible to achieve? If not, what are some alternatives to do this? Thanks for any help!

acid_kewpie · 09-22-2006, 07:17 AM

you need to look into cron, that'll sort you out no problems.

ignignokt · 09-22-2006, 09:15 AM

thanks for the help. will research it

ignignokt · 09-22-2006, 09:27 AM

i tried to run "crontab -e" to edit the crontab file and im getting the following:

sh: emacs: not found
crontab: temporary file empty

It will run on a Solaris 8 install correct??

mdhmi · 09-22-2006, 09:56 AM

Verify whichever user id you are using has access to cron. Your id needs to either be in /etc/cron.d/cron.allow or not in /etc/cron.d/cron.deny.

Type:

EDITOR=vi ; export EDITOR
crontab -e

Insert a line something like:

0 0, 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 * * * /usr/bin/myscript

acid_kewpie · 09-22-2006, 10:15 AM

that's a very odd way to define a run every two hours... what's wrong with a nice simple "0 */2 * * *" ?

ignignokt · 09-22-2006, 10:42 AM

I checked the editor and it was vi already, but giving me the same error. Can I just create a crontab file and put it in a directory to achieve this?

jlliagre · 09-22-2006, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acid_kewpie

what's wrong with a nice simple "0 */2 * * *" ?

Probably the fact this syntax is not recognized by Solaris crontab.c: http://cvs.opensolaris.org/source/xr...cron/crontab.c

Code:

crontab: error on previous line; unexpected character found in line.
crontab: errors detected in input, no crontab file generated.

jlliagre · 09-22-2006, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ignignokt

I checked the editor and it was vi already, but giving me the same error.

Try:

Code:

env EDITOR=vi crontab -e

Quote:

Can I just create a crontab file and put it in a directory to achieve this?

Yes, but it is unsafe, and you'll have to restart cron manually.

acid_kewpie · 09-22-2006, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlliagre

Probably the fact this syntax is not recognized by Solaris crontab.c: http://cvs.opensolaris.org/source/xr...cron/crontab.c

Code:

crontab: error on previous line; unexpected character found in line.
crontab: errors detected in input, no crontab file generated.

how about neither of us ever mention this again?

jlliagre · 09-22-2006, 11:21 AM

You have my word !

ignignokt · 09-22-2006, 11:42 AM

jlliagre..i tried the line you gave me and still the same error. I tried it on my Solaris 10 box and it works fine..but our production box has solaris 8.

jlliagre · 09-22-2006, 12:12 PM

Hmm, how can setting the editor to vi give you an emacs error message ?

What says this command:

Code:

type vi

?

ignignokt · 09-22-2006, 12:16 PM

the output is:

vi is hashed (/usr/bin/vi)

mdhmi · 09-22-2006, 01:34 PM

ignignokt - refresh my memory - what is the exact message you get when you run "crontab -e" ?