crontab removed by mistake (crontab -r instead of crontab -e)

[Ravi S. Banda]

crontab removed by mistake (crontab -r instead of crontab -e):
Since the letters "e" and "r" are next to each other, I mistyped "r" instead of "e" and it removed my crontab file. Is there anyway I can restore the removed the crontab file, please!?!?

Thanks!
Ravi.

[Stuart Abramson]

You're in trouble. Get it from backup tape or from another system.

I always use a sequence like this:

crontab -l > cron.old
cp cron.old cron.new
vi cron.new
crontab < cron.new

Never, never, change anything without making a backup copy first.

[TwoProc · Accepted solution]

Restore from tape the following file:
/var/spool/cron/crontabs/[username].

So, if it's root's crontab that your after, restore /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root from your last backup.

[Bill Hassell]

Unfortunately, r and e are right next to each other. That's one of the reasons I never recommend -e. Instead, you start by creating a local copy of your crontab entry as in:

crontab -l > $HOME/crontab.root

Then, you edit the file, and once changes are complete, use:

crontab $HOME/crontab.root

to activate the new crontab list.