topic Re: crontab problem in Operating System - HP-UX

crontab problem

Bob Slater — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 21:54:57 GMT

I have been running a script out of the crontab for the last six years. It suddenly is not executing any more. What is the best way to trace the error?

Re: crontab problem

RAC_1 — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 00:18:58 GMT

Did you check error messages in /var/adm/cron/tmp directory. Can you add debugging in script (set -vx) and try to run it manually. Does it run?

Re: crontab problem

Yogeeraj_1 — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 00:37:51 GMT

hi,

check if the daemon is running by:
ps -ef|grep cron

if not running, start it using:
/sbin/init.d/cron start

kind regards
yogeeraj

Re: crontab problem

Bob Slater — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 07:39:33 GMT

Sorry, I didn't and should have mention the fact that the other scripts in the cron tab are running as normal. The only reference I have found to this script was in the dead.letter file (next problem after I get past the cron problem) shown below.

> CMD: /batch/dbcpflor #
> root 11865 c Fri Aug 25 12:45:00 CDT 2006
< root 11865 c Fri Aug 25 12:45:02 CDT 2006 rc=1

Re: crontab problem

James R. Ferguson — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 07:47:32 GMT

Hi Bob:

The return code of one (rc=1) indicates a failure in your script. Are any of your filesystems full?

Regards!

...JRF...

Re: crontab problem

john korterman — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 07:53:47 GMT

Hi Bob,

it is also a good idea to check the mail of the user running the cronjob, as it will usually hold an error message.

regards,
John K.

Re: crontab problem

Bob Slater — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 08:10:20 GMT

I found a small problem in the script but it did run manually. I fixed the syntax problem and now I get:
> CMD: /usr/bin/dbcpflor #
> root 24780 c Sat Aug 26 07:45:00 CDT 2006
< root 24780 c Sat Aug 26 07:45:00 CDT 2006 rc=127

Re: crontab problem

Steven E. Protter — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 15:04:11 GMT

Shalom Bob,

Still gotta work on that script.

Something basic that was there the past 6 years is no longer there. it could be a filesytem of folder got moved.

I suggest you add this right after the shell:

set -x

Route the output of the script to a file. You should be able to debug and correct the situation from there.

SEP

Re: crontab problem

Jayasuntar — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 04:08:42 GMT

Dear Slater,

Please login as root, and check the mail with mail command.

The crontab error will be sent to root thro mail. So please check the mail and find out the error, then you can fix the problem.

Regards

Jay

Re: crontab problem

john korterman — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 05:45:22 GMT

Hi again,

check doc id HPUXKBRC00001849
in the tech base.

The document suggests "cannot fork". Perhaps your system is overworked?

regards,
John K.

Re: crontab problem

Bob Slater — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 07:51:25 GMT

I obviously have done something wrong in adding the set -vx to the script or I have it in the wrong sequence since it does nothing. And to answer another question, I did run the script manually and it runs without an error (that is what has me so confused).