topic Re: Crontab in Operating System - HP-UX

Crontab

Dave Hartman — Tue, 16 May 2000 14:18:36 GMT

Hi,
I'm trying to get some scripts to run using crontab. I've used the command "crontab -e" to make changes to the file.

I added something simple like:
49 10 * * * echo "Its working finally"

while logged in as root, but nothing seems to happen.
Do you have to restart the machine for the changes in crontab to work properly or is their something I'm doing wrong.
(Was trying to echo at 10:49am)

Re: Crontab

Joel Shank — Tue, 16 May 2000 14:30:42 GMT

Hi Dave
I do it a little differently. First I save the current crontab using the command:
crontab -l > cronfile
Then I edit cronfile, adding/changing whatever you want.
Then put it back:
crontab cronfile
This has always worked for me.
Joel

Re: Crontab

Dave Hartman — Tue, 16 May 2000 14:56:56 GMT

Joel,
Thanks, it works fine now. Otherwise it looks like you have to reboot.

Re: Crontab

jherring — Tue, 16 May 2000 15:02:19 GMT

Using crontab -e is the recommended way to use cron.

try the following

* * * * * /usr/bin/date > /dev/console

every minute run the date command and display it to the console.

This will at least test to see if cron is working

You may also want to check cron.allow and cron.deny files
see man crontab for more info.

Re: Crontab

John_Hancock — Wed, 17 May 2000 06:29:55 GMT

Dave, a reboot is not required. cron rereads the crontab file once a minute.

We also use rcs (see the man page) to track changes to the crontab file.

John Hancock