crontab doesnt work in linux

Question

My Linux version is red hat enterprise linux server release 5.3 tikanga

i have schedule crontab as below

1 * * * * /usr/testjob.sh  2>&1 >> /usr/result.txt

crontab job not running on scheduled time...

Please suggest..

To schedule a command at a specific time (and not periodically), take a look at the at command. To run every minute, use "* * * * *". — Shawn Chin
– Shawn Chin, Commented Nov 1, 2011 at 12:35
The order of redirections is wrong, please use >> /usr/result.txt 2>&1 — A.H.
– A.H., Commented Nov 1, 2011 at 12:43
In which crontab file did you put that line? Using what commands? — A.H.
– A.H., Commented Nov 1, 2011 at 12:46
So as long as the script file is executable and the user has the permissions to write to /usr/result.txt it should work. — A.H.
– A.H., Commented Nov 1, 2011 at 12:50

Daniel YC Lin · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-03 02:55:57Z

1

Try this at first.

* * * * * /usr/testjob.sh

Then you may received a mail for every minutes. Check the error output. Sometimes, it may caused by your default shell is just sh instead of bash.

So, maybe ">>" is not supported.

You should check do you have /usr permission when you want to write into it.

answered Nov 3, 2011 at 2:55

Daniel YC Lin

16.2k18 gold badges71 silver badges105 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Denis Arnaud · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-01 12:50:43Z

1

As said by +Shawn Chin, if you want to run your command only once, the at command is your friend.

If you want to run your command repeatedly, then you are right to use the cron framework. The manual page explaining the fields of the crontab may be obtained with the following command:

$ man -s 5 crontab

You appear to be in an Indian time-zone (IST). You may have to specify that into the crontab. For instance, using the 'crontab -e' command (to save and quit, type 'ESC-wq', as the editor is VI by default):

#
CRON_TZ=IST
# run at 06:33 (am), every day
33 06 * * *       /usr/testjob.sh  >> /usr/result.txt 2>&1

Note that '2>&1' should be placed AFTER '>> /usr/result.txt', not before.

answered Nov 1, 2011 at 12:50

Denis Arnaud

3881 gold badge4 silver badges7 bronze badges

1 Comment

shellter Over a year ago

Very nice and welcome aboard. One other point for new users of crontab, the nmemonic (sp?) device I use to remember the correct order (as your example shows), is that starting at the left, and moving right, you are using larger values of time in each of the first 4 columns, min, hr, day-of-mon, mon, with 5 col the days-of-week as number, consult your man page for is Sun=0 or 7? Good luck to all.

ivoba · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-01 13:06:39Z

0

just to mention it and make sure

NOTE: Each cron table entry must have a trailing line break in order for the cron table entry to be recognized.

answered Nov 1, 2011 at 13:06

ivoba

6,0466 gold badges52 silver badges64 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

crontab doesnt work in linux

3 Answers 3

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related