trouble with crontab

sjarvis · 08-28-2002, 11:46 AM

Mac OS X 10.1.5, PowerMac G4

I'm running Apache (1.3.26) and PHP (4.2.2) as an Apache module, and I'd like to set some php scripts to run at certain times of the day. I've done some research, and the recommended way to do this when php is installed as a module is to set a task in my crontab that uses Lynx (or cURL, etc.) to hit the page at a specified time.

I added the task to my crontab, but it's not working. I can run the command at the command line and it works, but it won't run via cron. I'm editing my crontab with 'crontab -e'. The line I inserted is:

45 10 * * * root curl -s http://myserver.com/path/to/script.php > /dev/null

I understand this to mean that at 10:45am by the machine's clock, it runs 'curl -s http://myserver.com/path/to/script.php > /dev/null' as root. However, it doesn't do it. I've also tried it using other users, as well.

I can run 'curl -s http://myserver.com/path/to/script.php > /dev/null' from the command line and it works.

I've also tried it with 'lynx -dump http://myserver.com/path/to/script.php > /dev/null', but still no go.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Steven

osxpez · 08-28-2002, 12:31 PM

You say you have added it to "your" crontab. I seem to recall that there are different formats on user crontabs and root's crontab. The user field is the difference. It should be there for roots crontab and left out for plain users. Thus:

45 10 * * * curl -s http://myserver.com/path/to/script.php > /dev/null

Might work.

osxpez · 08-28-2002, 12:32 PM

And. I'm curious as to what that script does. Seems like a long way to go via the webbserver to get the job done. Can you share some details?

sjarvis · 08-28-2002, 02:33 PM

I'll try that tip above (haven't had a chance to try it yet).

The script opens a tab-delimited text file, parses the content, and stores it in a MySQL database each day to update some content on our website.

sjarvis · 08-28-2002, 02:42 PM

I forgot to address the user/root crontab issue. I *think* it's using the system crontab at /private/etc/crontab.

Where is the user crontab stored?

pmccann · 08-30-2002, 11:32 AM

The "installed" user crontabs sit in

/var/cron/tabs

(=/private/var/cron/tabs), but you wouldn't dream of touching them in situ now, would you?! The files in question are emblazoned with the warning:

# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE - edit the master and reinstall.

Cheers,
Paul

BlueGus · 09-11-2002, 08:07 AM

When using crontab, you need to give the /full/path/to/command .

In this case, curl should be /usr/bin/curl

Good luck!

August

08-28-2002, 11:46 AM	#1
sjarvis Prospect Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 9	trouble with crontab Mac OS X 10.1.5, PowerMac G4 I'm running Apache (1.3.26) and PHP (4.2.2) as an Apache module, and I'd like to set some php scripts to run at certain times of the day. I've done some research, and the recommended way to do this when php is installed as a module is to set a task in my crontab that uses Lynx (or cURL, etc.) to hit the page at a specified time. I added the task to my crontab, but it's not working. I can run the command at the command line and it works, but it won't run via cron. I'm editing my crontab with 'crontab -e'. The line I inserted is: 45 10 * * * root curl -s http://myserver.com/path/to/script.php > /dev/null I understand this to mean that at 10:45am by the machine's clock, it runs 'curl -s http://myserver.com/path/to/script.php > /dev/null' as root. However, it doesn't do it. I've also tried it using other users, as well. I can run 'curl -s http://myserver.com/path/to/script.php > /dev/null' from the command line and it works. I've also tried it with 'lynx -dump http://myserver.com/path/to/script.php > /dev/null', but still no go. Any ideas? Thanks! Steven

08-28-2002, 12:31 PM	#2
osxpez Major Leaguer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 282	You say you have added it to "your" crontab. I seem to recall that there are different formats on user crontabs and root's crontab. The user field is the difference. It should be there for roots crontab and left out for plain users. Thus: 45 10 * * * curl -s http://myserver.com/path/to/script.php > /dev/null Might work. __________________ /PEZ

08-28-2002, 12:32 PM	#3
osxpez Major Leaguer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 282	And. I'm curious as to what that script does. Seems like a long way to go via the webbserver to get the job done. Can you share some details? __________________ /PEZ

08-28-2002, 02:33 PM	#4
sjarvis Prospect Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 9	I'll try that tip above (haven't had a chance to try it yet). The script opens a tab-delimited text file, parses the content, and stores it in a MySQL database each day to update some content on our website.

08-28-2002, 02:42 PM	#5
sjarvis Prospect Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 9	I forgot to address the user/root crontab issue. I think it's using the system crontab at /private/etc/crontab. Where is the user crontab stored?

08-30-2002, 11:32 AM	#6
pmccann Major Leaguer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 470	The "installed" user crontabs sit in /var/cron/tabs (=/private/var/cron/tabs), but you wouldn't dream of touching them in situ now, would you?! The files in question are emblazoned with the warning: # DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE - edit the master and reinstall. Cheers, Paul

09-11-2002, 08:07 AM	#7
BlueGus Prospect Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 34	When using crontab, you need to give the /full/path/to/command . In this case, curl should be /usr/bin/curl Good luck! August