This should be very simple. I ask that someone help me to clear my confusion.

What I want to do;

# Run program_name once a minute
* * * * * root /usr/sbin/cobalt/program_name 2>&1

# Run program_name every five minutes
5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,55 * * * * root /usr/sbin/cobalt/program_name 2>&1

# Run program_name each minute
* * * * * root /usr/sbin/cobalt/program_name 2>&1


I have added these entries into /var/spool/cron/root (emacs) as they appear above with the exception that I have changed the program_name.

I run
root# crontab -l
and I get ;
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE - edit the master and reinstall.
# (/tmp/crontab.2302 installed on Mon Sep 9 15:28:43 2002)
# (Cron version -- $Id: crontab.c,v 2.13 1994/01/17 03:20:37 vixie Exp $)


35 07,10,13,16,19,22,01 * * * /usr/local/program_name/program_name >/dev/null 2>&1

# Run program_name once a minute
* * * * * root /usr/sbin/cobalt/program_name 2>&1

# Run program_name every five minutes
5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,55 * * * * root /usr/sbin/cobalt/program_name 2>&1

# Run program_name each minute
* * * * * root /usr/sbin/cobalt/program_name 2>&1

Now, from my understanding there is no need to have a cron.update file in /var/spool/cron/ because according to man crontab that is no longer necessary.

My programs never run!

Should I edit /etc/crontab instead? I'm more confused now than anything. This just does not seem that it should be this difficult - it is cron.

notice that these cronjobs are in minutes...not
cron.daily
cron.half-hourly
cron.hourly
cron.monthly
cron.quarter-daily
cron.quarter-hourly
cron.weekly

What am I missing? Anyone, please, I am pulling my hair out.

Thank you,

Maximux

ok, I have reverted /var/spool/cron/root back to it's original state.

Then I did;
mkdir /path/to/cronjob_script
emacs /path/to/cronjob_script

35 07,10,13,16,19,22,01 * * * /usr/local/program_name/program_thing >/dev/null 2>&1

# Run program_name once a minute
* * * * * /usr/sbin/cobalt/program_name 2>&1

# Run program_name every five minutes
5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,55 * * * * /usr/sbin/cobalt/program_name 2>&1

# Run program_name each minute
* * * * * /usr/sbin/cobalt/program_name 2>&1

saved & closed.

Then ran;
crontab /path/to/cronjob_script

Then did a;
crontab -l (as root)

[root cron]# crontab -l
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE - edit the master and reinstall.
# (/path/to/cronjob_script installed on Mon Sep 9 18:06:45 2002)
# (Cron version -- $Id: crontab.c,v 2.13 1994/01/17 03:20:37 vixie Exp $)

35 07,10,13,16,19,22,01 * * * /usr/local/program_name/program_thing >/dev/null 2>&1

# Run program_name once a minute
* * * * * /usr/sbin/cobalt/program_name 2>&1

# Run program_name every five minutes
5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,55 * * * * /usr/sbin/cobalt/program_name 2>&1

# Run program_name each minute
* * * * * /usr/sbin/cobalt/program_name 2>&1


Notice this time I left out the "root" parameter of the cron line.

Still - my programs are not running!?!

Anyone, anyone, Bueller, Anyone?

for kicks I just issued
/etc/rc.d/init.d/crond restart as root.

Nadda.

Pulease!

ok, it appears that the second attempt I did worked. Each of the scripts executed as expected and the process completed without errors.

I recommend anyone / everyone to use my second approach to execute minute based cronjobs. I come from a slackware background and have never had trouble with crond configs until now.

I have to admit that part of the problem was a credit card validation process that was hung ( ON WINDOWS, NO DOUBT) and once I had the windows ...um, admins click reset my **** starting working.

If anyone cares or wants to peak at what all this fuss is about check out http://hosting.firstinter.net for a preview of First Internet Corps. new hosting pages revolving around a linux farm.

Hope someone learns something from all this...

Maximux

Maximux,

Sorry, just saw your post. Glad you figured it out, but more importantly thanks for posting your results for folks who have the same issue in the future.

Brandon

Thanks anyways - I would still like to hear from anyone who has more experience with this layout of cron than I, feel free to expand or futher explain anything I may have been missed.

In particular, did restarting crond do anything? Was the first scenario using /var/spool/cron/root correct and I just missed the crontrab execution?...

Im happy, it works this morning and I get to be the hero of the day!

Maximux