Managing Cron jobs: Difference between revisions

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Cron is a job scheduler, a utility that can be used to execute shell commands at specific points in time. These jobs are also called Cron jobs, and can be edited using the Crontab command.
Cron is a job scheduler, a utility that can be used to execute shell commands at specific points in time. These jobs are also called Cron jobs, and can be edited using the crontab command.


=The Crontab Command=
==The Crontab Command==
To edit the cron table (crontab) file, you will use the Crontab command. The Crontab command has a few options:
To edit the cron table (crontab) file, you will use the crontab command. The crontab command has a few options:
* <code>crontab -e</code>: Edit the crontab for the current user
* <code>crontab -e</code>: Edit the crontab for the current user
* <code>crontab -l</code>: List the cron jobs for the current user
* <code>crontab -l</code>: List the cron jobs for the current user
* <code>crontab -r</code>: Remove all cron jobs for the current user (Use the -i option to prompt before deleting)
* <code>crontab -r</code>: Remove all cron jobs for the current user (Use the -i option to prompt before deleting)


Additionally, the <code>-u</code> parameter can be used to specify a user.
===Editing The Crontab===
 
==Editing The Crontab==
Perform these steps to edit the crontab.
Perform these steps to edit the crontab.
* Execute the <code>crontab -e</code>
* Execute the <code>crontab -e</code> command
* If this is the first time editing the crontab, a prompt will appear asking you to specify your text editor. It is recommended to use <code>nano</code>.
* If this is the first time editing the crontab, a prompt will appear asking you to specify your text editor. If you don't know what to reply, we suggest you choose <code>nano</code>.
* If everything is performed correctly, a file should appear.
* If everything is performed correctly, a file should appear.
* You can edit this file. (Remember that everything after # is a comment)
* You can edit this file. (Remember that everything after # is a comment)
Line 28: Line 26:
  * * * * *  command to execute
  * * * * *  command to execute


You can use an asterisk (*) if a field does not matter.
For example:
For example:
  <code>0 * * * * python somescript.py</code>
  <code>0 * * * * python somescript.py</code>
Line 33: Line 32:


  <code>1 0 15 * 0 somecommand</code>
  <code>1 0 15 * 0 somecommand</code>
will run <code>somecommand</code> every month the 15th day '''or if the day is a sunday''', at 1 past midnight (00:01).
will run <code>somecommand</code> every month the 15th day '''or''' if the day is a Sunday, at 1 past midnight (00:01).


=Practical Example: Scheduling Drush Updates=
==Real-life Example: Scheduling Drush Updates==
Drush and Cron can be used to update Drupal automatically.
Drush and Cron can be used to update Drupal automatically.
* First, run the <code>crontab -e</code> command. More info can be found in the previous section.
* First, run the <code>crontab -e</code> command. More info can be found in the previous section.
* Next, add the following line to the file:
* Next, add the following line to the file:
  <code>0 0 * * * drush pm-update http://your.website.url</code>
  <code>0 0 * * * cd /path/to/your/drupal/folder/ && drush pm-update</code>


This will execute the <code>drush pm-update http://your.website.url</code> command every day, at midnight. You can use the <code>-l</code> parameter for multi-site installs: <code>drush pm-update -l http://your.website.url</code>
This will execute the <code>cd /path/to/your/drupal/folder/</code> command, changing the current directory to your drupal folder, and the <code>drush pm-update</code> command, updating Drupal, every day, at midnight. The <code>&&</code> indicates a new command follows.
* Finally, save and exit the file and you're good to go!
* Finally, save and exit the file and you're good to go!
[[Category:Shell]]

Latest revision as of 13:25, 1 November 2020

Cron is a job scheduler, a utility that can be used to execute shell commands at specific points in time. These jobs are also called Cron jobs, and can be edited using the crontab command.

The Crontab Command

To edit the cron table (crontab) file, you will use the crontab command. The crontab command has a few options:

  • crontab -e: Edit the crontab for the current user
  • crontab -l: List the cron jobs for the current user
  • crontab -r: Remove all cron jobs for the current user (Use the -i option to prompt before deleting)

Editing The Crontab

Perform these steps to edit the crontab.

  • Execute the crontab -e command
  • If this is the first time editing the crontab, a prompt will appear asking you to specify your text editor. If you don't know what to reply, we suggest you choose nano.
  • If everything is performed correctly, a file should appear.
  • You can edit this file. (Remember that everything after # is a comment)

To add a new line to the file, you should follow this format: 

┌───────────── minute (0 - 59)
│ ┌───────────── hour (0 - 23)
│ │ ┌───────────── day of month (1 - 31)
│ │ │ ┌───────────── month (1 - 12)
│ │ │ │ ┌───────────── day of week (0 - 6) (Sunday to Saturday;
│ │ │ │ │                                       7 is also Sunday)
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
* * * * *  command to execute

You can use an asterisk (*) if a field does not matter. For example: 

0 * * * * python somescript.py

will run python somescript.py every hour. 

1 0 15 * 0 somecommand

will run somecommand every month the 15th day or if the day is a Sunday, at 1 past midnight (00:01).

Real-life Example: Scheduling Drush Updates

Drush and Cron can be used to update Drupal automatically.

  • First, run the crontab -e command. More info can be found in the previous section.
  • Next, add the following line to the file:
0 0 * * * cd /path/to/your/drupal/folder/ && drush pm-update

This will execute the cd /path/to/your/drupal/folder/ command, changing the current directory to your drupal folder, and the drush pm-update command, updating Drupal, every day, at midnight. The && indicates a new command follows.

  • Finally, save and exit the file and you're good to go!
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