[SOLVED] How can I run a Cron job manually or how can I sure my job executed?

n00b_noob · 01-18-2021, 05:42 AM

Hello,
I wrote below cron jobs for root user:

Code:

00 23 * * 1 /usr/bin/App1 && /usr/bin/echo "App1 done"
00 23 * * 1 /usr/bin/App2 && /usr/bin/echo "App2 done"

But how can I run a Cron job manually or how can I sure my job executed?
Under the "/var/log" directory a "cron" file exist, but I can't see anything about above jobs!

Thank you.

allend · 01-18-2021, 06:17 AM

Check the mail for the root user.Typically output ends up there.

michaelk · 01-18-2021, 07:26 AM

The job runs on Mondays at 23:00. When did you first create the job?

Is app1 and app2 executable?

Do they run successfully from the command line?

How did you write the jobs? crontab -e ?

uteck · 01-18-2021, 10:10 AM

Your echo command would display on the terminal, but that does not do anything when run from cron. You need to redirect the echo to a log file you make.

Code:

00 23 * * 1 /usr/bin/App1 && /usr/bin/echo "App1 done:"`date +"%Y%m%d"` >> /var/log/myapps.log'

You could also look into the proper way to redirect errors thrown by cron so they would also get logged.

rnturn · 01-18-2021, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allend

Check the mail for the root user.Typically output ends up there.

Also, check the file /etc/aliases. Mail sent to root ought to be getting forwarded to a real person who'll see the "You have mail" message when you log in. It seems there's no record like

Code:

root: regularuser

in that file.

petelq · 01-18-2021, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n00b_noob

Hello,
I wrote below cron jobs for root user:

Code:

00 23 * * 1 /usr/bin/App1 && /usr/bin/echo "App1 done"
00 23 * * 1 /usr/bin/App2 && /usr/bin/echo "App2 done"

But how can I run a Cron job manually or how can I sure my job executed?
Under the "/var/log" directory a "cron" file exist, but I can't see anything about above jobs!

Thank you.

How about changing the time to 5 minutes into the future and then sit and watch for 5 minutes? Change time back after. Just a thought.

jmgibson1981 · 01-18-2021, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petelq

How about changing the time to 5 minutes into the future and then sit and watch for 5 minutes? Change time back after. Just a thought.

Thought I was the only one that did this. I never thought of any other way. Just wait and see works fine.

n00b_noob · 01-21-2021, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allend

Check the mail for the root user.Typically output ends up there.

I installed "mailx".
I have not any mail:

Code:

# mail
No mail for root

And:

Code:

# cat /var/mail/root
cat: /var/mail/root: No such file or directory

n00b_noob · 01-21-2021, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelk

The job runs on Mondays at 23:00. When did you first create the job?

Is app1 and app2 executable?

Do they run successfully from the command line?

How did you write the jobs? crontab -e ?

Yes, they are executable and run successfully from the command line and I used "crontab -e".

berndbausch · 01-21-2021, 06:15 AM

A quick check if they run at all:

Code:

00 23 * * 1 /usr/bin/App1 && /usr/bin/echo "App1 done at $(\usr/bin/date)" >> /root/app.out
00 23 * * 1 /usr/bin/App2 && /usr/bin/echo "App2 done at $(\usr/bin/date)" >> /root/app.out

EDIT: Ooops, I had not seen uteck's contribution.

Several suggestions were made. Time to try them.

yancek · 01-21-2021, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Yes, they are executable and run successfully from the command line and I used "crontab -e".

So you know it is executable, what happens when you set the time to a few minutes into the future which seems to me to be the most logical and simple way to test. Have you tried to output the echo part of the command to a file?

kilgoretrout · 01-21-2021, 06:40 AM

Regarding your inability to get email notification of your cron jobs running, see my post here:

https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...7/#post6138897

computersavvy · 01-21-2021, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n00b_noob

Code:

# cat /var/mail/root
cat: /var/mail/root: No such file or directory

That probably should be "ls /var/spool/mail" or "ls /var/spool/mail/root" to see if any file for root exists.

n00b_noob · 01-21-2021, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by computersavvy

That probably should be "ls /var/spool/mail" or "ls /var/spool/mail/root" to see if any file for root exists.

Code:

# pwd
/var/spool/mail
# ls
jason
# cat jason
#

n00b_noob · 01-21-2021, 02:57 PM

I changed my cron to:

Code:

*/1 * * * * /usr/bin/App1 && /usr/bin/echo "App1 done"

Then checked the "cron" file:

Code:

# cat /var/log/cron
Jan 22 00:21:41 Server crontab[2342990]: (root) BEGIN EDIT (root)
Jan 22 00:23:21 Server crontab[2342990]: (root) REPLACE (root)
Jan 22 00:23:21 Server crontab[2342990]: (root) END EDIT (root)
Jan 22 00:24:01 Server crond[468693]: (root) RELOAD (/var/spool/cron/root)
Jan 22 00:24:02 Server CROND[2343035]: (root) CMD (/usr/bin/App1 && /usr/bin/echo "App1 done")

And:

Code:

# mail
No mail for root