can cron NOT send mail and still produce a log? Being a newbie at crontab editing I have run into a problem I know how to suppress std.out and std.err going to email and also how to redirect output to a logfile. How do I ensure BOTH occur simultenously please?
for example:
after contab -e
* to suppress std.out and std.err going to email I can do:
MAILTO="" (for null) or perhaps 2>&1
* also to redirect output to logfile I can do:
* 2 * * * 0-6 /user/cron >>/path/of/logfile
But how do I ensure both in a crontab entry please?
Thank you in advance.
frustratedprog
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The latter please. I want to suppress/stop output to the roots email address. But I want to send the output [std.err and std.out ] to a logfile please. Thats why I stated in my question I want both occurrances to take place. Sorry I was not clear, must be too stressed. Thanks for any suggestions. I know sometimes you can make the output go to a logfile, but then it keeps sending email too... I definitely DONT want both.., just the logfile output, no email please.
One of these should do it:
* 2 * * * 0-6 /user/cron >>/path/of/logfile 2>&1
Based on your first statement of a way to stop mail. If mail from cron is a redirection from stderr, this way to redirect both channels (stdout and stderr) to the same file in LINUX or UNIX.
* 2 * * * 0-6 MAILTO="" /user/cron >>/path/of/logfile 2>&1
Based on the principal that options amd environment variables do nothing to change redirects. Setting the mail to a null address so it can't be delivered will not change where the normal output of the command goes.
Enjoy,
2K
(\o/)
Hi K_2k.are you stating in your example then that
* 2 * * * 0-6 MAILTO="" /user/cron >>/path/of/logfile 2>&1
will both stop the mail [MAILTO=""] because it is going to null address and also redirect the normal output to where ever I want it to go [ex logfile]? The part where u stated options and environment variables do nothing to change redirects confused me.
Really, why wouldnt it change the normal output of where the command goes ???sorry.... but I am VERY new at this. I could tell by the way you started your reply [Based on your first statement of a way to stop mail} that you know what I am tryng to do...
Again sorry I am not getting your explanation right away. I get your example but not the way you explained it.
Thanks k_2k. I appreciate your patience....
No, I'd think that line gives output including errors to the logfile and no mail, assuming your statement refers to your version of Linux/UNIX:
"
* to suppress std.out and std.err going to email I can do:
MAILTO="" (for null) or perhaps 2>&1
"
I'm saying [MAILTO=""] sets an environment variable for that command much like the PATH variable you can set.
Both variables have nothing to do with how and where STDOUT and STDERR get redirected. If cron or any other program choose to check that variable and change who gets mail or not, it still will not change the redirection set by [>>/path/of/logfile 2>&1]. Output and errors will still be set to go to the logfile.
A program could choose to not give output if a variable is set to a certain thing, but the shell will still set up a link for sending information to that file, even if cron does not create information to be sent.
Hope this Helps,
2K
(\o/)
Thanks not only for your solution but for your clear cut EXPLANATION for a newbie like me to cron which is why I increased the points. I really need to understand what I am doing, not just do it so thanks so much. I have not been able to test it yet since I don't have a system going yet [sun unix, no linux] but I will by next week so again, thank you for your time 2k.
frustratedprog
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by: durindilPosted on 2003-10-16 at 10:50:21ID: 9564057
I'm a little confused - do you want to send output to BOTH e-mail and a log file? Or do you want to just send to a log file and not e-mail?