Question

CRONTAB Syntax for IBM AIX 4.3.3 ML-09

Asked by: 8-D

Hello,

we are using IBM AIX 4.3.3 ML-09

I want to resolve some confusion i have about the syntax of tasks scheduled in a users's crontab file.

Below is a command i have scheduled in my cron:

# minute hour monthday month weekday(0=sun,6=sat) command
13 11 06 02 4 <command>

According to my understanding, the specified command should be run ONLY at 11:13 am on Thursday Feb 6th.  However, what is happening, is that the specified command is running EVERY thursday in February at 11:13 am.  It is as if the cron is ignoring the "monthdate" parameter altogether if a "weekday" parameter is specified.  Is Cron running as expected or do i have a problem?

THANKS!!

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Asked On
2003-02-14 at 08:48:52ID20514319
Tags

aix

,

crontab

,

syntax

Topic

Unix Setup

Participating Experts
2
Points
50
Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: 8-DPosted on 2003-02-14 at 10:55:20ID: 7951804

C'mon guys - help me out here, i just increased the points for this question - who wants to get rich...

 

by: tfewsterPosted on 2003-02-14 at 12:11:04ID: 7952347

As you've noticed, if you specify both Day-Of-Month AND Weekday, it will run on both; Just replace the Weekday with *

Incidentally, it's not just AIX that does this illogical trick :-(

 

by: 8-DPosted on 2003-02-14 at 12:49:22ID: 7952602

Thanks tfewster,

More specifically, do you happen to know if, when the 'day of week' is specified, the cron disregards the 'month' and 'monthday' or just the 'monthday'?

 

by: tfewsterPosted on 2003-02-14 at 13:32:33ID: 7952920

Only monthday; So `13 11 * 02 4 <command>` would run every Thursday ONLY in February.

BTW, here's the extract from the man page:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/doc_link/en_US/a_doc_lib/cmds/aixcmds1/crontab.htm
...
The specification of days may be made by two fields (day of the month and day of the week). If you specify both as a list of elements, both are adhered to. For example, the following entry:
0 0 1,15 * 1 command
would run command on the first and fifteenth days of each month, as well as every Monday. To specify days by only one field, the other field should contain an * .
...

I suggest you post a zero-point question in Community Support, asking them to reduce the points on this question to 50. (Of course, you have to give me a "A" then ;-)






 

by: Computer101Posted on 2003-02-14 at 14:47:36ID: 7953387

Points reduced as requested

Computer101
E-E Admin

 

by: 8-DPosted on 2003-02-14 at 14:53:52ID: 7953417

Thanks tfewster - you da man...(or woman)

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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