asked on

using cron

Hi there,

i've 2 questions:

Question 1 (using cron)
---------------------------
I'm trying to make a script work every 5 minutes. This is what i've done. Do tell me what is wrong and how to rectify the problem:

1. in the command prompt> crontab -e

2. I inserted this line to make the script run every 5 minutes. (the script is stored on my Desktop)

5 * * * * userName /home/userName/Desktop/scriptName

Then i saved and exited the file. Afterthat i waited for 5 minutes and more... but nothing happens... what's wrong?

Instead of running a script, i run a command instead for example:

5 * * * * userName /bin/echo cron successfull

Again, nothing happens...

Question 2 (script -> executable)
--------------------------------------
After writing a script, running it would mean prompt> ./scriptName arg1 arg2 ...
however, is it possible to make that script into an executable file? How?

Thanks.

d_terano

liddler

1. You've tod it to run at 5 minutes past each hour, you need:
0,5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,55 * * * * /bin/echo "cron successfull"
2. A script is made executeable using chmod a+x scriptName.
Or do you mean compiling a script into a binary file (Usually to stop people looking at the source code)

Fredericl

You need to restart Crond to activate changes.

type this command:
service crond restart

owensleftfoot

" You need to restart Crond to activate changes. "

No you dont.

d_terano

ASKER

liddler,

I'll try ur suggestion ASAP. As for the question 2.... yes i mean to prevent people looking at the source code...

do i use "make" to do that? if yes, are there any other way to do it besides using "make"?

thanks

regards,
d_terano

liddler

for Q 2 take a look at this
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20780230/Copy-protection-of-a-korn-shell-script.html

d_terano

ASKER

for Q1:
--------

I've tried out the suggestion given by liddler. This is the error message that was mailed to me:

From root Tue Nov 11 12:05:00 2003
Return-Path: <root@localhost.localdomain>
Received: (from root@localhost)
by localhost.localdomain (8.11.6/8.11.6) id hAB250B02246
for root; Tue, 11 Nov 2003 12:05:00 +1000
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 12:05:00 +1000
Message-Id: <200311110205.hAB250B02246@localhost.localdomain>
From: root@localhost.localdomain (Cron Daemon)
To: root@localhost.localdomain
Subject: Cron <root@localhost> root /bin/echo crond successfull
X-Cron-Env: <SHELL=/bin/sh>
X-Cron-Env: <HOME=/root>
X-Cron-Env: <PATH=/usr/bin:/bin>
X-Cron-Env: <LOGNAME=root>

/bin/sh: root: command not found

What's wrong?

for Q2:
--------

is it possible to use "make" to convert a bash script to an executable (binary) file?

thanks.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

liddler

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d_terano

ASKER

liddler,

thanks a lot for your help! appreciate it...

regards,
d_terano