Linux Tip | How To Automate Tasks using Cron

A look at the Cron utility and how you can use it to automate commands.
Check out www.ezeelinux.com for more about Linux.
To learn more about cron on Ubuntu:
help.ubuntu.com/community/Cro...

[@plutesknee5129]

Some people are just amazing teachers, but you are one of the best! thankyou for you videos Joe.

[@user-ts2wi7cq1n]

Automation ensures that tasks are executed uniformly across different systems and environments, promoting consistency and standardization. This is crucial for compliance, security, and troubleshooting.

[@notes_at_dusk]

I love your chilled-out style of tuition - keep it up!

[@djsensacion7]

What a treat, Cron Jobs and Bash scripting all in one video ! I see you have syntax coloring in your nano editor...

[@Phoenixts]

Thanks for the great video. We shared it on our blog as a good way for readers to learn about cron and automation.

[@EzeeLinux]

+Phoenix TS Thank you very much! :)

[@webhunter2989]

Your efforts are appreciated man

[@pewlivepie5006]

Thanks for the videos Joe. Very useful!

[@hh3130]

Thanks for the great video. Very useful information.

[@cthedosboss5113]

we need more people like you sir :)

[@cbrash9]

Great Video, very informative !!

[@MasterArtMason]

Fantastic Joe! Thank you!

[@cbrash9]

A while ago I had my son using Manjaro, however being a rolling release he was not consistently updating which was concerning for me, so I switched him to Mint. Having watched this video I can see a huge advantage in using Cron to update any rolling release distro!!

[@EzeeLinux]

+Colin Brash You could do that for sure. :)

[@EzeeLinux]

+Colin Brash One more thought, the only problem I could foresee with setting auto updates up for Manjaro would be when it asks for confirmation to build updates from the AUR. It usually needs you to put your password in for that. Something to ponder. :)

[@cbrash9]

Yes good point!, I suppose that means the update would just fail?, and need to be done manually, that's acceptable, I may install arch with Architect linux on a separate hard drive and give it a try,I enjoy messing with installs :)

[@cbrash9]

I was also watching your CinnUbu vids, have you ever considered Architect linux for a minimal install for Cinnamon? have not been subscribed to your channel for long, but I'm thinking your base maybe Ubuntu and Mint which stands to reason for keeping it simple and stable.

[@ayoob999]

excellent video ..and very useful.... .thanks

[@JPRuehmann]

You should put an exit 0 at the end of your Scripts to gracefully close them.

[@VidShoe13]

You're a legend!!

[@JPRuehmann]

Commands that run via skript on Cron did not have to run in the Background. They do it anyways at runtime. This only make it difficult to debug the script and to control the execution including clean up.

[@onesandzeroes]

I tried to use the command "nmcli radio wifi off" in gnome-schedule, but it doesn't have any effect (it works fine in the terminal). I outputted it to a file, but it doesn't show any errors. The command also fails to work when I manually add a crontab. Other commands such as "ls > file" do work.

[@tpasi2020UG]

Just amazing!

[@dedelifestyles7836]

Very informative

[@50_Pence]

to add a date to that log add: date -R >> /home/joe/update.log

[@mr_fallout3169]

Really good

[@bennasrghazi9323]

I m a complete beginner... I have an error message telling me that (chmod :impossible d accéder a 'update. Sh' there s no file or directory.... I have written the file with sh extension using nano....

[@jamesbaxter2812]

As I am watching you with Cron. I have a problem. I am using Linux Mint. across the top there is GNU NANO 4.8 you are showing the same thing but the number are differance. GNU as I know, stands for Gnucash. that is for keeking your bank account working. Also if you have stock/ticker in the same program. the help in the Gnucash is talking about the Cron. and I have to have an address for the Cron to go to as what you are saying. The Gnucash program is to take to a web site (not known to me) to where it gets updates. so if you understand, can you help me with this. Thanks

[@VictorGallagherCarvings]

It looks like gnome-schedule is no longer in the Ubuntu repositories.

[@spencerreppe7558]

ok thanks I trying installing it, I got the "E: Unable to locate package gnome-schedule"

[@kellingc]

I always have stderr append to the log files that I create. So, the apt-get command you had would look something like: apt-get dist-upgrade -y >> /home/joe/update.log 2>> /home/joe/update.log && This is a little more informative than just appending "All done". There isn't any reason why you can't point the error output to it's own file, either. That way, when you do an ls on your home directory, you can tell if there is an error or not without having to cat the log file. There are other things I do (like put the date in the file name) to allow for better troubleshooting, but this is a video about cron, not scripting. I won't go into a huge thing about logs , file naming, etc. I just wanted to let people know how to capture an error when running scripts and automated jobs.

[@Khyree_Holmes]

What can I do with Cron Jobs? hmm.... i don't know.

[@sablesanctum]

So... Since the cron job was made by root it's not going to ask for the password before running the script? It will all just run transparently in the background. Is that a correct assessment?

[@EzeeLinux]

Yes. Cron runs as root. :)

[@Ryan-vw8sq]

Hello, what is the "-e" after crontab for?

[@ngomapa]

'e' is an option to edit. it will open an editor where you can manually schedule your task

[@df3yt]

when does weekly run? if my pc is on on Monday off for a couple days and then on for a couple when will it run...?

[@EzeeLinux]

+df3yt Not sure... If you have something critical that absolutely has to run weekly I'd set it manually for a specific time or run it manually. :)

[@NicolaFrancica]

+df3yt Use anacrontab to avoid this kind of problems, Cron is more usefull for servers that are up and running all the time. Anacron does the same job but avoid the "system off" problem executing the 1st time it can after the supposed time you scheduled the task at. Google it for more infos :) P.S. Sorry for my english, I don't use it much, I'm a little bit rusted

[@Classic.Car.Restorations.]

16.04 does not incude this gnome-schedule I found a deb file here askubuntu.com/questions/785657/i-cant-install-gnome-schedule-on-ubuntu-16-04

[@hkme4525]

what if i want to run a task every time my computer reboots ???

[@spectralberserker]

you use a different script system like "rc.local" for example askubuntu.com/questions/9853/how-can-i-make-rc-local-run-on-startup

[@SotoJeleb]

What hapens if youre computer is off when it is suposed to run a comand/script? If it skips the comand can you set it up that it runs the comand when you boot next time. p.s. Awesome chanel!

[@EzeeLinux]

+SotoJeleb As far as I know, the system will just skip that cron job if it is not up and running at the appointed time. Pick times when you know the system will be up and running or just do it manually. Cron was designed for servers and mini computers that run all the time. :)

[@cl9826]

Use anacron in that case. Anacron is cron for desktops and laptops. That is, it doesn't expect the system to be on 24/7 and will run the command on next boot if it misses the scheduled backup time.

[@nloomans]

why did you use `more` instead of `less`?

[@ironnerd2511]

He mentioned in other videos that he may use more if the text file is small enough so no scrolling is necessary (expected to fit in one screen). And maybe more being older than less, for backwards compatibility. ¿Perhaps? My guess...

[@MO-hq4iz]

Sunday is zero in the USA, not in is most of Europe. We have Monday as zero.