= Cron =

'''Cron''' is an automation framework.

Not all modern implementations use a `crond(8)` binary, but all use `crontab(1)` as the user interface.

<<TableOfContents>>

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== Installation ==

[[Linux/Arch|Arch Linux]] offers `cronie` and `fcron` packages but promotes [[Linux/SystemdTimerd|timers]] instead.

[[Linux/Fedora|Fedora]] offers `cronie` but promotes [[Linux/SystemdTimerd|timers]] instead. (Unsurprising, as both are Red Hat initiatives.)

[[Linux/Debian|Debian]] offers a custom distribution of Vixie `cron`, with plans to phase it out for `cronie`.

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== Usage ==



=== Cronie ===



=== Busybox Crond ===

The !BusyBox implementation of Cron (`crond(8)`) recommends a layer of indirection through named directories. The default configuration runs these tasks:

{{{
# min   hour    day     month   weekday command
*/15    *       *       *       *       run-parts /etc/periodic/15min
0       *       *       *       *       run-parts /etc/periodic/hourly
0       2       *       *       *       run-parts /etc/periodic/daily
0       3       *       *       6       run-parts /etc/periodic/weekly
0       5       1       *       *       run-parts /etc/periodic/monthly
}}}

Any scripts in `/etc/periodic/hourly` will be run on the hourly mark every hour. This is considered preferable to installing a new cronjob.

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== See also ==

[[https://man.archlinux.org/man/cron.8|crond(8)]]

[[https://man.archlinux.org/man/crontab.1.en|crontab(1)]]

[[https://man.archlinux.org/man/crontab.5.en|crontab(5)]]

[[https://crontab.guru/|crontab guru, a crontab helper]]



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CategoryRicottone