Commit | Line | Data |
---|---|---|
f3855db7 | 1 | .\" @(#)cron.8 6.4 (Berkeley) %G% |
44828dbf | 2 | .\" |
f15d0735 | 3 | .TH CRON 8 "" |
44828dbf KM |
4 | .AT 3 |
5 | .SH NAME | |
6 | cron \- clock daemon | |
7 | .SH SYNOPSIS | |
8 | .B /etc/cron | |
9 | .SH DESCRIPTION | |
10 | .I Cron | |
11 | executes commands at specified dates and times | |
526abb6f JL |
12 | according to the instructions in the files |
13 | /usr/lib/crontab and /usr/lib/crontab.local. | |
14 | None, either one, or both of these files may be present. | |
44828dbf KM |
15 | Since |
16 | .I cron | |
17 | never exits, | |
18 | it should only be executed once. | |
19 | This is best done by running | |
20 | .I cron | |
21 | from the initialization | |
22 | process through the file | |
23 | /etc/rc; | |
24 | see | |
25 | .IR init (8). | |
26 | .PP | |
526abb6f JL |
27 | The |
28 | crontab files | |
29 | consist of lines of seven fields each. | |
44828dbf | 30 | The fields are separated by spaces or tabs. |
f3855db7 KM |
31 | The first five are integer patterns to specify: |
32 | .in +2m | |
33 | .TP 2m | |
34 | \(bu | |
35 | minute (0-59) | |
36 | .nr .0 \n()Pu | |
37 | .nr )P 0 | |
38 | .TP 2m | |
39 | \(bu | |
40 | hour (0-23) | |
41 | .TP 2m | |
42 | \(bu | |
43 | day of the month (1-31) | |
44 | .TP 2m | |
45 | \(bu | |
46 | month of the year (1-12) | |
47 | .TP 2m | |
48 | \(bu | |
49 | day of the week (1-7 with 1 = Monday) | |
50 | .nr )P \n(.0u | |
51 | .in -2m | |
52 | .LP | |
53 | Each of these patterns may contain: | |
54 | .in +2m | |
55 | .TP 2m | |
56 | \(bu | |
57 | a number in the range above | |
58 | .nr .0 \n()Pu | |
59 | .nr )P 0 | |
60 | .TP 2m | |
61 | \(bu | |
62 | two numbers separated by a minus | |
63 | meaning a range inclusive | |
64 | .TP 2m | |
65 | \(bu | |
44828dbf | 66 | a list of numbers separated by |
f3855db7 KM |
67 | commas meaning any of the numbers |
68 | .TP 2m | |
69 | \(bu | |
70 | an asterisk meaning all legal values | |
71 | .nr )P \n(.0u | |
72 | .in -2m | |
73 | .LP | |
526abb6f JL |
74 | The sixth field is a user name: the |
75 | command will be run ``as'' that user. | |
0244f581 DS |
76 | The seventh field consists of all the text |
77 | on a line following the sixth field, | |
78 | including spaces and tabs; | |
79 | this text is treated as a command | |
80 | which is executed by the Shell at the | |
44828dbf | 81 | specified times. |
0244f581 | 82 | A percent character (``%'') |
44828dbf KM |
83 | in this field is translated to a new-line |
84 | character. | |
44828dbf | 85 | .PP |
526abb6f JL |
86 | Both |
87 | crontab files are checked by | |
44828dbf | 88 | .I cron |
526abb6f | 89 | every minute, on the minute. |
44828dbf KM |
90 | .SH FILES |
91 | /usr/lib/crontab | |
526abb6f JL |
92 | .br |
93 | /usr/lib/crontab.local |