If I create a script and then place it in this folder (/etc/cron.hourly), will my system run this script hourly? Or does my script need to begin with a command as well?
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31
Every script placed in folder /etc/cron.hourly would run on hourly basis.
However your files needs to be:
- executable,
- match the Debian cron script namespace
(^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$).
So for example if you've script with extension, it won't work.
To print the names of the scripts which would be invoked, run:
sudo run-parts --report --test /etc/cron.hourly
kenorb
- 10,347
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Is there any reasonable explanation why file name extensions are considered bad in that context...? – Hinz Aug 04 '23 at 09:07
17
Yep, you got it.
Just start it with a #!/bin/bash like you normally would. And make sure you sudo chmod +x /etc/cron.hourly/yourscript because it won't run without execute permissions.
maco
- 15,892
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Anything in /etc/cron.hourly will be executed hourly, just like anything in /etc/cron.daily will be run once a day.
Make sure the file is executable, and start it with #!/bin/bash or #!/usr/bin/python (or #!/usr/bin/env python) or whatever is appropriate for the type of script you'll be running.
