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I need to run a CRON each 5 minutes for a specific user example.com, the script executed is a php file.

File : /var/spool/cron/crontabs/example.com

/5 * * * * /usr/bin/php -f /home/example.com/public_html/cron.php

Nothing happens (no error in log, no error mail, nothing). Same when testing with :

0,5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,55 * * * * /usr/bin/php -f /home/example.com/public_html/cron.php

Of course running the file manually works. Also, changing the CRON every minutes works :

* * * * * /usr/bin/php -f /home/example.com/public_html/cron.php

When trying the same start timing (5 minutes) but as root, it is running perfectly (/var/spool/cron/crontabs/root instead of /var/spool/cron/crontabs/example.com).

I've tested on Slackware 12.0 and Slackware 14.0... same problem.

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3
  • Are you installing the new crontab with crontab -e which checks the format for problems? Or, are you accessing the file directly with you editor?
    – John1024
    Commented Oct 9, 2014 at 4:53
  • @John1024 file editing with vi or with webmin (tested both). Also tested crontab -u example.com -e... no more luck.
    – Alexandre Lavoie
    Commented Oct 9, 2014 at 18:34
  • If this command is the last line in the crontab file and it has no carriage return at the end it will not run. This is just a shot in the dark but I have had it happen in the past and spent hours trying to figure out the problem and all it was, was I didn't hit ENTER at the end of the line. Weird I know but it happened to me.
    – Widgeteye
    Commented Oct 22, 2015 at 19:48

1 Answer 1

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crontab -e tells me that this is an error ("bad minute... errors in crontab file, can't install"):

/5 * * * * /usr/bin/php

On the other hand, it accepts and runs the program every 5 minutes:

0-59/5 * * * * /usr/bin/php

This is also accepted and the program runs every 5 minutes:

0,5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,55 * * * * /usr/bin/php

How to use crontab -e

crontab -e will open current crontab using the editor specified by the VISUAL or EDITOR environment variables, if one exists, or /usr/bin/editor is neither exists. After editing but before installing the revised file, it checks the format and, if problems are found, issues errors and offers to let you either re-edit the file or quit leaving crontab unchanged.

Common problems with cron

A community wiki with much information on common problems with cron is:

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  • Well I probably made a mistake with /5 but I ommited to say that I tested */5 also. The point is that 0,5,10,... is valid, but ONLY working if used in the root file (so runned as root). When used in the website user file, it will work one or two times and nothing else...
    – Alexandre Lavoie
    Commented Oct 9, 2014 at 18:36
  • They run fine for me as a normal user. What cron-related messages do you see in /var/log for messages? Do you have cron set up to send email in case of errors?
    – John1024
    Commented Oct 9, 2014 at 20:55
  • It is configured to send email in case of error, but not email error nor logged error (/var/log/cron is empty).
    – Alexandre Lavoie
    Commented Oct 9, 2014 at 23:58
  • @AlexandreLavoie OK. If the log files have no info and the email system fails, we need to work harder. Try redirecting the stdout and stderr like this: 0,5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,55 * * * * /usr/bin/php -f /home/example.com/public_html/cron.php >$HOME/my.log 2>&1. Also, as long as it is not working, use only crontab -e to make changes to a crontab.
    – John1024
    Commented Oct 10, 2014 at 5:49

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