Re: Anacron vs. cron.
On Sat, May 01, 2004 at 04:27:01PM -0700, Marc Wilson wrote:
> On Sat, May 01, 2004 at 07:41:50PM +0100, Geoff Thurman wrote:
> > Anacron is recommended if your computer is not left on more or less
> > continuously. I'm not sure why it doesn't just supercede cron, or why
> > it isn't pulled in with it or anything, [1] but I strongly advise you
> > to install anacron.
>
> Because anacron is an *adjunct* to cron, it does not *replace* it.
> Actually learning what anacron *is*, might be helpful.
>
anacron is meant for computers that spend some part of the day (usually
at night) off so they can have a tendency to usually miss the cron
jobs. If it is installed to will run by cron and execute the cron jobs
instead of cron so that to make sure that missed jobs are run. If its
not installed the only entries are:
crontab:11:25 6 * * * root test -e /usr/sbin/anacron || run-parts --report /etc/cron.daily
crontab:12:47 6 * * 7 root test -e /usr/sbin/anacron || run-parts --report /etc/cron.weekly
crontab:13:52 6 1 * * root test -e /usr/sbin/anacron || run-parts --report /etc/cron.monthly
Which makes things run as they should. once you install it you get
crontab looking like:
cron.d/anacron:6:30 7 * * * root test -x /etc/init.d/anacron && /usr/sbin/invoke-rc.d anacron start >/dev/null
cron.daily/0anacron:11:test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || exit 0
cron.daily/0anacron:12:anacron -u cron.daily
cron.monthly/0anacron:11:test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || exit 0
cron.monthly/0anacron:12:anacron -u cron.monthly
crontab:11:25 6 * * * root test -e /usr/sbin/anacron || run-parts --report /etc/cron.daily
crontab:12:47 6 * * 7 root test -e /usr/sbin/anacron || run-parts --report /etc/cron.weekly
crontab:13:52 6 1 * * root test -e /usr/sbin/anacron || run-parts --report /etc/cron.monthly
cron.weekly/0anacron:11:test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || exit 0
cron.weekly/0anacron:12:anacron -u cron.weekly
It should be an essential package as it isn't one, but the installer
should probably install it as part of a workstation task or the
like. That is an installer setup issue though and if it isn't in there
it should probably be submitted as a suggestion for the installer
people.
> --
> Marc Wilson | Flattery will get you everywhere.
> msw@cox.net |
>
>
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