Setting up a Scheduled Task in Linux

From Cerberus Helpdesk Wiki

Open your crontab (crontab -e at the shell, or using your Control Panel software) and add an entry using:

*/5 * * * * wget -O - -q http://www.your-website/cerb5/cron 2>&1 > /dev/null

Or, if you're not using URL rewriting, use:

*/5 * * * * wget -O - -q http://www.your-website/cerb5/index.php/cron 2>&1 > /dev/null

Be sure to set the full path of wget (for example: /usr/bin/wget). You will get the path by typing

which wget

Include this into your cronjob.

• The */5 means Run Every 5 Minutes.

• If you don't have wget installed on your server you can use lynx, cURL, a PERL script, netcat or any other program capable of requesting the /cron URL from your server. At the worst, you can even set up a scheduled task on your desktop machine to "ping" the URL on your server every 5 minutes.

• Note that Scheduled Jobs will not run more frequently then every 5 min's with these settings. If you want to run it every min. User the line below.

* * * * * wget -O - -q http://www.your-website/cerb5/index.php/cron 2>&1 > /dev/null

• Be sure that under "Helpdesk Config -> General Settings -> Security" the IP of the cron-machine (usually 127.0.0.1) is added. To be super sure, add "127.0.".

• Warning the URL used to call the cron script will be used in notifications generated by said scripts. Don't use localhost no mater want.

• Need instructions for Windows?

Optional: Installing wget from source

1. Visit gnu.org
2. Download the latest release of wget.
3. Extract the archive into a new directory. 'cd' to the new directory.
4. Run ./configure
5. Run make
6. Run make install

The wget command should now be on your path. You can now follow the instructions at the top of this page.

Optional: Installing wget from RPM

1. Visit rpmfind.net
2. Download the latest wget RRM for your platform.
3. Run rpm -i filename.rpm (or the equivalent command for your platform).