Re: [cobalt-users] crontab error

["Scott w" <webbcite@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> > /bin/bash: root: command not found

> I have now taken "root" out of each of the lines in the crontab file >and 
> it
> seems to be working but I wonder if I've caused myself some potential
> problems?

Actually, I was the one who posted the messages a week or so ago.  There was 
no response from the list to get me to the correct answer but I do have the 
run down for you.

There are actually two different crontabs on the system.  There is a system 
crontab in /etc/crontab.  This is a text file that is for the system 
crontab.  It is run by root and the syntax of each cron job within the file 
is:

04,34 * * * * root run-parts /etc/cron.half-hourly

Notice the "root" befroe run-ports.  This tells it to run the job as the 
root user.

The other type of crontabs are for each individual user.  Each user can 
setup their own crontab using the crontab -u username -e command.  This will 
give them access to their own job.  The syntax for this type of crontab is:

04,34 * * * * run-parts /etc/cron.half-hourly

Notice that there is not "root" before run-parts.  That is because it runs 
as the user that is specified in the crontab -u username -e command.  You 
will also notice that the /etc/crontab probably doesn't match what you 
entered.  That is another indication that there are two seperate crontab 
"systems".

So what you have done is created a crontab using the -e command and you are 
specifying the 04,34 * * * * root run-parts /etc/cron.half-hourly style, 
which will give you an error because it can not identify the "root" command.

You have not messed anything up.  You just need to go into your crontab -e 
script and remove the "root" from each job.

Hope this helps...

Scott
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