Cron jobs are a type of recurring task in Linux distributions that use the “cron” command to operate. It’s used to set up automations that run at specific times and intervals so they don’t have to be run manually every time.
Sometimes people use the term “cron jobs” to refer to programmed repeated tasks that aren’t strictly set up in Linux. The general idea is the same, it’s still referring to the types of tasks someone might use cron for.
What tasks are cron jobs used for?
The types of jobs cron is used for are often tasks that run in the background, can be scheduled ahead of time, or are repeated at a specified interval. Some examples include:
- monitoring if a system is responding
- sending automated emails
- generating reports
- checking if software is up to date
- running backups
There are a lot of small jobs that, while important, could easily be programmed to run independently. Automating backups for files and systems is a great example. It can be time intensive, depending on the resource load, and it’s important to do it regularly. Automating backups can make it easier to have regular backups, as long as the cron job is working.
How do I know if cron jobs are working?
Cron jobs run in the background so you don’t have to spend time on them. However, the cron function doesn’t have a way to tell you if the job ran or not, or if it encountered a bug or another failure. To know if your cron jobs are running in the background as they should, you’ll need to set up a monitoring system that can alert you if the job doesn’t execute.
Monitoring systems like Pulsetto work by constantly checking to see if the system is working, and if that check returns a failure, it sends a notification to you. It takes the guesswork out of background automations. You don’t have to cross your fingers and hope things are working properly, or keep checking to see if the automation ran.
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