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`at` command: what is the meaning of the option `-w`?

rated 0 times [ 11] [ 0] / answers: 1 / hits: 927 / 3 Years ago, tue, november 9, 2021, 12:44:20

I have a script that uses at command. And sometimes I receiving emails as this one:

Date: Mon,  3 Jul 2017 14:18:00 +0300 (EEST)

From: root <[email protected]>

To: [email protected]

Subject: Output from your job      173



Another app is currently holding the xtables lock. Perhaps you want to use the -w option?

Of course I would use this option to prevent messages like this, but first I want to know what is the meaning of this option. Unfortunately -w option is not listed in man at.

Does anyone know what exactly this option means?

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3 Years ago

answered 3 Years ago hamostic · Accepted Answer

The message is from your job, not from at (and at also does not have a -w option BTW). By default, at sends STDOUT and STDERR from any job via mail, unless specified otherwise.

Presumably, your job was a iptables task -- based on the message regarding xtables. And the -w (--wait) option of iptables waits for the xtables lock to be released, as suggested in the message.