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How to install changes to /etc/crontab

rated 0 times [ 0] [ 0] / answers: 1 / hits: 4148 / 2 Years ago, mon, january 31, 2022, 12:55:40

If I want to add lines to my system's /etc/crontab, what do I have to do to get them to take effect?

Background:

I'm trying to set up a machine with Ubuntu 13.04 so that it automatically locks/unlocks the monitor during the workday (it's hanging on the wall).

I've done this by adding the following to my /etc/crontab:

00 18  * * mon-fri myuser export DISPLAY:=0 && gnome-screensaver-command -a

00 18  * * mon-fri myuser export DISPLAY:=0 && xset dpms force standby

00 08  * * mon-fri myuser export DISPLAY:=0 && gnome-screensaver-command -d

00 08  * * mon-fri myuser export DISPLAY:=0 && xset dpms force on

The individual commands work fine, but I'm trying to test the crontab entries by setting the minute/day to the upcoming minute. For example, at 1:26PM I set the first two columns to 27 13 and waited until the next minute rolled around. But the commands don't appear to be getting executed. I also tried running sudo crontab /etc/crontab, but it doesn't seem to help.

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cklaceowne

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3 Years ago

answered 2 Years ago etzelmortg · Accepted Answer

Upon further debugging, I've determined that running sudo crontab /etc/crontab is actually reloading the crontab and my commands are being run. Looks like it's just a problem with the specific commands. I was able to determine this by adding echo "test" >> /home/myuser/test.txt && to the beginning of the command.