How to Setup Cron Jobs on Centos 8

What you will read?

1 Step 1: Update System Packages
2 Step 2: Install Cron (if not installed)
3 Step 3: Enable and Start the Cron Service
4 Step 4: Edit the User Crontab
5 Step 5: Examples of Cron Jobs
6 Step 6: Manage Cron Jobs

Cron is a time-based job scheduler in Linux that allows you to automate repetitive tasks such as backups, updates, or running scripts. On CentOS 8, cron is managed through the cronie package, which is usually installed by default.

Step 1: Update System Packages

Before setting up cron jobs, update your CentOS system:

sudo dnf update -y

Step 2: Install Cron (if not installed)

Check if cronie is installed:

rpm -q cronie

If it’s not installed, run:

sudo dnf install cronie -y

Step 3: Enable and Start the Cron Service

Make sure the crond service is running and enabled at startup:

sudo systemctl enable crond
sudo systemctl start crond

Verify the status:

systemctl status crond

Step 4: Edit the User Crontab

To schedule tasks, use the crontab command:

crontab -e

This opens the crontab file in the default text editor. Each cron job follows this format:

* * * * * command_to_run
- - - - -
| | | | |  
| | | | └── Day of week (0 - 7, Sunday = 0 or 7)  
| | | └──── Month (1 - 12)  
| | └────── Day of month (1 - 31)  
| └──────── Hour (0 - 23)  
└────────── Minute (0 - 59)

Step 5: Examples of Cron Jobs

Run a script every day at midnight:
```
0 0 * * * /home/user/myscript.sh
```
Run a backup every Sunday at 2 AM:
```
0 2 * * 0 /usr/local/bin/backup.sh
```
Run a command every 5 minutes:

*/5 * * * * /usr/bin/command

Step 6: Manage Cron Jobs

View current user’s cron jobs:
```
crontab -l
```
Remove all cron jobs for the current user:
```
crontab -r
```
List system-wide cron jobs:
```
cat /etc/crontab
```

You have successfully set up cron jobs on CentOS 8. With cron, you can easily automate tasks to save time and ensure processes run on schedule.

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