Tinker: Created page with "Stolen directly from http://www.jules.fm/Logbook/files/add_cron_job_vmware.html because the site seems only semi-functional (& might go away...). ==Add cron Job to VMware ESX..."

2020-06-12T03:32:07Z

Created page with "Stolen directly from http://www.jules.fm/Logbook/files/add_cron_job_vmware.html because the site seems only semi-functional (& might go away...). ==Add cron Job to VMware ESX..."

New page

Stolen directly from http://www.jules.fm/Logbook/files/add_cron_job_vmware.html because the site seems only semi-functional (& might go away...).

==Add cron Job to VMware ESX/ESXi==

This explains how to add a cron job to VMware in such a way that it will still be there after reboots.

 Having [http://www.virtubytes.com/2017/04/21/enable-ssh-vmware-esxi-6-5/ enabled ssh access] to your ESX/ESXi server, ssh in as root. Firstly, add the cron job to the root crontab: 

#Edit <code>/var/spool/cron/crontabs/root</code>
#Add the line (all on one line) <code>5 0 * * * /full/path/to/script arguments/with/full/path > /full/path/to/logfile 2>&1</code>
#Run the command "<code>'''cat /var/run/crond.pid'''</code>" That will print the process number of the running crond, such as 12345
#Run the command "<code>'''kill 12345'''</code>" where "<code>12345</code>" should be replaced with the number output by the previous command

For details of the meaning of "5 0 * * *" (5 minutes past midnight every day) read the man page for crontab(5) on any Unix/Linux server, or else [http://www.manpagez.com/man/5/crontab/ on the web].

 Now, add a command to <code>/etc/rc.local.d/local.sh</code> to re-generate the cron job when ESX/ESXi reboots 

#Edit <code>/etc/rc.local.d/local.sh</code>, using a command such as "<code>'''vi /etc/rc.local.d/local.sh'''</code>".
#At the end of the file, add 3 lines (using "'''G'''" then "'''O'''" in vi). The first kills crond, the second adds the new cron job to the root crontab file, ad the third restarts crond:
#*<code>/bin/kill $(cat /var/run/crond.pid)</code>
#*<code>/bin/echo '5 0 * * * /full/path/to/script arguments/with/full/path > /full/path/to/logfile 2>&1' >> /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root</code>
#*<code>/usr/lib/vmware/busybox/bin/busybox crond</code>
#Save and exit the editor (Press the "'''Esc'''" key then "''':wq'''" then press "'''Return'''" in vi)
#Run the command "<code>'''auto-backup.sh'''</code>" so that the change to <code>/etc/rc.local</code> survives a reboot.

Every time you change the cron job, remember to update <code>/etc/rc.local</code> as well and run the "<code>'''auto-backup.sh'''</code>" command to backup the new <code>/etc/rc.local</code> file.

ESXi - Add cron Job - Revision history

Tinker: Created page with "Stolen directly from http://www.jules.fm/Logbook/files/add_cron_job_vmware.html because the site seems only semi-functional (& might go away...). ==Add cron Job to VMware ESX..."