fcron (5) Linux Manual Page

fcron.conf – configuration file for fcron and fcrontab

Description

Abstract

This page describes the syntax used for the configuration file of fcrontab(1), fcrondyn(1) and fcron(8). Blank lines, line beginning by a hash sign (#) (which are considered comments), leading blanks and tabs are ignored. Each line in a fcron.conf file is of the form name = value

where the blanks around equal-sign (=) are ignored and optional. Trailing blanks are also ignored. The following names are recognized (default value in parentheses): "VALID VARIABLES IN A FCRON.CONF FILE"

fcrontabs=directory (/usr/local/var/spool/fcron)

Fcron spool directory.

pidfile=file-path (/usr/local/var/run/fcron.pid)

Location of fcron pid file (needed by fcrontab to work properly).

fifofile=file-path (/usr/local/var/run/fcron.fifo)

Location of fcron fifo file (needed by fcrondyn to communicate with fcron).

fcronallow=file-path (/usr/local/etc/fcron.allow)

Location of fcron.allow file.

fcrondeny=file-path (/usr/local/etc/fcron.deny)

Location of fcron.deny file.

shell=file-path (/bin/sh)

Location of default shell called by fcron when running a job. When fcron runs a job, fcron uses the value of SHELL from the fcrontab if any, otherwise it uses the value from fcron.conf if any, or in last resort the value from /etc/passwd.

sendmail=file-path (/usr/sbin/sendmail)

Location of mailer program called by fcron to send job output.

editor=file-path (/usr/bin/vi)

Location of default editor used when invoking "fcrontab -e". File-paths and directories are complete and absolute (i.e. beginning by a "/").

To run several instances of fcron simultaneously on the same system, you must use a different configuration file for each instance. Each instance must have a different fcrontabs, pidfile and fifofile. Then, use fcron(8)’s command line option -c to select which config file (so which instance) you refer to.

Files

/usr/local/etc/fcron.conf

Configuration file for fcron, fcrontab and fcrondyn: contains paths (spool dir, pid file) and default programs to use (editor, shell, etc). See fcron.conf(5) for more details.

/usr/local/etc/fcron.allow

Users allowed to use fcrontab and fcrondyn (one name per line, special name "all" acts for everyone)

/usr/local/etc/fcron.deny

Users who are not allowed to use fcrontab and fcrondyn (same format as allow file)

/usr/local/etc/pam.d/fcron (or /usr/local/etc/pam.conf)

PAM configuration file for fcron. Take a look at pam(8) for more details.

See Also

fcrontab(1),

fcrondyn(1),

fcrontab(5),

fcron.conf(5),

fcron(8).

If you’re learning how to use fcron from scratch, I suggest that you read the HTML version of the documentation (if your are not reading it right now! :) ): the content is the same, but it is easier to navigate thanks to the hyperlinks.

Author

Thibault Godouet <fcron [at] free.fr>