Trying to configure a cron-based daily backup for a vCMP guest, running v13.1.1. As root, using crontab -e, I've added the following lines: 27 8 * * * /usr/bin/tmsh save sys ucs config1.ucs 29 8 * * * /usr/bin/scp /var/local/ucs/config1.ucs user@server:/backups/config1.ucs After exiting, I've verified the changes have saved. Logs reflect that a change has been made. These jobs never happen based on the timestamp of the backup not changing, nor is either job recorded in the logs. I can manually run the same command, and they work successfully. Any help is appreciated.

Solution Information: The jobs were running, but not at specified times. The root cause was that the guest had not been restarted since the time zone was set, and cron was using the previous time zone. See K14113 for the details on how to restart the cron daemon.

Have you tried removing "/usr/bin" and just leaving the command "tmsh save sys ucs config1.ucs" You could also do something like this: Make a bash script file in /config for example that says tmsh save sys ucs scp -p /var/local/ucs/ root@:/var/local/ucs/ Then just point the cron to run that. 27 8 * * * /config/ Hope that helps! If it does please up-vote and select this answer, it'd be greatly appreciated! -Dylan

I added "/usr/bin/" only after the first attempts failed. Good idea about the bash script, just tried that also did not work. I went back through cron logs and verified that every other item in root's cron is running properly.

Can you post what you have in the bash script and on the crontab currently that isn't working?

Here is requested info, shell script runs via commandline. The enclosed crontab file is the default config for a new install, along with the one added backup.sh line. Is there an extra step when modifying the crontab on an F5 v/s a regular linux box? -rwxr-xr-x. 1 root root 166 2019-02-13 13:05 backup.sh backup.sh !/bin/bash /usr/bin/tmsh save sys ucs config1.ucs /usr/bin/scp /var/local/ucs/config1.ucs user@server:/backups/config1.ucs [root@DEV1:Active:In Sync] ~ crontab -l MAILTO="" 1-59/10 * * * * /usr/bin/diskmonitor 0 */4 * * * /usr/bin/diskwearoutstat 12 17 * * * /usr/bin/updatecheck -a 12 17 06 * * /usr/bin/phonehome_upload 6 * * * * /usr/bin/copy_rrd save 06 13 * * * /root/backup.sh

Yeah if that backup.sh file is located in /root/ then it should be working... I see you had it set to run at 1:06pm, are you in central time?

Crontab for backups - Entries not running

22 Replies

Dylan_375544
Cirrocumulus
Feb 13, 2019
I did
23 13 * * * tmsh save sys ucs thisisatest2.ucs

so it would create one a 1:23 and that just worked.

(Still on 13.1.1.3)

Check the time on your device maybe?
jaikumar_f5
MVP
Feb 14, 2019
@Chuck,

4 15 * * *
- Here 4 is the minute & 15 is the hour.

So everyday, at 03:04 PM (box timezone), the cron will get executed. See what your box timezone is. And put your cron accordingly.
Philip_Jonsson
MVP
Feb 14, 2019
Hey Chuck!

Just as a side note, have you checked out this iApp for backups? I'm using it in multiple environments and it is working great, even on version 13.1.1.2. It will fix all of the cron jobs and you access it from the WebGUI.

It will let you define how often the backup runs and also enter the credentials to the remote storage. It will send over the UCS archives and it will automatically rotate (delete old ones) up to 10 files. I'm sure this can be modified if you want. I think it works great. :)

You can find it here:

F5 iApp Automated Backup

I hope this helps!
Chuck_383680
Cirrus
Feb 14, 2019
I'm still looking into this, but the cron job did run, just not at the desired time. I'm going to go back through the configs because this does look like a timezone setting issue, just not the normal use of UTC. Here are the details:

From Crontab:

29 15 * * * /root/backup.sh

Timestamp from file:

-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 3.5M 2019-02-13 17:29 config-dev1.ucs

Time Information from Guest:

[root@DEV1:Active:In Sync] ucs date

Thu Feb 14 08:22:44 CST 2019

Time Server Sync Information:

[root@DEV1:Active:In Sync] ucs ntpq -p

remote refid st t when poll reach delay offset jitter

==============================================================================

*TIME1 129.6.15.28 2 u 962 1024 377 0.335 0.048 0.708

+TIME2 129.6.15.28 2 u 73 1024 377 0.346 -0.005 0.102
Chuck_383680
Cirrus
Feb 14, 2019
Also, hardware clock is reflecting UTC:

[root@DEV1:Active:In Sync] ucs hwclock

Thu 14 Feb 2019 02:31:06 PM CST -0.000367 seconds
Chuck_383680
Cirrus
Feb 14, 2019
SOLVED!

I had not restarted this guest since it was built. See K14113 for the details.

Thank you Dylan and jaikumar for your help.
Dylan_375544
Cirrocumulus
Feb 14, 2019
Ahhhh glad you got to the bottom of it! I was planning on mentioning this morning to look in to time settings/zones more.

Thanks for sharing the solution.

If you don't mind selecting an answer so people browsing DevCentral know this issue is solved, it would be greatly appreciated!

Have a good one Chuck!
Chuck_383680
Cirrus
Feb 14, 2019
Solution Information: The jobs were running, but not at specified times. The root cause was that the guest had not been restarted since the time zone was set, and cron was using the previous time zone. See K14113 for the details on how to restart the cron daemon.
- Dylan_375544
  Cirrocumulus
  Feb 14, 2019
  What I meant was to select an answer, like my original answer post. Once you select it as the "user selected answer" it shows as "answered" on the main page.
  
  (:
- Chuck_383680
  Cirrus
  Feb 14, 2019
  Thanks. I'm still getting used to this. And, thanks again for the help!

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Crontab for backups - Entries not running

22 Replies

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