2

I'm experiencing a strange problem where occasionally the at command appears to not be running the command I've configured it to run.

For example:

at -t 201510071042 runsomescript <Ctrl-D>

runsomescript does not run at 2015/10/07 10:42am, for some reason. Where can I see why at failed to run the command? I'm looking for some kind of log file for the at process.

Also, I am aware at sends mail. Having said that, I'm not getting an email either when at fails to execute the command.

If I run at -lov immediately after submitting the job, I see it in the queue to be ran at the appropriate time.

Additional info as of 2016-02-17

When the at command fails, mail contains the following "Cron Job Failure" message:

Cron: 0481-072 Cannot change to your home directory.
Improve this question
12
  • If you can re-test, check the return code from at ($?) as well as the output of at -l (lower-case ELL) to see if your job made it to the queue. I assume that the contents of at.allow and at.deny are not changing in the interim? Commented Oct 9, 2015 at 16:12
  • I suppose I should have added that at -lov does show the job is in the queue, set for the appropriate time. I have no idea what is in at.allow or at.deny; presumably those are global settings? i.e. I'd need root to see them? Commented Oct 9, 2015 at 16:20
  • the at.* files are in /var/adm/cron, which may require root privileges to see. If your jobs are being submitted, though, you're beyond that point. Next thing I wonder about is the shell that it's being run as -- bsh, csh, or ksh. Commented Oct 9, 2015 at 16:31
  • KornShell is the shell. Commented Oct 9, 2015 at 16:31
  • 1
    Problem Management Record (ticket / service request) with IBM - to request help with their software. Commented Nov 2, 2015 at 20:54

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

man at

The at command mails you all output from standard output and standard error for the scheduled commands, unless you redirect that output.

So make sure you can send mail using sendmail, and make sure your script doesn't redirect errors (e.g. to /dev/null).

Improve this answer
4
  • thanks, I should have mentioned in my question that I am aware at sends mail. Having said that, I'm not getting an email either when at fails to execute the command. Commented Oct 8, 2015 at 18:03
  • As the user that this at job ran under, did you check his local mailfile via mail command ? Commented Oct 9, 2015 at 14:43
  • yes, mail typically has output from the at command; however not in these particular instances. Commented Oct 9, 2015 at 16:33
  • I've added an error message into my question that I was able to see (finally) in mail. Commented Feb 17, 2016 at 22:38

You must log in to answer this question.

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.