Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!bcstec!randall
From: randall@bcstec.boeing.com (Michael Randall)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apollo
Subject: Re: Ping looses its ouput when run by cron
Message-ID: <753@bcstec.boeing.com>
Date: 22 Mar 91 22:01:43 GMT
References: <174@ladwp>
Distribution: na
Organization: Boeing Computer Services, Seattle
Lines: 31

In article <174@ladwp>, carlson (Carlson Peters) writes:
> I have a ksh script that runs the the following ping command:
> 		ping node_name 64 3 1>ping.rpt
> When I run the script from a shell or using 'at' all works fine.  However,
> I really want to run this script from cron.  Problem is, ping.rpt is created
> but empty when cron runs it.  When I tried this from a IBM risc station, it
> ran without a hitch. What am I missing here?


Cron runs /bin/sh by default. You didn't say here so I'm not sure, but
if you want a shell script to run a particular shell you must include
as the first line in the file, from column one, #!/bin/ksh (substitute
your favorite shell in for ksh).
#!/bin/csh
shell stuff.....

The difference in input re-direction could be part of your problem, I'm
not sure since I don't speak "ksh". Also, you should make sure you use a
complete path names to files, and not assume anything.  The less
assumptions the better/safer. The resulting shell script would look like
this:

#!/bin/ksh
/etc/ping node_name 64 3 1> /user/johndoe/ping.rpt

Let me know it that helps, (I do accept E-mail)  :)
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