Cron jobs on Linux

Posts: 18 · Tio 20 Nov 2021, 00:53

The tutorial you recommend is outdated. https://freefilesync.org/manual.php?topic=schedule-batch-jobs#linux

Ubuntu doesn't use Unity, and Gnome Schedule seems abandoned. It is either not working or poorly working. Is there an alternative for Linux?

How to create a cron job that starts FFS in GUI mode?

Thanks!

Posts: 309 · bgstack15 20 Nov 2021, 01:34

There are many questions about this already: I searched for them. These might be useful to you:
Ubuntu Server 20.04 LTS (no GUI!) and FFS task creation - FreeFileSync Forum
Ubuntu FFS with root cron job - FreeFileSync Forum
batch job automatic in linux ubuntu - FreeFileSync Forum
Tip - alternative for gnome-schedule on Linux - FreeFileSync Forum

Posts: 18 · Tio 20 Nov 2021, 11:35

I have tried a bunch but since FFS opens in GUI mode then none work really. I am also using Arch and not Debian (like Ubuntu).

Posts: 309 · bgstack15 20 Nov 2021, 14:12

Are you trying to make FreeFileSync in GUI mode regardless if you are logged in or not? Or are you trying to make FreeFileSync run at the time you log in?

FreeFileSync is linked to gtk regardless of running headless, so you need an X11 display server of some sort, even if you only use the root :0 that the login screen (display manager) uses. Or you can run it with xvfb-run within cron.

Posts: 18 · Tio 21 Nov 2021, 12:30

To run when I am logged in. I am trying with cron like

0 23 * * *      /opt/freefilesync/FreeFileSync '/home/tio/Documents/ynhdatafull.ffs_batch'

But that doesn't launch.

Posts: 18 · Tio 21 Nov 2021, 13:22

Ok based on the links you provided I managed to make it work.

Install https://github.com/loimu/zeit - AUR here https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/zeit-git

Then simply add a new cron task as such:

DISPLAY=:0  /opt/freefilesync/FreeFileSync /home/tio/Documents/websitesbackup.ffs_batch