[Tfug] /etc/crontab vs /etc/cron.*

[Jim Secan]

I would say the primary difference would be that scripts run out of the
/etc/cron.* directories would be run as root and those run via crontab
would be whomever owns the crontab.  If you always run as root (horrified
gasp of disbelief), this point is moot.  

Also, I've not tried running scripts out of the /etc/cron.* directories,
but I don't think you'd have as much (if any) control as to when, for
example, a script in the daily list would be run during the day.  If you're
running this in a crontab, you can specify very precisely when you want it
to run.

Jim

At 02:07 PM 11/19/2008 -0700, you wrote: 
>>>>
Is there any difference between setting scripts to run
via crontab versus dropping a copy in /etc/cron.* (daily/hourly/weekly)?

I understand that crontab runs the scripts within the 
/etc/cron.* directories, but I'm wondering if there's any 
specific advantage to one or the other...I've always used
the respective directories, but is there a difference between 
the two?   

TIA

-- 
Christopher P Robbins
Systems Programmer
Department of English - University of Arizona
1423 East University Blvd.
Modern Languages, Bldg. 67, Room 422
Tucson, Arizona 85719
Phone: (520) 621-3496
Email: <mailto:robbinsc at gmail.com>robbinsc at gmail.com
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