#256588 anacron: /etc/anacrontab.local

Package:
anacron
Source:
anacron
Description:
cron-like program that doesn't go by time
Submitter:
Dan Jacobson
Date:
2017-09-30 11:21:08 UTC
Severity:
wishlist
#256588#5
Date:
2004-06-27 19:55:34 UTC
From:
To:
Upon upgrade, I will get:
Configuration file `/etc/anacrontab'
 ==> Modified (by you or by a script) since installation.
 ==> Package distributor has shipped an updated version.
   What would you like to do about it ?  Your options are:
    Y or I  : install the package maintainer's version...

Because I have a lot of e.g.,
66     22      jidanni.fridge    echo defrost the fridge
in /etc/anacrontab because there's just no other way to get the same
functionality.  Therefore there should be a separate file designated
for such jazz, or a way to allow regular users to have there own
anacrontabs.

Anyway, for now, there could be a /etc/anacrontab.local which could
also be read if it exits.  Or call it /etc/anacrontab.extra .
#256588#10
Date:
2004-07-05 07:43:39 UTC
From:
To:
Erm. Isn't exactly what the options -t and -S of anacrontab is made for?

anacron(8)
[...]
       -t anacrontab
              Use specified anacrontab, rather than the default
[...]
       -S spooldir
              Use  the  specified spooldir to store timestamps in.
              This option is required for users who wish
              to run anacron themselves.

By the way, the page should be moved to section 1 if the program is not
anymore only usable by root.

Bye, Mt.
#256588#15
Date:
2004-07-08 05:44:38 UTC
From:
To:
Martin> Erm. Isn't exactly what the options -t and -S of anacrontab is made for?

OK, in /usr/share/doc/anacron/README(.Debian ?) please give instructions how
a regular user would setup, say, his defrost the fridge reminder.  There
are several steps and it is not as simple as editing /etc/anacrontab.
#256588#20
Date:
2008-05-24 09:17:16 UTC
From:
To:
Hi, the attached patch adds support for a /etc/anacrontab.local in the
package. Note that you must be root to modify it. Still, I think it is
a good place to put your "defrost the fridge reminders" so that they
don't interfere with upgrades to the configuration file
/etc/anacrontab.

Regards,
Javi (Vicho)
#256588#25
Date:
2009-10-27 17:15:10 UTC
From:
To:
I think this bug might be obsolete because anacron now picks up regular
cron jobs from /etc/cron.daily etc., so you can put your custom jobs
there without creating any trouble with upgrades.
Editing /etc/anacrontab directly should probably be regarded as
semi-deprecated, just like editing /etc/crontab is.
#256588#30
Date:
2017-09-30 10:41:41 UTC
From:
To:
Dear Maintainer,

It looked like my machine hadn't run anacron for many months,
and for some undetermined reason, it wasn't reported.
After some checks, I found in syslog :
anacron: Error opening /etc/anacrontab: no such file or directory

When I checked, the message was accurate.

My first attempt was to ask apt-get to reinstall, in fact, I tried
that before I found the cause in syslog. But the reinstall didn't
paste a copy of anacrontab into /etc. I see that as a bug, which
is why I'm filing this.

I don't know why anacrontab got deleted.  I had several attempts
at recovering this machine from a bungled shutdown and restart,
so many reasons are possible.

While verifying cause and effect for this, I find that systemctl
is now recognising the problem,

systemctl --state=failed
  UNIT                 LOAD   ACTIVE SUB    DESCRIPTION
● anacron.service      loaded failed failed Run anacron jobs
... more messages

I think that on a reinstall of anacron, it should at least check
whether /etc/anacrontab is there on the system, and report an
error, or warning, if not.

I've just noticed that a bunch of other anacron-related files
are missing (see below) and I will hold off on fixing those
until after I do some backups.