Re: [tlug] Efficiently executing a cron job on my webhosting server

[steven smith <sjs@example.com>]

Darren Cook wrote:
> > Also, I tried to simply access the PHP script directly (without
> > wget), because some information I read said that it would be possible
> > if "php was installed as a cgi". However, this doesn't seem to be
> > true on my webhost (assuming I tried to access it in the right way).
>
> Usually typing "php -v" at the commandline will tell you; if not found
> it means it is not installed. Not all web hosting services install the
> commandline version.

Also remember -- the environment is entirely different for a 
cron script.  Only some of your environment will get 
exported by cron.  One of the variables that will be 
different is your path.  I sometimes run a cron command 
something like
printenv | mail me@example.com 2>&1

I'm not absolutely sure about the syntax above.  2>&1 causes 
standard error to be appended to standard out, but I always 
need to play with the syntax to get it right.

I can't even use cron at my current ISP.  They view it as a 
security risk.

Steve S.