crontab file format?

[Bruce Marshall]

On Saturday 08 May 2004 05:14 pm, Michael Hipp wrote:
> Every Linux system I remember always uses this format in the
> /etc/crontab file:
>
> 01 * * * * root somecommand
>
> I always thought the "root" above told it to run that command as user
> 'root'. Right/wrong?
>
> Note that none of the manpages about cron or crontab show that
> extraneous "root" in the line. But it works fine.
>
> But if you put that "root" in the line for /home/fred/crontab the bloody
> thing doesn't run. Ever.
>
> Is that the idea that you need that indicator in the systemwide crontab
> but it is not permitted in the user-specific crontabs?
>
> Is there some reason this isn't documented anywhere?
>

Uhhh...   I've never known of a parm of 'root'  but if it were allowed in a 
user crontab, I sure would think that would be a *HUGE* security hole.


> Am I just being grumpy because Saturday is almost over and I've gotten
> nothing done?
>
> Thanks,
> Michael
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-- 
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+ Bruce S. Marshall  bmarsh at bmarsh.com  Bellaire, MI         05/08/04 17:22  +
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
"No man remains quite what he was when he recognizes himself." - Thomas Mann,
  German author (1875-1955)