Beyond Linux® From Scratch (systemd edition) - Version 8.3

Chapter 12. System Utilities

Fcron-3.2.1

Introduction to Fcron

The Fcron package contains a periodical command scheduler which aims at replacing Vixie Cron.

This package is known to build and work properly using an LFS-8.3 platform.

Package Information

Fcron Dependencies

Optional

An MTA, text editor (default is vi from the Vim-8.1 package), Linux-PAM-1.3.0, and DocBook-utils-0.6.14

User Notes: http://wiki.linuxfromscratch.org/blfs/wiki/fcron

Installation of Fcron

For security reasons, an unprivileged user and group for Fcron should be created (perform as the root user): 

groupadd -g 22 fcron &&
useradd -d /dev/null -c "Fcron User" -g fcron -s /bin/false -u 22 fcron

Install Fcron by running the following commands: 

./configure --prefix=/usr          \
            --sysconfdir=/etc      \
            --localstatedir=/var   \
            --without-sendmail     \
            --with-boot-install=no &&
make

This package does not come with a test suite.

Now, as the root user: 

make install

DESTDIR install must be done as root user.

Command Explanations

--without-sendmail: By default, Fcron will attempt to use the sendmail command from an MTA package to email you the results of the fcron script. This switch is used to disable default email notification. Omit the switch to enable the default. Alternatively, you can use the --with-sendmail=</path/to/MTA command> to use a different mailer command.

--with-boot-install=no: This prevents installation of the bootscript included with the package.

--with-editor=</path/to/editor>: This switch allows you to set the default text editor.

--with-dsssl-dir=</path/to/dsssl-stylesheets>: May be used if you have DocBook-utils-0.6.14 installed. Currently, the dsssl stylesheets are located at /usr/share/sgml/docbook/dsssl-stylesheets-1.79.

Configuring Fcron

Config Files

/etc/fcron.conf, /etc/fcron.allow, and /etc/fcron.deny

Configuration Information

There are no required changes in any of the config files. Configuration information can be found in the man page for fcron.conf.

fcron scripts are written using fcrontab. Refer to the fcrontab man page for proper parameters to address your situation.

If Linux-PAM is installed, two PAM configuration files are installed in /etc/pam.d. Alternatively if /etc/pam.d is not used, the installation will append two configuration sections to the existing /etc/pam.conf file. You should ensure the files match your preferences. Modify them as required to suit your needs.

Systemd Unit

Enable fcron to start at boot using the previously installed systemd unit. 

systemctl enable fcron

Contents

Installed Programs: fcron, fcrondyn, fcronsighup, and fcrontab
Installed Libraries: None
Installed Directories: /usr/share/doc/fcron-3.2.1 and /var/spool/fcron

Short Descriptions

fcron

is the scheduling daemon.

fcrondyn

is a user tool intended to interact with a running fcron daemon.

fcronsighup

instructs fcron to reread the Fcron tables.

fcrontab

is a program used to install, edit, list and remove the tables used by fcron.

Last updated on 2018-08-21 15:38:20 -0700