cron does not execute, sometimes

[Kerryb]

I have set up cron to do tape backup daily, and to run a dayend function of our software. The dayend function requires all users to be logged off. I have found that the cron for both of these functions (in root cron) have failed twice over the last month. I suspect that all users may not be logged off properly when the cron is set to run.
Q1. How long will an idle user stay logged in before connection is terminated?
Q2. If Q1 is never, how can I auto terminate idle users?
Q3. Is there another reason cron is not executing?

 

[edfair]

1) Forever 2)try idleout 3)would add two functions to cron. 1 would be who > file to see who was still logged on prior to EOD. 2 would be ps -a > file to see what was active prior to the time of backup. Assumption that this is a 24/7 machine and nobody has access for shutdown. Have heard of cron problems but I've never experienced them in this exact way.
What OS and what patches?

Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[Kerryb]

New installation 5.06 from 5.05, no patches added since set up Nov, 2000.
I read about idleout in the manuals. I have not worked with SCO very long. Is idleout a background program? Or shoud it be run in cron before my other commands?

 

[edfair]

Can't remember offhand. Think it sets up in /etc/rc2.d/8/userdef. The one place where I set it up it kicked people off after 5 minutes of inactivity.

Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.