Strange things when running script via cron

[bertieuk]

I have a strange problem.
I have written a script that backs up a linux machine. If I run this script from the OS then all seems to be fine.

Put it in a cron job then only 180KB backs up. But funny thing is that this script works ok on redhat and TAO

The code is as follows......(How do I outline code on Tek Tips?)


dateselect() {
case $1
in
"1") DOW=Monday;
SHORTDOW=MON;;
"2") DOW=Tuesday;
SHORTDOW=TUE;;
"3") DOW=Wednesday;
SHORTDOW=WED;;
"4") DOW=Thursday;
SHORTDOW=THU;;
"5") DOW=Friday;
SHORTDOW=FRI;;
"6") DOW=Saturday;
SHORTDOW=SAT;;
"7") DOW=Sunday;
SHORTDOW=SUN;;
esac
}

MYDATE=`date +%u`

dateselect $MYDATE

# Clear the backup directory prior to the copy
rm -f /backup/*

if [ "$DOW" = Wednesday ]
then
cd /
tar -cvzf /backup/auth1.ptstream_FULL_WK1.tgz ./ \
--exclude='./backup' \
--exclude='./dev' \
--exclude='./initrd' \
--exclude='./opt' \
--exclude='./lost+found' \
--exclude='./misc' \
--exclude='./var/lib/mysql' \
--exclude='./var/spool' \
--exclude='./proc' \
--exclude='./floppy' \
--exclude='./lost+found' \
--exclude='./tmp' \
--exclude='./var/powermail' \
--exclude='./var/log' \
--exclude='./cdrom' \
--exclude='./mnt'
else
cd /
tar -cvzf /backup/linux1_Daily_$SHORTDOW.tgz ./home ./root ./etc
fi


Thanks

Si

 

[Chacalinc]

(How do I outline code on Tek Tips?)

write the code inside:
[ code ]
..your code here..
[ /code ]

(with no spaces)

1. try to add "#!/bin/bash" in the first line of your script in order to open an independent bash shell.
2. instead of:
cd /
tar -cvzf /backup/linux1_Daily_$SHORTDOW.tgz ./home ./root ./etc

I should put
tar -cvzf /backup/linux1_Daily_$SHORTDOW.tgz /home /root /etc

Note I erase the . in the ./home ./root and ./etc. The same for WED day.

3. Is your cron running as root or another user?

Cheers.

 

[bertieuk]

Thank Chacalinc for the reply

I already have "#!/bin/bash" with the script....just missed it out of the above listing.

I thought by using ./home ./root ./etc would allow me to reference a restore from my current path and give me the oppotunity to restore files without the potential danger of overwriting.

I will make the changes to see if there are any differences.

Thanks

Si

 

[bertieuk]

I have tried changing the references ./home ./root ./etc to /home /root /etc (removing the cd /)

No change.

Also this only seems to be happening on Debian Linux....I have tested on redhat and TAO and they are OK.

Thanks Si

 

[PHV]

No symbolic links not followed by the tar in the Debian box ?

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ222-2244

 

[bertieuk]

I've added -h to tar but I'm still getting the same results.

The full and daily tar backups still produce a file of aprox 181KB......but if run manually the process runs ok.

Si

 

[PHV]

Have you tried a diff between the tar -t lists to discover the missing files ?

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ222-2244

 

[bertieuk]

PHV

Yea thanks

I had already looked at the archive and it seem to stop within the /home directory.

Si

 

[KenCunningham]

Any particular place in /home?