Cron Job does not Run but does Manually

[♥geoffreywalton]

Here is a tip that may help you keep your hair for a few more years.

 

You set up a cron job and it gives an error such as

 

Parse error</b>:  syntax error, unexpected '{' in

 

Then if you run the same script from the command line it runs perfectly.

 

Naturally enough you are a little confused!!

 

Try running a script containing just this code

 

<?php
echo 'My PHP Version: ' . phpversion();
?>

 

and then run it manually and using cron.

 

In my case with a 1and1 server, cron was runnng version 4.4.9 and the site 5.4.14.

 

The reason for the error, in my case, was that the php command try is not available in the version of php being used by cron.

 

HTH

 

G

[MrPhil]

In general, "cron" runs the Linux command line in a very different environment than the webserver provides. Don't count on anything being the same -- explicitly give directories, PHP versions to invoke, etc. Don't rely on default settings on anything being the same between the two -- explicitly give all settings and switches.

 

Another common "gotcha" is that the command line usually does not support URL Query Strings. You need to give any parameters following the PHP file to run, separated by spaces. They can be either positional or varname=value pairs, but the PHP code needs to be modified to read them.

[♥geoffreywalton]

After contacing my host, 1and1, their explanation of their undocumented feature is as follows:-

 

The version of php used by cron is dependent on the command used in the cron job.

 

For example if you are using /usr/local/bin/php in your cron job it will use PHP 4.

 

To use PHP 5.2 you will use /usr/local/bin/php5 and to use PHP 5.4 you will use /usr/bin/php6.

So, in the unlikely event you get caught be this the secret once again is contact your host!!

 

HTH

 

G

[MrPhil]

if you are using /usr/local/bin/php in your cron job it will use PHP 4.

 

To use PHP 5.2 you will use /usr/local/bin/php5

 

to use PHP 5.4 you will use /usr/bin/php6

Nice and intuitive! ;) You'd think they'd offer php52, php53, php54, etc.

[♥geoffreywalton]

Not really sure they should offer anything other than the same version as the site.

 

Cheers

 

G