Auto-run of custom unix command (custom wget) on NAS OS

Have you tried using cron?

Not yet.

I know what CRON is. I am using it with relation to web sites, web hosting and running php scripts there.

But at NAS? I have meanwhile discovered following directories, in directory structure:

/etc/cron.d
/etc/cron.daily
/etc/cron.monthly
/etc/cron.weekly

and file

/etc/crontab

Is there some reference how to use this feature ? All the directories, where i was looking for example file, or inspiration, were empty. Or some manual or else forum page, where it could be described?

I really need just to add that command above to be run each 1 hour. Or maybe 4 hours. Nothing else.

Cron is used on many different unix systems for scheduling tasks. There is plenty of information on this available on the web.

Yes, i know, but you could save me a 10 hours of searching.. testing and then fixing my NAS, if something goes terribly wrong.
Maybe this forum was intented to be made for helping people who invested into netgear's products, but then "something has happened" too.

Things like this are SSH hacks and with these you are expected to have some willingness to find out how to do some things by yourself. Otherwise you probably shouldn't be using SSH.

03 */4 * * * /usr/bin/wget --user=***** --password=***** http://sledovanitv.cz/vlc/playlist

Something like this ought to do it. Best not to run a cron script right on the hour.

Ok thanks very much. :oops: Yes i have discovered a big number of nice manuals, but when i started searching for solution there (i mean writing code inspired by manuals) it became very stressful process.

I have also discovered, that linux VI editor has been probably replaced with its some newer version inside NAS OS 6.1.9 and i am even unable to switch it from command mode to edit mode now. OMG. These newer versions :slap:

So basically when was trying to help myself alone, only other more and more problems and difficulties, have appeared. Yes i am awared, that the source is my lack of skill and experience with unix systems.

So I have created file called "playlist" which is placed inside /etc/cron.hourly/ and contains only this line:

wget --user=***** --password=*****http://sledovanitv.cz/vlc/playlist -O /apps/dvblink-tv-server/share/playlist

I was not absolutely sure, if script is executed every hour, but i am convinced, because locally saved file (playlist) changes its content regularly and solution works. Yes it would be nicer to run it not exactly on each hour X:00.

Instructions for using vi are on the MAN page for it which you can find using google on the web. There is also a vi cheat sheet on the web.

Try creating a file in /etc/cron.d with the contents I suggested above.

Hello, yes i know that VI, has online manual and i was already browsing it before, but i found it not user friendly at all and i was unable to find there the switch button key, between edit, insert modes (any other then escape, or insert maybe). They have changed this completely between versions, now it is painful to use it, so i cant use it at all.. Previous versions worked very well and seamless. Back to topic..

i realized, that my file was not run repeatedly by cron, it wasnt run repeatedly at all.

So i have created file "playlist" inside "cron.d" directory with the following content:

 03 */4	* * *	root	/usr/bin/wget --user=*** --password=*** http://sledovanitv.cz/vlc/playlist -O /apps/dvblink-tv-server/share/playlist

- i have tried both with ROOT user typed in (above) and or without it

but problem is, that if i run it by command "run-parts /etc/cron.d/" then it returns execute error, code1.

I have set "chmod +x playlist" for it.

I have also tried to rename "playlist" file inside cron.d folder to "playlist.sh" and then "chmod +x", but then when i run-parts, it gives no error code and target file doesnt change. (so it is not executed OK)

When i have tried multiple times to run the command standalone, it works ok and changes file content (here) /usr/bin/wget --user=*** --password=*** http://sledovanitv.cz/vlc/playlist -O /apps/dvblink-tv-server/share/playlist[/code]

EDIT: only bright idea, i currently have, is to put whole command into .sh file and let cron to execute just this .sh file.. if that can make any difference? I will test and post results.

EDIT2: it doesnt work. Execute error code 1, altough standalone running .sh script works. This is exactly what i hate about linux...

#!/bin/sh
/usr/bin/wget --user=mail@address.com --password=***** http://sledovanitv.cz/vlc/playlist -O /apps/dvblink-tv-server/share/playlist

Did you remember to add a blank line to the end of the script?

I have added empty line to both files.. (one in cron.d directory) called playlist

6 *	* * *	root    /usr/local/bin/playlist.sh

and the second file with script itself called playlist.sh

#!/bin/sh

/usr/bin/wget --user=mail@address.com --password=***** http://sledovanitv.cz/vlc/playlist -O /apps/dvblink-tv-server/share/playlist

but result is still

run-parts: failed to exec /etc/cron.d/playlist: Exec format error
run-parts: /etc/cron.d/playlist exited with return code 1