How to Set Up Cron Jobs with PHP and Various File Types
This guide offers detailed examples of commands for setting up and managing Cron Jobs. For further insights and explanations on Cron Jobs, explore our series of articles dedicated to Cron Job configurations and best practices by clicking Related Articles.
Important: The lines below are examples of command lines. Bold sections must be changed.
Depending on the home directory your account resides on you may need to adjust /home/ to /home#/. To view the home directory for your account, simply view the stats column on the main cPanel page of your account and look for the home directory.
Cron Jobs with PHP and other File Type
Please note: The minimum PHP version on our Shared hosting servers is currently at 8.1. Keep an eye out for communications on when your account will be updated and what changes, if any, you will need to make. For more information on updating content for PHP compatibility, read our guide on What to do if your Site Does not Work with Newer Versions of PHP.
PHP
Command to run a PHP5 cron job:
php /home/username/public_html/cron.php
Optional flags are sometimes required for a PHP cron job:
php -q /home/username/public_html/cron.php
Command to use a specific php.ini file:
php -c /home/username/public_html/php.ini /home/username/public_html/myscript.php
Command to GET a remote file:
/usr/bin/GET http://www.example.com/file.php
Perl
Command to run a CGI cron job:
perl /home/username/public_html/cgi-bin/file.pl
SSH
Command to run a shell script cron job:
/bin/sh /home/username/public_html/file.sh
MySQL
It is good practice to not type your password out in the following commands but to use the -p flag alone and have the system prompt you for the password. This is why your password stays secure and is never on the server as plain text.
Command to import a database:
mysql -u mysql_user -ppassword database_name < backup.sql
Command to export a database:
mysqldump -u mysql_user -ppassword database_name > backup.sql
Related Articles
- Cron Job Basics
- How to Set Up Cron Jobs in cPanel
- How to Run a Cron At a Specific Date and Time
- How to Use a Specific php.ini File with Cron Jobs
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You may also refer to our Knowledge Base articles to help answer common questions and guide you through various setup, configuration, and troubleshooting steps.