This explains how to add a cron job to VMware in such a way that it will still be there after reboots.
Having to your ESX/ESXi server, ssh in as root.
Firstly, add the cron job to the root crontab:
Edit /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root
Add the line (all on one line) */2 * * * * /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/kkk.sh
Run the command "cat /var/run/crond.pid" That will print the process number of the running crond, such as 12345
Run the command "kill 12345" where "12345" should be replaced with the number output by the previous command
if no reboot # busybox crond
For details of
the meaning of "5 0 * * *" (5 minutes past midnight every day) read the
man page for crontab(5) on any Unix/Linux server, or else .
Now, add a command to /etc/rc.local to re-generate the cron job when ESX/ESXi reboots
Edit /etc/rc.local, using a command such as "vi /etc/rc.local".
At the end of the file, add 3 lines (using "G" then "O" in vi). The first kills crond, the second adds the new cron job to the root crontab file, ad the third restarts crond: /bin/kill $(cat /var/run/crond.pid) /bin/echo "*/2 * * * * /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/kkk.sh" >> /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root /bin/busybox crond
Save and exit the editor (Press the "Esc" key then ":wq" then press "Return" in vi)
Run the command "auto-backup.sh" so that the change to /etc/rc.local survives a reboot.
Every time you change the cron job, remember to update /etc/rc.local as well and run the "auto-backup.sh" command to backup the new /etc/rc.local file.
