40

I want to do a complete server backup.

I already have my backup script copying all of the html/php files for the web app, and the mysql databases, placing them into a .tar.gz file.

How can I add the crontab files to that backup?

Whenever I save the crontab, it goes to /tmp folder.. and when I check that folder immediately afterwards, it is empty.

Improve this question
3

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
57

You could just backup the entire /var/spool/cron directory. It contains all crontabs for all users.

Improve this answer
0
29

You can periodically run crontab -l > my_crontab.backup to backup the crontab into file.

Improve this answer
12

just backup the file /var/spool/cron/USER_NAME

Improve this answer
2
  • 2
    For Ubuntu 14.04 at least, the relevant files are in the directory /var/spool/cron/crontabs.
    – Kenny Evitt
    Commented Jan 22, 2015 at 1:31
  • @KennyEvitt and you must be the root to access it sudo -i
    – NineCattoRules
    Commented Apr 23, 2016 at 9:43
5

I made my backup into a cron job.

0 9 * * * crontab -l | gzip > /backups/'crontab-'$(date +"\%Y\%m\%d-\%H\%M\%S")'.gz'
Improve this answer
1
  • Seriously, you gzip it? Is that even reducing the file size?
    – Cookie
    Commented Oct 31, 2023 at 14:01

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .