Question

How to schedule a task to linux server system using php script? For example, I need php script to schdule a task for system to run bash script which will backup my files to zip archive? Is there a way to do it?

Answer 1

If you have access to ssh on that machine you can simply schedule your task using linux’s crontab. While logged in, type crontab -e which will bring up an editor with the current cron jobs for that user. The syntax is simple, it is composed from 6 parameters, an example line would be :

* * * * * /usr/bin/php -f /path/to/your/php/file

the parameters stand for :

minute hour day_of_month month day_of_week command_to_run

and the command above will run at_every_minute of_every_hour any_day_of_the_month of_every_month any_day_of_the_week

If you would like to schedule a task to run at 5:05 am on all mondays of every month it will be something like :

5 5 * * 1 /usr/bin/php -f /path/to/your/php/file

A really nice tool is http://corntab.com which will help you schedule your command.