Hi, since cron uses run-parts to execute the scripts from /etc/cron.{daily,weekly,monthly}, and run-parts is documented to execute the contents from the directory in lexical sort-order, packages could theoretically depend on a certain execution order of cron jobs and fail miserably if the order is violated.
I am wondering whether there are packages that actually do depend on that and how do find out short of unpacking the entire archive and inspecting the scripts. Scripts with such dependencies will probably fail miserably on systems that are using systemd-cron instead of one of the "classic" cron packaes since systemd will start all cron jobs in parallel, or if a feature like RandomizeDelay (see man systemd.timer) is used to reduce the impact in random order. Do you people know about packages that have cron jobs that depend on execution order? Would it probably be a good idea to proactively put language into the Policy Manual Chapter 9.5 that scripts put into the /etc/cron.{daily,weekly,monthly} MUST NOT depend on any execution order and MUST be prepared to run in parallel? Greetings Marc -- -------------------------------------- !! No courtesy copies, please !! ----- Marc Haber | " Questions are the | Mailadresse im Header Mannheim, Germany | Beginning of Wisdom " | Nordisch by Nature | Lt. Worf, TNG "Rightful Heir" | Fon: *49 621 72739834