Is there any difference between creating a CRON tab using 0/5 and */5?
For example:
0/5 * * * *
vs
*/5 * * * *
1 Answer
This IBM support article explains how stepping works. In the case of */5, it would occur every 5 minutes (0, 5, 10, etc). That is the same as 0-59/5. In the case of 0/5, I just tested it and it will never run.
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2Nathan is correct but I think 0/5 used to work on some older OS or kernel.Baazigar– Baazigar2015-06-17 17:45:03 +00:00Commented Jun 17, 2015 at 17:45
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1I think you are right. serverfault.com/a/583121/290434 says it would work, but that was not the case when I tried.Nathan– Nathan2015-06-17 18:06:34 +00:00Commented Jun 17, 2015 at 18:06
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It works on some old versions of ubuntu. I have learned to hate ubuntu :D ubuntu is cool as a fanboy project and has no place in any enterprise production environment! Just because it CAN be used, does not mean it should be! Ubuntu is a massive fail at supporting older ubuntu versions, and also fails hard at integrating new packages. Ubuntu is just not a mature company and the makers do not seem to understand the needs of a persistent enterprise. Ubuntu will remain the fotm for fanboys only.Baazigar– Baazigar2015-06-17 18:11:14 +00:00Commented Jun 17, 2015 at 18:11
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Side note, 0/5 notation is supported on AWS Lambda. docs.aws.amazon.com/lambda/latest/dg/…Saeven– Saeven2018-10-09 15:45:12 +00:00Commented Oct 9, 2018 at 15:45
crontab(5)says that steps (/N) are allowed with ranges and*is shorthand for the rangefirst-lastfor that field. It doesn't say anything for steps without ranges, so I'd assume illegal syntax, or ignored.