Cron jobs

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  1. Cron Jobs

Cron jobs are scheduled tasks that run automatically in the background on your MediaWiki server. They are critical for maintaining the health and functionality of your wiki, performing tasks like updating search indexes, purging caches, and running maintenance scripts. This article will guide you through understanding, configuring, and troubleshooting cron jobs specifically within a MediaWiki 1.40 environment.

== What are Cron Jobs?

At a fundamental level, a cron job is a command or script that is executed periodically at specified intervals. The `cron` daemon (a background process) on Unix-like operating systems (Linux, macOS, etc.) reads instructions from configuration files called "crontabs" and executes the corresponding commands at the designated times. For MediaWiki, these jobs are essential for automated tasks.

== Why are Cron Jobs Important for MediaWiki?

MediaWiki relies heavily on cron jobs for several key functions:

  • Updating the search index: The [Special:Search|search functionality] depends on a regularly updated index. The `updateSearchIndex.php` script, run by a cron job, keeps this index current.
  • Cache maintenance: MediaWiki's [Cache|caching system] requires periodic purging and refreshing to ensure users see the latest content.
  • Job queue processing: Many asynchronous tasks, such as sending email notifications or processing image transformations, are handled through a [Job queue|job queue]. Cron jobs process items in this queue.
  • Database maintenance: Regular database maintenance, like optimizing tables and removing old revisions, is crucial for performance and data integrity.
  • Running maintenance scripts: Various administrative tasks, such as checking for broken redirects or updating statistics, can be automated.


== Configuring Cron Jobs for MediaWiki

The primary method for configuring cron jobs is by editing the crontab file. You'll typically do this using the `crontab -e` command in a terminal. *Always* use this command to edit your crontab; directly editing the files is discouraged.

Here's a basic example of a crontab entry:

`* * * * * /usr/bin/php /path/to/mediawiki/maintenance/runJobs.php`

Let's break down this entry:

  • `* * * * *`: This is the cron schedule. Each asterisk represents a time field (minute, hour, day of month, month, day of week). An asterisk means "every". So, this schedule means "every minute of every hour of every day of every month of every day of the week." *Be cautious with such frequent schedules!*
  • `/usr/bin/php`: This is the path to the PHP interpreter on your system. Confirm this path is correct. Use `which php` in the terminal to find the correct path.
  • `/path/to/mediawiki/maintenance/runJobs.php`: This is the path to the MediaWiki maintenance script that you want to run. Replace `/path/to/mediawiki` with the actual path to your MediaWiki installation.

Common MediaWiki Cron Jobs

The following table lists common MediaWiki cron jobs and their recommended schedules. *Adjust these based on your wiki's size, traffic, and server resources.*

Script Description Recommended Schedule
`runJobs.php` Processes the job queue. Critical for asynchronous tasks. Every 5-15 minutes (e.g., `*/5 * * * *`)
`updateSearchIndex.php` Updates the search index. Every hour (e.g., `0 * * * *`) or more frequently for large wikis
`purgeCache.php` Purges the MediaWiki cache. Every hour (e.g., `0 * * * *`)
`maintenance/batchDeletion.php` Deletes pages marked for deletion. Requires proper configuration of deletion policies. Daily (e.g., `0 0 * * *`)
`maintenance/archive.php` Archives old revisions of pages. Daily or Weekly (e.g., `0 0 * * 0` for weekly on Sunday)

Finding the Correct Paths

It’s crucial to use the correct paths to the PHP interpreter and your MediaWiki installation in the crontab. Incorrect paths are the most common cause of cron job failures.

Here’s how to find those paths:

  • **PHP Interpreter:** Run the command `which php` in your terminal. This will output the full path to the PHP executable.
  • **MediaWiki Installation:** Navigate to your MediaWiki directory in the terminal. The full path to this directory is what you'll need.

Example Crontab File

This table provides an example of a complete crontab file for a typical MediaWiki installation.

Time Command
`*/10 * * * *` `/usr/bin/php /var/www/mediawiki/maintenance/runJobs.php`
`0 * * * *` `/usr/bin/php /var/www/mediawiki/maintenance/updateSearchIndex.php`
`0 0 * * *` `/usr/bin/php /var/www/mediawiki/maintenance/purgeCache.php`
`0 2 * * *` `/usr/bin/php /var/www/mediawiki/maintenance/batchDeletion.php`
  • Remember to replace `/usr/bin/php` and `/var/www/mediawiki` with your actual paths.*

== Troubleshooting Cron Jobs

If your cron jobs aren't running as expected, here are some troubleshooting steps:

1. **Check the Cron Logs:** The system logs (usually `/var/log/syslog` or `/var/log/cron`) will often contain information about cron job execution, including errors. 2. **Verify Paths:** Double-check the paths to the PHP interpreter and your MediaWiki installation in the crontab. 3. **Permissions:** Ensure that the user running the cron job has the necessary permissions to execute the PHP interpreter and access the MediaWiki files. 4. **Output Redirection:** Redirect the output of your cron jobs to a file to capture any errors or messages. For example: 

   `0 * * * * /usr/bin/php /path/to/mediawiki/maintenance/updateSearchIndex.php > /path/to/mediawiki/cron.log 2>&1`

5. **Test Manually:** Try running the maintenance script manually from the command line to see if it works. This will help you isolate the problem. 6. **Environment Variables:** Cron jobs have a limited environment. If your scripts rely on specific environment variables, you may need to set them within the crontab file.


== Further Resources




Special:MyPage Help:Contents MediaWiki Special:Search Extension:Semantic MediaWiki Manual:Configuration Manual:Maintenance Manual:FAQ Help:Formatting Special:Random Manual:Administrators Special:ListUsers Help:Links Manual:Talk_pages Manual:User_rights Manual:API Special:Statistics Manual:Database


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