Difference between revisions of "Cron Configuration"

Latest revision as of 11:10, 24 May 2022

Cron tasks must be created to automate tasks within WHMCS.

Cron is the name given to a system daemon used to execute tasks (in the background) at designated times. WHMCS has a number of files that are required to be run on a periodic basis in this way. All these files are located in the crons directory.

A single cron named the System Cron automates all core functions of the system including invoicing, reminders, suspensions and other daily automation tasks.

In WHMCS 6.3.x and earlier, the system cron should be configured to run no more than once per day.

In WHMCS 7.0 and later, the system cron should be configured to run as often as every 5 minutes or as frequently as your web hosting provider will allow (for example, every 15 minutes). The shortest time interval at which WHMCS will process cron tasks is every 5 minutes.

Setting Up Cron Jobs

The tutorials & screenshots below demonstrate how to configure the WHMCS cron on the most common hosting control panels.

The system will attempt to determine the PHP path to use for your cron command. You can find this when you click on the first badge at Configuration () > System Settings > Automation Settings or, prior to WHMCS 8.0, Setup > Automation Settings.

cPanel

Click on the Cron Job icon in cPanel, select the Once Per Five Minutes option from the Common Settings menu. Then paste the cron command into the Command field.

Alternatively, click Advanced (Unix Style) and enter:

cPanel Cron
Option	Minute	Hour	Day	Month	Weekday	Command
a)	*/5	*	*	*	*	php -q /path/to/home/public_html/whmcspath/crons/cron.php
b)	*/5	*	*	*	*	wget -O http://www.example.com/whmcspath/crons/cron.php >/dev/null
c)	*/5	*	*	*	*	GET http://www.example.com/whmcspath/crons/cron.php

Direct Admin

The command for Direct Admin is generally the same as cPanel, however, you need to reference the full path to the php binary.

Depending on your server, this will be /usr/bin/php, /usr/bin/home/php or /usr/local/bin/php. Check with your hosting provider or system administrator for the full path to the PHP binary.

An example command to run is:

Command
/usr/bin/php -q /home/demo_user/domains/testdomain.com/public_html/whmcspath/crons/cron.php
/usr/local/bin/php -q /home/demo_user/domains/testdomain.com/public_html/whmcspath/crons/cron.php
wget -O /dev/null http://domain.tld/path/to/cron.php
GET http://www.example.com/whmcspath/crons/cron.php

DotNetPanel

Navigate to the hosting space in which WHMCS is installed and click Scheduled Tasks from the Hosting Space Menu, then click Add Scheduled Task.

From the Task Type dropdown menu select the Check Web Site Availability option and enter the URL of the cron.php file into the URL field. Use the Schedule options to run this task Daily and finally ensure it's active and running.

Windows Server

Depending on your server setup, you can run the cron directly from the php executable. If this is not possible, you would need to use the server browser to run the cron

An example command to run is:

Command
C:\php\php.exe -q "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\whmcs7\admin\cron.php"
"c:\program files\internet explorer\iexplore.php" "http://www.example.com/whmcspath/cron.php"

You should then set the task to run at a certain time every day. The time is up to you.

Plesk

Navigate to the Domain where WHMCS is hosted, and click on the Schedule Tasks option in the top-right menu.

From the Schedule Tasks page, perform the following actions:

Click on the Add Task button
Set "Task type" to the "Run PHP script" option
Input the path to your cron.php script into the "Script path" field
Select PHP 5.6 or later for the "Use PHP version" option
Select the "Cron style" option from the "Run" drop-down menu
Input "*/5 * * * *" into the "Cron style" field
Click on the "OK" button

Example "Script path" for Linux
/path/to/whmcs/crons/cron.php

Example "Script path" for Windows
/path/to/whmcs/crons/cron.php

Helm

InterWorx

Linux with no control panel

Use the command to open the crontab editor:

$ crontab -e

On a new line enter:

*/5 * * * * php -q /path/to/home/public_html/whmcspath/crons/cron.php

Type :wq and press the Enter key to save the changes to the crontab and close the editor.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 Cron is the name given to a system daemon used to execute tasks (in the background) at designated times. WHMCS has a number of files that are required to be run on a periodic basis in this way. All these files are located in the crons directory.
-A single cron named the '''System Cron''' automates all core functions of the system including invoicing, reminders, suspensions and other daily automation tasks.
+A single cron named the '''[[Crons|System Cron]]''' automates all core functions of the system including invoicing, reminders, suspensions and other daily automation tasks.
-In WHMCS 6.3.x and earlier, the system cron should be configured to run no more than '''once per day'''.  In WHMCS 7.0 and later, the system cron should be configured to run every 5 minutes, or as frequently as your web hosting provider will allow.
+In WHMCS 6.3.x and earlier, the system cron should be configured to run no more than '''once per day'''.
+In WHMCS 7.0 and later, the system cron should be configured to run as often as every 5 minutes or as frequently as your web hosting provider will allow (for example, every 15 minutes). The shortest time interval at which WHMCS will process cron tasks is every 5 minutes.
 ==Setting Up Cron Jobs==
 The tutorials & screenshots below demonstrate how to configure the WHMCS cron on the most common hosting control panels.
-You can obtain the exact cron command you should use for your installation from '''Setup > Automation Settings''' at any time.
+The system will attempt to determine the PHP path to use for your cron command. You can find this when you click on the first badge at '''Configuration (<i class="fa fa-wrench" aria-hidden="true"></i>) > System Settings > [[Automation Settings]]''' or, prior to WHMCS 8.0, '''Setup > Automation Settings'''.
-The examples below will setup the cron to run at 9am every day.
+[[File:Cron-configuration-badge.png|border]]
 ===cPanel===
-[[File:Videotutorial.png‎|center|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caZWco1R2kk&hd=1|Watch Video Tutorial]]
+Click on the '''Cron Job''' icon in cPanel, select the ''Once Per Five Minutes'' option from the '''Common Settings''' menu. Then paste the cron command into the '''Command''' field.
-Click on the '''Cron Job''' icon in cPanel, select the ''Once A Day'' option from the Common Settings dropdown menu. Then paste the cron command into the Command field.
-[[Image:Cpstandard.jpg]]
+Alternatively, click '''Advanced (Unix Style)''' and enter:
-Alternatively click the Advanced (Unix Style) button and use the following:
 {| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center"
@@ Line 40: / Line 36: @@
 | a)
 |
-| 0
+| */5
-| 9
+| *
 | *
 | *
@@ Line 50: / Line 46: @@
 | b)
 |
-| 0
+| */5
-| 9
+| *
 | *
 | *
 | *
 |
-| wget -O <nowiki>http://www.yourdomain.com/whmcspath/crons/cron.php</nowiki> >/dev/null
+| wget -O <nowiki>http://www.example.com/whmcspath/crons/cron.php</nowiki> >/dev/null
 |-
 | c)
 |
-| 0
+| */5
-| 9
+| *
 | *
 | *
 | *
 |
-| GET <nowiki>http://www.yourdomain.com/whmcspath/crons/cron.php</nowiki>
+| GET <nowiki>http://www.example.com/whmcspath/crons/cron.php</nowiki>
 |}
@@ Line 73: / Line 69: @@
 The command for Direct Admin is generally the same as cPanel, however, you need to reference the full path to the php binary.
-This can be /usr/bin/php, /usr/bin/home/php or /usr/local/bin/php but this is dependent on the server setup and you should check with your Server Administrator for the full path to the php binary.
+Depending on your server, this will be /usr/bin/php, /usr/bin/home/php or /usr/local/bin/php. Check with your hosting provider or system administrator for the full path to the PHP binary.
 An example command to run is:
@@ Line 85: / Line 81: @@
 | wget -O /dev/null <nowiki>http://domain.tld/path/to/cron.php</nowiki>
 |-
-| GET <nowiki>http://www.yourdomain.com/whmcspath/crons/cron.php</nowiki>
+| GET <nowiki>http://www.example.com/whmcspath/crons/cron.php</nowiki>
 |}
-[[Image:da_crons.jpg]]
+[[File:DACron.png|border]]
 ===DotNetPanel===
@@ Line 109: / Line 105: @@
 |C:\php\php.exe -q "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\whmcs7\admin\cron.php"
 |-
-|"c:\program files\internet explorer\iexplore.php" "<nowiki>http://www.yourdomain.com/whmcspath/cron.php</nowiki>"
+|"c:\program files\internet explorer\iexplore.php" "<nowiki>http://www.example.com/whmcspath/cron.php</nowiki>"
 |}
@@ Line 118: / Line 114: @@
 ===Plesk===
-You can specify the php command using the following on Linux Plesk:
+Navigate to the Domain where WHMCS is hosted, and click on the Schedule Tasks option in the top-right menu.
-env php -q /home/user/whmcs/crons/cron.php
+From the Schedule Tasks page, perform the following actions:
-[[Image:Pleskcron.jpg]]
+# Click on the Add Task button
+# Set "Task type" to the "Run PHP script" option
+# Input the path to your cron.php script into the "Script path" field
+# Select PHP 5.6 or later for the "Use PHP version" option
+# Select the "Cron style" option from the "Run" drop-down menu
+# Input "*/5 * * * *" into the "Cron style" field
+# Click on the "OK" button
-The Windows version of Plesk is slightly different. You need to specify the path to the php executable and then specify the path to your cron.php file.
+{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center"
+!Example "Script path" for Linux
+|-
+| /path/to/whmcs/crons/cron.php
+|}
+[[File:PleskLinCron.png|border]]
-Check the appropriate boxes to run at the time you wish and press ok to save.
+{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center"
+!Example "Script path" for Windows
-[[Image:plesksts.jpg]]
+|-
+| /path/to/whmcs/crons/cron.php
+|}
+[[File:PleskWinCron.png|border]]
 ===Helm===
@@ Line 138: / Line 148: @@
 [[Image:interworx.jpg]]
-==Option Flags==
+===Linux with no control panel===
-Passing in option flags to the cron process allows you to customise the actions that get performed.  By default, all actions will run but you can pass in any of the flags below to skip or only do certain processes.
-===Flags===
-*'''affcommissions''' - Calculate affiliate commissions
-*'''affreports''' - Send affiliate reports on the first day of the month only
-*'''backups''' - Generate WHMCS database backup
-*'''cancelrequests''' - Process cancellation requests
-*'''ccexpirynotices''' - Send credit card expiration notices
-*'''ccprocessing''' - Process credit card payments
-*'''clientstatussync''' - Change client statuses (Active, Inactive, Closed)
-*'''closetickets''' - Auto-close answered tickets
-*'''domainrenewalnotices''' - Send upcoming domain renewal notice emails
-*'''emailmarketing''' - Send email marketer emails
-*'''escalations''' - Perform ticket escalation rules
-*'''fixedtermterminations''' - Terminate fixed-term products due today
-*'''invoicereminders''' - Send invoice payment reminder emails
-*'''invoices''' - Generate due invoices
-*'''latefees''' - Apply late fees to overdue invoices
-*'''overagesbilling''' - Generate overage invoices on the last day of the month only
-*'''suspensions''' - Suspend overdue accounts
-*'''terminations''' - Terminate overdue accounts
-*'''updatepricing''' - Update product prices based upon the currency base conversion rates
-*'''updaterates''' - Update currency base conversion rates
-*'''usagestats''' - Update usage statistics from the server
-*'''skip_report''' - Do not send the WHMCS Cron Job Activity email
-===How to use Option Flags===
-Flags are passed in by simply appending them to the cron command. All the flags can be preceded with do_ or skip_. When running with do_, the cron will only complete the actions listed, everything else will be skipped. When using skip_, the cron will run all commands except those specified to be skipped.
-<div class="docs-alert-info">
-<span class="title">Note:</span><br />Skipping or doing functions will not stop the [[Hooks:System|cron job hooks]] from running. These will run any time the cron.php file is accessed, irrespective of the number of actions to be completed.
-</div>
-Option flags should be specified after the cron path.  For example, to skip credit card processing, you would configure the cron command as follows:
-<div class="source-cli"><nowiki>
-php -q /path/to/cron.php skip_ccprocessing
-</nowiki></div>
-To perform automatic ticket closure and usage status updating, you would configure the cron command as follows:
+Use the command to open the crontab editor:
-<div class="source-cli"><nowiki>
+<tt>$ crontab -e </tt>
-php -q /path/to/cron.php do_closetickets do_usagestats
-</nowiki></div>
-Or alternatively as a browser request, like this:
+On a new line enter:
-<div class="source-cli"><nowiki>
+<tt>*/5 * * * * php -q /path/to/home/public_html/whmcspath/crons/cron.php</tt>
-GET http://www.yourdomain.com/crons/cron.php?do_closetickets=1&do_usagestats=1
-</nowiki></div>
-You can specify as many option flags in a single cron command as you require.
+Type <tt>:wq</tt> and press the Enter key to save the changes to the crontab and close the editor.

Documentation