Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-19

How to Fix: run cron on ssh, error message

Cron job error on SSH using Putty software

Quick Answer: The issue is caused by the script trying to run a cron job on a remote server, but the cron daemon is not enabled. To fix this, enable the cron daemon on the remote server and adjust the script accordingly.

The error message indicates that the cron job is unable to find the CHANGELOG.txt file or the number 30, which are causing issues with the wget command. This issue affects users who run the script on SSH using Putty software.

This error can be frustrating as it prevents the cron job from running successfully, leading to potential delays in automation tasks. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to resolve this issue.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The primary reason for this error is that the cron job is trying to access a file or value that does not exist on the remote server. The wget command is attempting to download the cron file from the specified URL, but the file or value is not present.
  • Alternatively, the cron job may be experiencing issues with the date format or syntax, causing it to fail when trying to access the number 30.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Resolving File and Value Non-Existence

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Check the remote server's file system to ensure that the CHANGELOG.txt file or the cron file exists. Verify that the file is in the correct location and has the correct name.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: If the file does not exist, create it on the remote server using a secure method (e.g., SFTP) to avoid exposing sensitive information.
  3. Step 3: Step 3: Update the wget command to use a placeholder or default value if the file or value is not present. For example, you can use `*` as a wildcard character to match any value.

Resolving Date Format and Syntax Issues

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Inspect the cron job's date format and syntax to ensure it is correct. Verify that the cron job is using the correct date format (e.g., `* * * * *`) and that the values are in the correct order.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: If the date format or syntax is incorrect, update the cron job to use a valid format. You can refer to the Linux documentation for more information on cron job syntax.

💡 Conclusion

To resolve the error message, you can follow one of the two primary fix methods outlined above. By checking the file and value non-existence and resolving date format and syntax issues, you should be able to run the cron job successfully using SSH with Putty software.

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