Linux Desktop Hacks

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Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

Administration and

Automation

Hacks #70–87

Administering and automating maintenance tasks isn’t important just for

server users. It’s extremely important for desktop users, too, especially for

those who want to get the most out of their Linux desktop. This chapter is a

treasure house of information on administering and automating Linux tasks.

These hacks make mundane tasks easy or automatic (such as keeping your

clock synchronized), and they make seemingly impossible tasks possible

(such as restoring a Debian system that appears damaged beyond hope).

Regardless of your specific desires or needs, this is one chapter you do not

want to gloss over. One or more of these hacks will prove useful to you,

even if you’re a casual desktop user. Or you can find a way to adapt the hack

to be even more useful for your specific needs. Count on it.

HACK

#70

Automate Your Life with cron Hack #70

Computers love boring work, so why not use cron to work them harder?

One of the great benefits of using computers is that they are ideal candidates

for performing the uninteresting jobs humans get tired of doing. Most of us

would be bored senseless making database backups everyday, cleaning out

disks, updating report files, and managing system logs. These activities are

typically linear, mundane processes that are straightforward enough to require

little intervention, which makes them ideal candidates for ...