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Setting up a cronjob: guides for common systems

Many systems need a regular nudge from outside so that scheduled posts appear, orders keep moving and backups start. Without a server of your own this works through a call by address. For each system below you get the address to call, what you have to change beforehand and how often the call makes sense.

Systems

What you have to change inside the system and which address gets called.

WordPress

WP-Cron only runs when somebody visits the site, so scheduled posts and backups simply do not happen.

Interval: every 5 minutes

Nextcloud

In webcron mode Nextcloud handles exactly one background job per call. The interval decides how much gets through.

Interval: every 5 minutes, every minute for more than a handful of users

Contao

Otherwise Contao runs scheduled tasks on a visitor page view. A fixed interval takes the randomness out.

Interval: every minute

Drupal

By default Drupal triggers its cron on page views. Without visitors tasks pile up, with many visitors the check costs time for nothing.

Interval: every 5 minutes

Joomla

By default Joomla wakes its task scheduler on page views. With Web Cron it runs at a fixed interval instead, independent of visitors.

Interval: every 5 minutes

Hosting providers

What your host can do out of the box, where the limit is and what else you can do.

All-Inkl (KAS)

All-Inkl offers cronjobs in its KAS panel, but not in every plan. Here is how setup works there and when an external call is worthwhile.

Interval: every 5 minutes

STRATO

STRATO offers cron jobs only once, daily, weekly or monthly, and not in every package. Anything more frequent needs a call from outside.

Interval: every 5 minutes

IONOS

IONOS offers cronjobs but recommends at least five minutes between runs. For minute-precise work or a readable log of every call, add an external service.

Interval: every minute

Your system is not listed? The approach is almost always the same: you enter the address that triggers your system's cron and set the schedule. If you are unsure which address that is in your case, drop us a line via the contact form.

Create a cronjob without your own server

Three cronjobs are free forever, the first 14 days run on the Unlimited plan with one-minute intervals, call log and error notifications. Operated from Germany since 2003.

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