Changes/cron-to-systemd-time-units

cron to systemd time units

Summary

Fix dependency on crontab in packages containing cron jobs as well as migrate cron jobs that are applicable to native systemd timer units.

Owner

• Name: Jóhann B. Guðmundsson
• Email: johannbg AT gmail DOT com
• Release notes owner:

Current status

• Targeted release: Fedora 21
• Last updated: 04/03/2014
• Tracker bug: #1076445

Detailed Description

Add dependency on crontab in packages containing cron jobs as well as migrate cron jobs that are applicable to native systemd timer units in packages that already depend on systemd.

Benefit to Fedora

Proper dependency in packages shipping cron jobs. Better systemd integration in the distribution.

Scope

• Policies and guidelines: Adjust packaging guidelines to fix dependency in cron packages Package Cron Files DONE
• Fix spec files in packages that are not applicable for migration Fix Cron Dependency Tracking Bug
• Adjust packaging guidelines to mention migration of cron jobs to timer units for packages that already depend on systemd
• Review and migrate if applicable cron jobs shipped in packages that already depend on systemd Timer Migration Tracking Bug
• Update systemd wikipage to contain timer units example

Upgrade/compatibility impact

For application that are applicable for migration the cron job will be migrated to native timer units.

List of components might be migrated are here.

amavisd-new
apt
arm4
atop
bcfg2
clement
cyrus-imapd
dbmail
denyhosts
dspam
exim
fetch-crl
freeipa
hylafax+
inn
leafnode
ltsp
mailman
mcelog
mdadm
mldonkey
newscache
nsd
opendnssec
openvas-scanner
ovirt-engine
ovirt-node
polipo
sagator
sipwitch
spamassassin
squidGuard
subscription-manager
sysstat
vdsm
vnstat
yum-cron

How To Test

• Install the package that contains the new native systemd timer unit file.
• Check if the the time trigger ran

User Experience

Administrators will have better time trigger in units compared to cron jobs like for example when administrator stops a service/daemon the timer unit will stop as well etc.

Dependencies

No external dependency

Contingency Plan

• Contingency mechanism: Continue to ship the cron jobs as is.
• Contingency deadline: N/A
• Blocks release: No

Documentation

• updated guidelines and systemd wiki page

Release Notes

There shouldn't be anything we need to specifically say other than highlighting the change.