How to automatically shutdown my computer
by Marqui from LinuxQuestions.org on (#5F116)
Hello all,
i'm new to this forum; i used linux arch (EndeavourOS) on my personnal computer and MX-linux at school and i'm stuck with the following problem : i don't know how to use the "shutdown" command.
What i intend to do : I manage a classroom of 25 computers under linux MX (Debian) and I would like these computers to shut down automatically from Monday to Friday at 5:15pm. But for some reason i'cant do it.
I've read a lot of tutorials, but I can't figure out how to use the "shutdown" command with crontab. I went on the EndeavourOS and MX forums, without success.
What i've tried on my Arch computer (assuming that what works for Arch Linux also works for MX Linux) :
1)
[...@HPG4 ~]$ crontab -e
A window opens, but it is impossible to modify it...
so,
2)
[...@HPG4 ~]$ su -
Password:
[root@HPG4 ~]# cd /etc/cron.daily
[root@HPG4 cron.daily]# touch shutdown
root@HPG4 cron.daily]# ls
shutdown
[root@HPG4 cron.daily]# nano shutdown
GNU nano 5.4 shutdown
15 17 * * * shutdown
[root@HPG4 cron.daily]# crontab -l
no crontab for root
(?????) Did i miss something ????
[root@HPG4 cron.daily]#
ctrl+d
logout
[...@HPG4 ~]$ systemctl enable cronie
[...@HPG4 ~]$ crontab -l
43 17 * * * shutdown
But nothing happens at 5:15 p.m. (???).
3) [...@HPG4 ~]$locate kcron
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-10-17_10-15-25/localhost/usr/share/doc/HTML/ca/kcontrol5/kcron
etc...
It seems that kcron is well installed on my system, but impossible to find it in graphic mode.
[...@HPG4 ~]$ man kcron
No manual entry for kcron
...
bash: kcron: command not found
Of course, I went on multiple forums, without success.
Here is my n1 question:
What is the easiest way to shutdown every day at specific time the computers of my class room ?
Alternatively :
What did I do wrong with crontab?
Why can't I access kcron in graphical mode on my Arch computer ?
So, thank you in advance, for anyone who take time to read me, i really appreciate your help.
Marc


i'm new to this forum; i used linux arch (EndeavourOS) on my personnal computer and MX-linux at school and i'm stuck with the following problem : i don't know how to use the "shutdown" command.
What i intend to do : I manage a classroom of 25 computers under linux MX (Debian) and I would like these computers to shut down automatically from Monday to Friday at 5:15pm. But for some reason i'cant do it.
I've read a lot of tutorials, but I can't figure out how to use the "shutdown" command with crontab. I went on the EndeavourOS and MX forums, without success.
What i've tried on my Arch computer (assuming that what works for Arch Linux also works for MX Linux) :
1)
[...@HPG4 ~]$ crontab -e
A window opens, but it is impossible to modify it...
so,
2)
[...@HPG4 ~]$ su -
Password:
[root@HPG4 ~]# cd /etc/cron.daily
[root@HPG4 cron.daily]# touch shutdown
root@HPG4 cron.daily]# ls
shutdown
[root@HPG4 cron.daily]# nano shutdown
GNU nano 5.4 shutdown
15 17 * * * shutdown
[root@HPG4 cron.daily]# crontab -l
no crontab for root
(?????) Did i miss something ????
[root@HPG4 cron.daily]#
ctrl+d
logout
[...@HPG4 ~]$ systemctl enable cronie
[...@HPG4 ~]$ crontab -l
43 17 * * * shutdown
But nothing happens at 5:15 p.m. (???).
3) [...@HPG4 ~]$locate kcron
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-10-17_10-15-25/localhost/usr/share/doc/HTML/ca/kcontrol5/kcron
etc...
It seems that kcron is well installed on my system, but impossible to find it in graphic mode.
[...@HPG4 ~]$ man kcron
No manual entry for kcron
...
bash: kcron: command not found
Of course, I went on multiple forums, without success.
Here is my n1 question:
What is the easiest way to shutdown every day at specific time the computers of my class room ?
Alternatively :
What did I do wrong with crontab?
Why can't I access kcron in graphical mode on my Arch computer ?
So, thank you in advance, for anyone who take time to read me, i really appreciate your help.
Marc