Another post on Linux commands, short and simple but very useful: at .

The problem

As IT pros we are all comfortable with the change window concept.

This window usually opens at night or during the week-end and sometimes the change actually just requires a few commands on a Linux machine.

The automation

The at command allows to schedule a command or script to be run at a specific time.

Usually I use it to run Python scripts with notifications on my mobile (more on that on another post) before and after so I know:

  • the script has run
  • the commands were executed
  • the output was expected

A simple alarm clock in the night for a quick check of the notifications, if everything was right my change window lasts just a few minutes.

Sleep well ;-)