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LFCS · Question #520

How is the file format of /etc/crontab different from a normal crontab file? (Select TWO).

The correct answer is B. A normal crontab file must be installed with the crontab command. D. The /etc/crontab file has a user field for commands. The /etc/crontab file differs from a normal user crontab by including a user field for commands and by being directly editable, whereas user crontabs are installed via the crontab command.

Submitted by ahmad_uae· Apr 18, 2026Service Configuration

Question

How is the file format of /etc/crontab different from a normal crontab file? (Select TWO).

Options

  • AThe /etc/crontab file can specify a year field.
  • BA normal crontab file must be installed with the crontab command.
  • CA normal crontab file allows for environment variable substitution.
  • DThe /etc/crontab file has a user field for commands.

How the community answered

(41 responses)
  • A
    5% (2)
  • B
    90% (37)
  • C
    5% (2)

Why each option

The `/etc/crontab` file differs from a normal user crontab by including a user field for commands and by being directly editable, whereas user crontabs are installed via the `crontab` command.

AThe /etc/crontab file can specify a year field.

Neither `/etc/crontab` nor a normal user crontab typically include a year field; cron jobs are scheduled based on the standard five time/date fields.

BA normal crontab file must be installed with the crontab command.Correct

A normal user crontab file is not directly edited; it must be installed and managed using the `crontab -e` command, which places it into a specific system directory like `/var/spool/cron/crontabs`.

CA normal crontab file allows for environment variable substitution.

Both `/etc/crontab` and normal user crontab files allow for environment variable substitution and definition within their respective formats.

DThe /etc/crontab file has a user field for commands.Correct

The `/etc/crontab` file, being a system-wide crontab, includes an additional field after the minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week fields to specify the user under whose privileges the command will be executed, a field not present in user-specific crontabs.

Concept tested: Crontab file formats and management

Source: https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man5/crontab.5.html

Topics

#Cron#Job Scheduling#System Crontab#User Crontab

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