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LFCS · Question #521

Which of the following is the main difference between the batch and at commands?

The correct answer is B. The batch command will run when system load is low. The main difference between batch and at commands is that batch runs jobs when the system load is low, while at runs jobs at a specific time regardless of load.

Submitted by yuriko_h· Apr 18, 2026Essential Commands

Question

Which of the following is the main difference between the batch and at commands?

Options

  • AThe batch command will run multiple times.
  • BThe batch command will run when system load is low.
  • CThe at command reads commands from standard input.
  • DThe at command emails results to the user.

How the community answered

(40 responses)
  • A
    3% (1)
  • B
    88% (35)
  • C
    5% (2)
  • D
    5% (2)

Why each option

The main difference between `batch` and `at` commands is that `batch` runs jobs when the system load is low, while `at` runs jobs at a specific time regardless of load.

AThe batch command will run multiple times.

Both `batch` and `at` commands typically schedule a job for a single execution at a specified time or condition, not multiple times unless explicitly rescheduled.

BThe batch command will run when system load is low.Correct

The `batch` command schedules jobs to execute only when the system's load average falls below a specific threshold (typically 0.8 or 1.5, depending on the system's configuration), which helps prevent additional strain on an already busy system.

CThe at command reads commands from standard input.

Both the `at` and `batch` commands, by default, read the commands to be executed from standard input.

DThe at command emails results to the user.

Both `at` and `batch` commands are configured to email the standard output and standard error of the executed commands to the user who submitted them, provided the mail system is properly set up.

Concept tested: Linux job scheduling (at vs. batch)

Source: https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/at.1.html

Topics

#Job Scheduling#at command#batch command#System Load

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