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Version: 1.7

Configuring cron expressions for policies

This section describes how to configure policy schedules using cron expressions.

What is cron?​

Cron is a standard format for describing recurring schedules. A schedule consists of one line with five fields separated by spaces. Each field represents a unit of time.

Here's a cron expression Template:

┌───────────── минута (0–59)
│ ┌───────────── час (0–23)
│ │ ┌───────────── день месяца (1–31)
│ │ │ ┌───────────── месяц (1–12)
│ │ │ │ ┌───────────── день недели (0–6, где 0—воскресенье)
│ │ │ │ │
* * * * *

When you use a cron expression, the system triggers the policy when all fields in the expression match the current time.

Using special characters​

You can use special characters in each field in addition to specific numbers.

CharacterMeaningExampleDescription
*any value* * * * *every minute
,list of values0 9,18 * * *at 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM
-range of values0 9-17 * * *every hour from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
/step*/15 * * * *every 15 minutes

You can combine characters. For example, the expression 0 9-17/2 * * 1-5 means “every 2 hours from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays.”

warning

If you specify both the “day of month” and “day of week,” the policy triggers on days that match either condition.

Cron expression examples​

The elements of the expression 0 9 * * 1-5 have the following meanings:

  • Minute 0—at minute zero;
  • Hour 9—at hour nine;
  • Day of month *—any day;
  • Month *—any month;
  • Day of week 1-5—Monday through Friday. The overall meaning of the expression is every weekday at 9:00 AM.

The elements of the expression */30 * * * 0 have the following meanings:

  • Minute */30—every 30 minutes (at :00 and :30);
  • Hour *—every hour;
  • Day and month *—any day and month;
  • Day of week 0—on Sundays. The overall meaning of the expression is every half hour on Sundays.

To configure policies, you can use the ready-made expressions in the table below.

When to run the policyCron expression
Every minute* * * * *
Every 5 minutes*/5 * * * *
Every hour (at the start of the hour)0 * * * *
Every day at 12:00 AM (midnight)0 0 * * *
Every day at 9:00 AM0 9 * * *
Every weekday at 9:00 AM0 9 * * 1-5
Every Monday at 9:00 AM0 9 * * 1
Twice a day—at 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM0 9,18 * * *
Every Saturday and Sunday at 12:00 PM0 12 * * 0,6
On the first day of every month at 12:00 AM0 0 1 * *
At 5:00 PM every weekday0 17 * * 1-5
Once a week—Sunday at 11:00 PM0 23 * * 0
Every 15 minutes during business hours on weekdays*/15 9-18 * * 1-5
Every quarter (January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 at 12:00 AM)0 0 1 1,4,7,10 *