Run External Crons is a WordPress plugin (download) that enables using WordPress as a cron system that would hit external URLs (ie. any URL) on a scheduled basis. User can submit URL and interval in which that URL should be opened by WordPress.
This can be used, for example, for other WordPress sites that are on hosts that don’t have native cron system or where it’s complicated to set it up. For that cases, URL should be in format http://example.com/wp-cron.php and there should be constant DISABLE_WP_CRON in wp-config.php file to avoid running WordPress own pseudo cron:
define('DISABLE_WP_CRON', true);
It’s recommended to setup a real cron for the site where this plugin is installed, with interval that is the lowest one from settings. Follow WordPress specific advises from above. Visit following links to see how to setup:
http://wp.tutsplus.com/articles/insights-into-wp-cron-an-introduction-to-scheduling-tasks-in-wordpress/
http://wpdailybits.com/blog/replace-wordpress-cron-with-real-cron-job/74
http://buildyourblog.net/problems/disable-wp-cron-running-background
http://bit51.com/stop-wp-cron-wordpress-cron-jobs-from-firing-on-every-page-load/
http://bitswapping.com/2010/10/using-cron-to-trigger-wp-cron-php/
If you are translator, you can translate it to your language and send translations. Currently, Serbian translation is available.
Run External Crons is released under the terms of GNU General Public License. It is completely free so if you find it useful you can give something back to author. Your help could be done by giving donation, translating plugin to your language, sending bugs and suggestions, promoting plugin in blogs, forums social networks, and other websites.
This looks amazing for sites hosted on WP Engine that I believe lack Cron. Thank you so much for solving this issue for me!
Hi Milan,
I installed your cron plugin, thank you for making it available.
I have a question.
When I click on the save settings button, the cron php, runs immediately, instead of running after 10 minutes of the interval time I specify.
Do you have an idea on why this is happening?
Thank you very much for any help.
Juan
This is expected behavior. Why is this causing problem to you?
I just wanted to run on the specified interval, like once per week, or once per month. But not to run immediately. is that possible ?
Thank you
The way plugin works is that when you change settings, it runs cron first time, and after that it runs on specified interval.
Hello,
I am trying to execute a cronjob every hour that will trigger wptwincompanion.php file (automatic backup of website).
the regular cron command should be /usr/local/bin/php -q /var/www/vhosts/theatrelacbrome.ca/httpdocs/wptwincompanion.php
please let me know how to set this up in plugin
thanks
Florian
If that file is accessible via URL (like
http://example.com/wptwincompanion.php), you need to use that URL. So you need to figure out what is a URL of that file.