Hi :) Tom Nielsen enquired ~ my crontab looks like this :- .............. SHELL=/bin/sh # 00 * * * * sh /usr/local/etc/logcheck.sh 0 3 * * * /sbin/hwclock --utc --systohc 2 6 * * * sh cronetc 12 6 * * * sh cronhome 22 6 * * * sh cronvar 55 15 * * * sh nscache 57 15 * * * sh maildel 2 16 * * * sh taretc 12 16 * * * sh tarhome 22 16 * * * sh tarvar 25 16 * * * sh zu 2 12 * * 6 sh tarku ................................................ ~ i made 3 tiny scripts in my /root directory, which are then executed by cron :- ........................... cronetc :- #!/bin/sh # backup /etc /root /boot /usr/local # exec tar czvf /bup/etc`date +%y%m%d`.tar.gz /etc /root /boot /usr/local ............................................. cronhome :- #!/bin/sh # backup /home # exec tar czvf /bup/home`date +%y%m%d`.tar.gz /home ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, cronvar :- #!/bin/sh # backup /var # exec tar czvf /bup/var`date +%y%m%d`.tar.gz /var/named /var/cron/tabs /var/spool/mail /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/app-defaults /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/greek best wishes ____________ sent on Linux ____________