Where Does anacron Store Schedules and Timestamps?
anacron reads schedules from /etc/anacrontab with timestamps in its spool directory for missed runs.
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anacron schedules live in /etc/anacrontab. Periods, delays, job identifiers, and commands define each entry. Completion timestamps sit in the spool directory beside it.
That timestamp file is the state that matters. Deleting it forces every job to run as overdue. Cron handles exact times; anacron handles intervals on machines that sleep.
Where anacron stores this, by platform
/etc/anacrontab (timestamps in /var/spool/anacron)
System schedule file plus timestamp spool. Periods suit machines that sleep. Cron covers exact times; anacron covers catch-up intervals.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add an anacron job?
Edit /etc/anacrontab as root with period, delay, job name, and command. Daily, weekly, and monthly entries ship by default. Timestamps track last completion per job.
Does anacron catch up missed schedules?
Yes, and that is its purpose. Missed runs execute at the next opportunity with configured delays. Laptops and desktops that sleep gain what pure cron cannot promise.
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