Hello Tim, On Sun, 2011-07-31 at 03:07 +0000, Tim Dunphy wrote: > * * * * * /bin/alldb > /home/bluethundr/backupdb/alldb-$(date +%Y%m%d%H%S).sql > Jul 30 22:59:01 VIRTCENT09 crond[8007]: (root) CMD (/bin/alldb > /home/bluethundr/backupdb/alldb-$(date +) Think you need to quote that date format string, and I suppose the last field is supposed to be %M not %S. Also, since "date +" resolves to "" the command as it is currently interpreted will write to the same file (/home/bluethundr/backupdb/alldb-) over and over again. Regards, Leonard. -- mount -t life -o ro /dev/dna /genetic/research