# How to configure cron with debug logging

## Environment

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

## Issue

How can `cron` be configured to run in debug mode for more detailed logging?

## Resolution

The crond daemon has an `-x` option to set the following debug flags:

```
crond -x [ext,sch,proc,pars,load,misc,test,bit]

ext   print extended debugging information
sch   scheduling
proc  process control
pars  parsing
load  database loading
misc  miscellaneous
test  test mode - do not actually execute any commands
bit   show how various bits are set (long)
```

**Add** the following line to the `/etc/sysconfig/crond` file to enable debugging:

`CRONDARGS="-x ext,sch,proc,pars,load,misc,bit"`

**Restart** the `crond` daemon:

***

**Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6**\
`$ sudo service crond restart`

**Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 or later**\
`$ sudo systemctl restart crond`

***

Additional log entries for `cron` will be in the `/var/log/messages` file.