CyberSyn Cron problem and Hostgator - Chat transcript | Freeware Plugins | Support Forum

This is long so hang in there if your Crons are not working from your hosting to your blog.

[Initial Question]:
(2:36 pm) [System] Customer has entered chat and is waiting for an agent.
(2:43 pm) [Thomas C.] Hello and welcome to Hostgator Live Chat. My name is Thomas, I will be happy to assist you today with cron jogbs.
(2:44 pm) [Thomas C.] How is your cron job not working?
(2:44 pm) [Jim]: Bear with me as I explain.
(2:47 pm) [Jim]: I have a WP plugin that suggests this Cron /usr/bin/curl --silent Login to see this link When I set this up in Cpanel the Cron triggers and sends an email to me that it triggered but nothing gets posted to my blog. When I manually trigger the pluing fro within my WP Admin panel, the Cron works perfectly and posts content to my blog. The plugin developer says the problem has to be with Hostgator. Apparently Hostgator Cron and my blog are not being connected by the Cron.
(2:47 pm) [Thomas C.] If we are sending the email, the cron job is being run.
(2:48 pm) [Jim]: It is but why no connection between the two?
(2:52 pm) [Thomas C.] I am not sure what you mean? there is a direct relation to the cron job and the email.
(2:52 pm) [Thomas C.] One cannot work without the other.
(2:52 pm) [Thomas C.] That is the nature of cron jobs.
(2:52 pm) [Thomas C.] The email will contain a successful or a error report from the cron job.
(2:53 pm) [Jim]: What I mean is...my blog is hosted on Hostgator. The cron runs but does not post anything to the blog.
(2:54 pm) [Jim]: When I manually fetch the feed within the blog Admin, it works perfectly.
(2:54 pm) [Jim]: The two are not talking to each other.
(2:56 pm) [Thomas C.] The problem would then be the cron job itself, it is not setup correctly?
(2:56 pm) [Jim]: That's what I think, too. What is the proper Cron syntax?
(2:57 pm) [Jim]: The email I get contains the full code of the main home page template. Does that mean anything?
(2:58 pm) [Jim]: Would you like to see that code? I can get it from the email.
(2:59 pm) [Thomas C.] What is the cron job you are running?
(3:00 pm) [Jim]: /usr/bin/curl --silent Login to see this link
(3:03 pm) [Thomas C.] Jim, what is the cron job you are using?
(3:04 pm) [Jim]: /usr/bin/curl --silent Login to see this link
(3:04 pm) [Jim]: If you click that Cron it goes to the home page.
(3:06 pm) [Thomas C.] I cannot tell you the proper cron syntax but I can look at the one you are using and see if there is anything wrong.
(3:06 pm) [Jim]: OK
(3:06 pm) [Thomas C.] Here are some examples: Login to see this link
(3:06 pm) [Jim]: I tried those already.
(3:06 pm) [Jim]: They don't work either.
(3:09 pm) [Thomas C.] Is curl enabled on your account?
(3:09 pm) [Jim]: I have no idea.
(3:10 pm) [Thomas C.] What is the cpanel username this domain resides on?
(3:10 pm) [Jim]: jdanswer
(3:10 pm) [Jim]: Should I verify my account?
(3:10 pm) [Thomas C.] Please.
(3:10 pm) [Thomas C.] For security purposes, I will need to verify your identity by having you provide your account's billing credentials in the popup that will soon follow this message. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
(3:10 pm) [AccountVerifyRequest]: {"requestedBy":"16669"}
(3:11 pm) [AccountVerifyAttempt]: {"searchUrl":"Login to see this link","

clientId":"1187896","wasSuccessful":1,"billingSystem":"HOSTGATOR","billingUrl":"Login to see this link"}
(3:11 pm) [AccountVerifyDecline]: {}
(3:11 pm) [Thomas C.] Thank you.
(3:14 pm) [Jim]: Sure. Take your time.
(3:18 pm) [Jim]: Are you still with me?
(3:18 pm) [Thomas C.] Yes I am.
(3:18 pm) [Jim]: OK...thanks.
(3:19 pm) [Thomas C.] Remove --silent and try again.
(3:19 pm) [Thomas C.] The path to curl is correct and you have curl enabled.
(3:19 pm) [Jim]: I tried that already. Doesn't work either.
(3:19 pm) [Thomas C.] Are you positive it is on that cpanel?
(3:20 pm) [Jim]: I am not sure what you are asking.
(3:20 pm) [Jim]: Do you mean the jdanswers Cpanel? It is.
(3:20 pm) [Thomas C.] Ok.
(3:21 pm) [Jim]: I also have a series of Crons on the Login to see this link domain which also don't work.
(3:21 pm) [Thomas C.] Normally we provide zero support for cron jobs.
(3:22 pm) [Thomas C.] You will need to seek out outside references in order to get support.
(3:22 pm) [Jim]: This is not good news.
(3:22 pm) [Thomas C.] I apologize, shell commands and cron jobs are limited support.
(3:22 pm) [Jim]: Is Cpanel a different company?
(3:23 pm) [Thomas C.] We support cron jobs working, in the process working, and they are, you are receiving a email, there is something wrong with your actual cron job command.
(3:23 pm) [Thomas C.] cpanel is a software we use to provide a control panel interface for users.
(3:23 pm) [Jim]: How would I determine the correct Cron?
(3:26 pm) [Thomas C.] I can tell you that your path for curl is correct.
(3:26 pm) [Thomas C.] Otherwise, you would need to read up on reference material on how to properly use curl cron jobs.
(3:27 pm) [Jim]: I see. Well thanks for your time and effort.
(3:27 pm) [Thomas C.] Who provided you this cron job?
(3:27 pm) [Jim]: CyberSyn plugin for WordPress
(3:32 pm) [Thomas C.] Ok, and they insist it is us?
(3:32 pm) [Jim]: Yep.
(3:33 pm) [Thomas C.] What is the timer you set on it?
(3:33 pm) [Jim]: In Hostgator Cpanel I set the Crons 5 minutes or more apart. The strange thing is that the feeds get pulled by the Cron from within the blog Admin panel. It works perfectly manually.
(3:34 pm) [Jim]: I guess that's why they say it's HG that's the problem.
(3:39 pm) [Thomas C.] No, it has to be 15 minutes apart.
(3:39 pm) [Thomas C.] 5 minutes it will not activate.
(3:40 pm) [Jim]: Ah...I will try that then. Thanks! Maybe that's the "devil in the details!"
(3:40 pm) [Thomas C.] If it still does not work, you can come back into chat and request me and we can continue figuring this out.
(3:40 pm) [Jim]: How do I request you?
(3:41 pm) [Jim]: It will be tomorrow. This same time frame?
(3:45 pm) [Thomas C.] Yes that is correct.
(3:45 pm) [Thomas C.] Thomas C.
(3:45 pm) [Jim]: Great but I hope you suggestion works. Thanks again.
(3:45 pm) [ChatClosedByCustomer]: {}
(3:45 pm) [System] Chat closed by customer request.

I am implementing his suggestion of 15 minutes apart to see what happens. But, if anyone else has a solution, I am open to trying it.