10 Time-Saving Linux Automation Scripts Every User Should Know

Automation is one of the greatest strengths of Linux, and with just a few scripts, you can save time and effort on repetitive tasks. Below are 10 essential automation scripts that can transform the way you work with Linux.

Photo by Oleksandr Chumak on Unsplash

1. Automated Backup Script

Creating automated backups is critical for securing your important files. Use this script to back up your home directory to an external drive or a remote server.

#!/bin/bash

# Backup Directory
SOURCE="/home/yourusername/"
DESTINATION="/backup/location/"

# Run rsync to create a backup
rsync -avh --delete $SOURCE $DESTINATION

echo "Backup completed successfully at $(date)"

Save this script and schedule it using cron:

crontab -e
0 2 * * * /path/to/backup-script.sh

This will run your backup daily at 2 AM.

2. Automatic System Updates

Keep your system up to date without manual intervention. This script ensures your system packages are updated regularly.

#!/bin/bash

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

echo "System updated successfully at $(date)"

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
echo "System updated successfully at $(date)"

Schedule it with cron to run weekly:

0 4 * * 1 /path/to/update-script.sh

3. File Cleanup Script

Free up disk space by removing temporary and unnecessary files.

#!/bin/bash

# Define directories to clean
CLEANUP_DIRS=("/tmp" "/var/tmp")

for DIR in "${CLEANUP_DIRS[@]}"
do
    rm -rf $DIR/*
    echo "Cleaned $DIR"
done

echo "Cleanup completed at $(date)"

Run this script daily or weekly with cron:

0 1 * * * /path/to/cleanup-script.sh

4. Automated Log Rotation

Logs can grow large over time. Use this script to rotate and compress old logs.

#!/bin/bash

LOG_DIR="/var/log/myapp/"
find $LOG_DIR -type f -mtime +7 -exec gzip {} \;

echo "Logs rotated successfully at $(date)"

5. Automated File Sync

Keep two directories in sync using this script.

#!/bin/bash

rsync -avh /source/directory/ /destination/directory/

echo "File sync completed at $(date)"

6. Scheduled Reboot Script

For servers, it’s often good practice to reboot periodically. Create a simple script for this.

#!/bin/bash

sudo reboot

Schedule it with cron:

0 3 * * 7 /path/to/reboot-script.sh

7. Automatic Disk Usage Alert

This script checks disk usage and sends an alert if it exceeds a threshold.

#!/bin/bash

THRESHOLD=80
DISK_USAGE=$(df / | grep / | awk '{print $5}' | sed 's/%//')

if [ "$DISK_USAGE" -gt "$THRESHOLD" ]; then
    echo "Disk usage is above $THRESHOLD%. Current usage: $DISK_USAGE%" | mail -s "Disk Usage Alert" your_email@example.com
fi`

Schedule it to run every hour:

0 * * * * /path/to/disk-usage-alert.sh

8. Automatic Network Monitoring

Monitor your internet connectivity and log outages.

#!/bin/bash

PING_RESULT=$(ping -c 1 google.com | grep "64 bytes" | wc -l)

if [ "$PING_RESULT" -eq 0 ]; then
    echo "Network down at $(date)" >> /var/log/network-monitor.log
fi

9. Automated User Notification

Send daily reminders to users about specific tasks.

#!/bin/bash

MESSAGE="Reminder: Submit your weekly report!"

echo $MESSAGE | wall

Schedule it:

0 9 * * 1-5 /path/to/user-notification.sh

10. System Health Check

Run a quick health check and report issues.

#!/bin/bash

echo "System Health Check - $(date)"

echo "Disk Usage:"
df -h

echo "Memory Usage:"
free -m

echo "Top Processes:"
ps aux --sort=-%mem | head -5

How to Use and Schedule These Scripts

1. Save the script: Create a .sh file (e.g., backup.sh) and add the script content.
2. Make it executable: Run chmod +x script-name.sh.
3. Schedule with cron: Use crontab -e to schedule the script.

Conclusion

These 10 automation scripts can help you save time and focus on more important tasks. Whether you’re managing backups, updating the system, or monitoring resources, these scripts provide a solid foundation for everyday Linux automation.

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