Delete files / directories with cron

[rota919]

What are you you using to automatically delete files and folders on a site and replace them with the original ones?

I am busy writing an application and I need to ability to allow visitors to "test" the system, but need to get rid of the test info lets say every 3 hours and replace it with the original data.

It will include db info (easy enough) and files and subfolders.

I found a couple of scripts to do that with but would like to know what the rest of you suggests.

[slapshotw]

I would put the originals in a non public area of the site, and set a cron to do a "cp" over to the test area every 3 hours.

[rota919]

Originally Posted by slapshotw

I would put the originals in a non public area of the site, and set a cron to do a "cp" over to the test area every 3 hours.

That's the general idea, I more interested in script suggestions.

I was looking at these examples. http://uk.php.net/copy but was wondering if anyone had a better idea.

[slapshotw]

What script would you need?

cp -fr /home/user/theoriginal /home/user/public_html/thedestination

[rota919]

Thanks for this, I never used them before.

What would be the command for deleting files and directories?

[rota919]

Found a list of commands and usage here http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/linux/cmd/

Thanks for the pointer in the right direction.

[slapshotw]

rm to remove, but if you do a cp with the -f option it forces the overwrite.

[rota919]

Yea got it thanks.
I had to use rm as well as the system allows to create subdirectories.

It is working perfectly