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cron is a background process (`daemon') that runs programs at regular intervals (for example, every minute, day, week or month); which processes are run and at what times are specified in the `crontab'.

Users may also install crontabs so that processes are run on their behalf, though this feature can be disabled or restricted to particular users.

Output from the commands is usually mailed to the system administrator (or to the user in question); you should probably install a mail system as well so that you can receive these messages.

This cron package is configured by default to do various standard system maintenance tasks, such as ensuring that logfiles do not grow endlessly and overflow the disk.

The lockfile-progs package is only a "Suggests" because of the poor way that dselect handles "Recommends", but I do strongly suggest that you install it; it prevents /etc/cron.daily/standard from running multiple times if something gets jammed.