Closes #7464: Improve documentation for executing housekeeping task as a cron job

Author: jeremystretch

docs/administration/housekeeping.md

@@ -5,6 +5,13 @@ NetBox includes a `housekeeping` management command that should be run nightly.
 * Clearing expired authentication sessions from the database
 * Deleting changelog records older than the configured [retention time](../configuration/optional-settings.md#changelog_retention)
 
-This command can be invoked directly, or by using the shell script provided at `/opt/netbox/contrib/netbox-housekeeping.sh`. This script can be copied into your cron scheduler's daily jobs directory (e.g. `/etc/cron.daily`) or referenced directly within the cron configuration file.
+This command can be invoked directly, or by using the shell script provided at `/opt/netbox/contrib/netbox-housekeeping.sh`. This script can be linked from your cron scheduler's daily jobs directory (e.g. `/etc/cron.daily`) or referenced directly within the cron configuration file.
 
-The `housekeeping` command can also be run manually at any time: Running the command outside of scheduled execution times will not interfere with its operation.
+```shell
+ln -s /opt/netbox/contrib/netbox-housekeeping.sh /etc/cron.daily/netbox-housekeeping
+```
+
+!!! note
+    On Debian-based systems, be sure to omit the `.sh` file extension when linking to the script from within a cron directory. Otherwise, the task may not run.
+
+The `housekeeping` command can also be run manually at any time: Running the command outside scheduled execution times will not interfere with its operation.

docs/installation/3-netbox.md

@@ -259,10 +259,10 @@ python3 manage.py createsuperuser
 
 NetBox includes a `housekeeping` management command that handles some recurring cleanup tasks, such as clearing out old sessions and expired change records. Although this command may be run manually, it is recommended to configure a scheduled job using the system's `cron` daemon or a similar utility.
 
-A shell script which invokes this command is included at `contrib/netbox-housekeeping.sh`. It can be copied to your system's daily cron task directory, or included within the crontab directly. (If installing NetBox into a nonstandard path, be sure to update the system paths within this script first.)
+A shell script which invokes this command is included at `contrib/netbox-housekeeping.sh`. It can be copied to or linked from your system's daily cron task directory, or included within the crontab directly. (If installing NetBox into a nonstandard path, be sure to update the system paths within this script first.)
 
 ```shell
-cp /opt/netbox/contrib/netbox-housekeeping.sh /etc/cron.daily/
+ln -s /opt/netbox/contrib/netbox-housekeeping.sh /etc/cron.daily/netbox-housekeeping
 ```
 
 See the [housekeeping documentation](../administration/housekeeping.md) for further details.

docs/installation/upgrading.md

@@ -111,10 +111,10 @@ sudo systemctl restart netbox netbox-rq
 
 ## Verify Housekeeping Scheduling
 
-If upgrading from a release prior to NetBox v3.0, check that a cron task (or similar scheduled process) has been configured to run NetBox's nightly housekeeping command. A shell script which invokes this command is included at `contrib/netbox-housekeeping.sh`. It can be copied to your system's daily cron task directory, or included within the crontab directly. (If NetBox has been installed in a nonstandard path, be sure to update the system paths within this script first.)
+If upgrading from a release prior to NetBox v3.0, check that a cron task (or similar scheduled process) has been configured to run NetBox's nightly housekeeping command. A shell script which invokes this command is included at `contrib/netbox-housekeeping.sh`. It can be linked from your system's daily cron task directory, or included within the crontab directly. (If NetBox has been installed in a nonstandard path, be sure to update the system paths within this script first.)
 
 ```shell
-cp /opt/netbox/contrib/netbox-housekeeping.sh /etc/cron.daily/
+ln -s /opt/netbox/contrib/netbox-housekeeping.sh /etc/cron.daily/netbox-housekeeping
 ```
 
 See the [housekeeping documentation](../administration/housekeeping.md) for further details.