php - Magento - cron job script is running, but Magento order confirmation emails are not sending -

as magento documentation states, need set cron job on web server in order things order confirmation emails send out, so:

* * * * * /bin/sh /absolute/path/to/magento/cron.sh

this simple cron job. issue is, automated tasks not completing in magento. it's if script isn't being run cron job. , result, order confirmation emails not sending (among other magento automated tasks).

i've installed aoe scheduler extension double-check every automated task in magento , see when tasks completing (or, in case, when they're not). none of tasks including core_email_queue_send_all completing on 1-minute-interval basis.

now here's weird part. if go run cron.php script (cron.sh triggers cron.php) loading in web browser @ mydomain.com/cron.php, magento automated tasks execute! , since script works when run manually, , know cron jobs working...i can't figure out!

please help!

additional details

here's how know cron jobs working—i have tested cron jobs on server creating php script sends basic email mail(), , ran similar cron job 1 above execute every minute—the cron job functions normally. getting mailto emails server every time cron job runs. no errors can see.

i can execute exact command in cron job...

/bin/sh /absolute/path/to/magento/cron.sh

...in terminal when ssh in, , runs script , magento runs automated tasks. doesn't run every minute in cron job!

this totally weird , can't figure out.... @ end of day, work did on magento store moot if customer's can't check out , confirmation emails.

any advice extremely appreciated.

update

i able using wget command call cron.php, still doesn't feel permanent solution.

wget -o /dev/null -q http://domain.com/cron.php 

while it's technically working now, magento's documentation recommends running cron.sh, not cron.php. still love concrete answer why cron job won't run cron.sh sh.

some steps trying:

in terminal:

check cron log:

tail -f /var/log/cron 

can see commands being run?

check if cronjobs present:

crontab -l 

check if cron user has executable permissions file, if not:

chmod +x file.sh 

is cron running? check see if process running:

pgrep crond