How to execute multiple commands via SSH in a script

angrymachine · 10-10-2011, 09:19 AM

I need to run several commands on a remote machine via ssh, but I want to do so in a script since there are many machines. Also, none of the commands require user feedback, so that simplifies it a bit.

Here is pseudo code of what I'm trying to do

ssh user@unix
command1
./script.sh
command2
command3
exit ssh

Any suggestions on how to do this?

lithos · 10-10-2011, 09:27 AM

try write the script (e.g. "runthis.sh"):

Code:

#!/bin/sh
$(1st command to run)
$(second)
exit 0        <-- will make you logout/exit ssh

colucix · 10-10-2011, 09:27 AM

You can use the -s option of bash to read the commands from standard input. Suppose you want to execute your local script test.sh on the remote machine:

Code:

ssh user@server 'bash -s' < test.sh

You can do this even inside a script using a here document to pass the commands as standard input:

Code:

ssh user@server 'bash -s' << EOF
  command_one
  command_two
  command_three
EOF

Hope this helps.

EricTRA · 10-10-2011, 09:28 AM

Hello and Welcome to LinuxQuestions,

Did you have a look at the man page for ssh? Or do a search on the Internet? I'm sure either of those would have pointed you to something like this:

Code:

ssh user@host 'command1; command2; command3'

or you could put a rc file in ~/.ssh/rc on the remote server (look it up in the man page) to execute commands when logging in which would execute the commands before the shell is started. If either of the above doesn't work for you, then please be more specific on what you want to do.

Looking forward to your participation in the forums. Have fun with Linux.

Kind regards,

Eric

angrymachine · 10-12-2011, 10:05 AM

Thanks for all the replies. This was just what I was looking for.