Problem with scp (ssh) on adding /usr/bin/fortune to /etc/profile & .bashrc (Fedora)

funkymunky · 09-11-2008, 11:56 PM

Hi everyone,

I kinda like the fortune messages, so I added /usr/bin/fortune to both my ~/.bashrc and /etc/profile (the latter because i wanted this to be system wide, so was looking for alternative to adding this line to the bashrc of every user..not sure if this is the correct way).

Anyway, now I'm unable to scp (ssh-copy) a file from this machine, by logging in from another machine. When I try this from machine B:

B~>scp A:<file> ./
password:

When I enter the password, I get the /usr/bin/fortune message, instead of the file transfer starting

What am I doing wrong?

TIA,
Mayank

Mr. C. · 09-12-2008, 12:43 AM

Place this if around your call to fortune:

Code:

if [ ! -z "$PS1" ] ; then
  fortune
fi

This will prevent fortune from trying to run on non-interactive shells.

funkymunky · 09-12-2008, 03:16 AM

Thanks, Mr. C. Didn't work tho

Code:

[root@localhost ~]# scp mkaushik@blah:~/work/bugs/xyz .
mkaushik@blah's password:
I could dance with you till the cows come home.  On second thought, I'd rather

tail ~/.bashrc:

Code:

if [ ! -z "PS1" ]; then
    /usr/bin/fortune
    echo -e "\n"
fi

colucix · 09-12-2008, 03:43 AM

Any output coming from a command in .bashrc can trigger the scp errors. Moreover if you execute remote commands using ssh, the output will come out together with the requested one. For example when you do something like

Code:

ssh user@host ls

the fortune message will be "listed" together with the list of files. To prevent this behaviour, put the fortune command in .bash_profile. You will get the output when you login through ssh, but not when using scp or when issuing remote commands.

funkymunky · 09-12-2008, 04:57 AM

Now fortune doesn't work :sad:

Why does my .bash_profile not get executed when i login?

Code:

# .bash_profile

# Get the aliases and functions
if [ -f ~/.bashrc ]; then
        . ~/.bashrc
fi

# User specific environment and startup programs

echo -e "Test\n"
PATH=$PATH:$HOME/bin

export PATH

/usr/bin/fortune
echo -e "\n"

colucix · 09-12-2008, 05:04 AM

Which is the exact command you use to connect? See the INVOCATION section in man bash for more information.

An aside note: to print out a newline you can simply issue an echo alone:

Code:

/usr/bin/fortune && echo

gamboz · 09-12-2014, 03:06 AM

from
http://winscp.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1510

Code:

if [ "$TERM" != "dumb" ]; then
    fortune
fi