I have multiple Mandrake linux servers. We currently exchange data between those servers and the main server at the home office on a regular basis. The problem is that it's an intensely manual process. I'd like to automate the data transfer. I've managed to get most of the transfer automated from the main server. I was just wondering if there was a way through ssh to cause a process to run on a remote server? Basically, I'd like to execute the process that updates the data files on the linux boxes automatically and preferably with out the use of cron as the remote systems are strung out from Oregon to Maine from Arizona to the Northwest Territory. Anyway, I'd use cron but this is linux and the system clocks aren't the most accurate things in the world. So, I'm open to any suggestions.

Thanks
M.Lacy
Western Tool Supply

Ack, this is the wrong forum. While all these systems are Mandrake linux systems what I have is a more general question unless there is some Mandrake distro only facility out there that would accomplish this process. Anyway can I get this thread moved to the programming forum?

If you set up ssh to use key authentication you can run a local script that ssh's to the remote computers
and run a command to start the transfers. Create a public/private key pair with ssh-keygen and put the public key
in the remote users .ssh/authorized_keys. Then run 'ssh user@remote command'.

Or use cron. Use ntp to sync the system clocks.

- Peder

Thanks a million. that's what I'll do is the ssh user@remote processname. That's going to save me tons of time, aggrevation and system time syncronization junk.

Time sync is really not junk, especially in a setup like you seem to have. It's really not that hard either:
just 'urpmi ntp' and go to http://ntp.isc.org/bin/view/Servers/WebHome to find a suitable ntp server,
the easiest way is to choose one of the pool time servers or a couple of the open stratum 1 servers.

- Peder

That's very true. But given that we have are in transition from a very old linux to a more more modern linux to a current linux. I'll have old Red Hat 6 installations, Mandrake 9.2 installations and last but not least where we're heading 10.1 Mandrake. Testing that installation right at the moment and when I get a few minutes of breathing room (we only have 1 manager, 2 programmers (including myself) and 1 data clerk to manage 60+ linux servers, 2 scoservers, 1 back office thing from the black lagoon and about 80 window's boxes). Given they didn't set up a time server at the beginning every box in all 57 locations seems to have a different time. Once I get some breathing room by getting through this upgrade i'll set us up a time server and have it keep everything in sync. LOL, that's actually my next project after i get the human factor out of our routine data updates.