SSH and executing command












0















I am trying to ssh into a server and execute several commands on the host.



I managed to do with the following and it works perfectly



ssh -t -X thor 'cd /stmp/username; ls -rtl ; rm ~/tmp.file; tcsh -l'


Currently, I am trying to expand the command to change directory to the latest folder listed in /stmp/username/



Firstly, I tested the command that I wanted to use in the terminal and it works. It will go to the latest folder in the directory listing. The command is



cd `ls -rtl | cut -d' ' -f9 | tail -1`


Now i'm trying to combine the above command into the ssh command. But it does not work.



ssh -t -X thor 'cd /stmp/username; cd `ls -rtl |cut -d' ' -f9 | tail -1` ; rm ~/tmp.file; tcsh -l'


Is there something wrong with my command?










share|improve this question























  • You have 2-sets of single-quotes, wrap the command in double-quotes, e.g. ssh -t -X thor "cd ... " to preserve the included single quotes for your space or escape the space.

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:05











  • @DavidC.Rankin This should be an answer, I think.

    – Kamil Maciorowski
    Jan 25 at 8:08











  • Yes, it was kind of a simple one, but I can do a write up. Thanks.

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:09











  • @DavidC.Rankin changing to double quotes gives out a new error. Now the command list ls the current directory where i executed the command instead of ls in host thor's directory /stmp/username

    – nabilishes
    Jan 25 at 8:13








  • 3





    Why you shouldn't parse the output of ls(1).

    – Kamil Maciorowski
    Jan 25 at 8:20
















0















I am trying to ssh into a server and execute several commands on the host.



I managed to do with the following and it works perfectly



ssh -t -X thor 'cd /stmp/username; ls -rtl ; rm ~/tmp.file; tcsh -l'


Currently, I am trying to expand the command to change directory to the latest folder listed in /stmp/username/



Firstly, I tested the command that I wanted to use in the terminal and it works. It will go to the latest folder in the directory listing. The command is



cd `ls -rtl | cut -d' ' -f9 | tail -1`


Now i'm trying to combine the above command into the ssh command. But it does not work.



ssh -t -X thor 'cd /stmp/username; cd `ls -rtl |cut -d' ' -f9 | tail -1` ; rm ~/tmp.file; tcsh -l'


Is there something wrong with my command?










share|improve this question























  • You have 2-sets of single-quotes, wrap the command in double-quotes, e.g. ssh -t -X thor "cd ... " to preserve the included single quotes for your space or escape the space.

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:05











  • @DavidC.Rankin This should be an answer, I think.

    – Kamil Maciorowski
    Jan 25 at 8:08











  • Yes, it was kind of a simple one, but I can do a write up. Thanks.

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:09











  • @DavidC.Rankin changing to double quotes gives out a new error. Now the command list ls the current directory where i executed the command instead of ls in host thor's directory /stmp/username

    – nabilishes
    Jan 25 at 8:13








  • 3





    Why you shouldn't parse the output of ls(1).

    – Kamil Maciorowski
    Jan 25 at 8:20














0












0








0








I am trying to ssh into a server and execute several commands on the host.



I managed to do with the following and it works perfectly



ssh -t -X thor 'cd /stmp/username; ls -rtl ; rm ~/tmp.file; tcsh -l'


Currently, I am trying to expand the command to change directory to the latest folder listed in /stmp/username/



Firstly, I tested the command that I wanted to use in the terminal and it works. It will go to the latest folder in the directory listing. The command is



cd `ls -rtl | cut -d' ' -f9 | tail -1`


Now i'm trying to combine the above command into the ssh command. But it does not work.



ssh -t -X thor 'cd /stmp/username; cd `ls -rtl |cut -d' ' -f9 | tail -1` ; rm ~/tmp.file; tcsh -l'


Is there something wrong with my command?










share|improve this question














I am trying to ssh into a server and execute several commands on the host.



I managed to do with the following and it works perfectly



ssh -t -X thor 'cd /stmp/username; ls -rtl ; rm ~/tmp.file; tcsh -l'


Currently, I am trying to expand the command to change directory to the latest folder listed in /stmp/username/



Firstly, I tested the command that I wanted to use in the terminal and it works. It will go to the latest folder in the directory listing. The command is



cd `ls -rtl | cut -d' ' -f9 | tail -1`


Now i'm trying to combine the above command into the ssh command. But it does not work.



ssh -t -X thor 'cd /stmp/username; cd `ls -rtl |cut -d' ' -f9 | tail -1` ; rm ~/tmp.file; tcsh -l'


Is there something wrong with my command?







linux ssh






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Jan 25 at 7:58









nabilishesnabilishes

1062




1062













  • You have 2-sets of single-quotes, wrap the command in double-quotes, e.g. ssh -t -X thor "cd ... " to preserve the included single quotes for your space or escape the space.

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:05











  • @DavidC.Rankin This should be an answer, I think.

    – Kamil Maciorowski
    Jan 25 at 8:08











  • Yes, it was kind of a simple one, but I can do a write up. Thanks.

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:09











  • @DavidC.Rankin changing to double quotes gives out a new error. Now the command list ls the current directory where i executed the command instead of ls in host thor's directory /stmp/username

    – nabilishes
    Jan 25 at 8:13








  • 3





    Why you shouldn't parse the output of ls(1).

    – Kamil Maciorowski
    Jan 25 at 8:20



















  • You have 2-sets of single-quotes, wrap the command in double-quotes, e.g. ssh -t -X thor "cd ... " to preserve the included single quotes for your space or escape the space.

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:05











  • @DavidC.Rankin This should be an answer, I think.

    – Kamil Maciorowski
    Jan 25 at 8:08











  • Yes, it was kind of a simple one, but I can do a write up. Thanks.

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:09











  • @DavidC.Rankin changing to double quotes gives out a new error. Now the command list ls the current directory where i executed the command instead of ls in host thor's directory /stmp/username

    – nabilishes
    Jan 25 at 8:13








  • 3





    Why you shouldn't parse the output of ls(1).

    – Kamil Maciorowski
    Jan 25 at 8:20

















You have 2-sets of single-quotes, wrap the command in double-quotes, e.g. ssh -t -X thor "cd ... " to preserve the included single quotes for your space or escape the space.

– David C. Rankin
Jan 25 at 8:05





You have 2-sets of single-quotes, wrap the command in double-quotes, e.g. ssh -t -X thor "cd ... " to preserve the included single quotes for your space or escape the space.

– David C. Rankin
Jan 25 at 8:05













@DavidC.Rankin This should be an answer, I think.

– Kamil Maciorowski
Jan 25 at 8:08





@DavidC.Rankin This should be an answer, I think.

– Kamil Maciorowski
Jan 25 at 8:08













Yes, it was kind of a simple one, but I can do a write up. Thanks.

– David C. Rankin
Jan 25 at 8:09





Yes, it was kind of a simple one, but I can do a write up. Thanks.

– David C. Rankin
Jan 25 at 8:09













@DavidC.Rankin changing to double quotes gives out a new error. Now the command list ls the current directory where i executed the command instead of ls in host thor's directory /stmp/username

– nabilishes
Jan 25 at 8:13







@DavidC.Rankin changing to double quotes gives out a new error. Now the command list ls the current directory where i executed the command instead of ls in host thor's directory /stmp/username

– nabilishes
Jan 25 at 8:13






3




3





Why you shouldn't parse the output of ls(1).

– Kamil Maciorowski
Jan 25 at 8:20





Why you shouldn't parse the output of ls(1).

– Kamil Maciorowski
Jan 25 at 8:20










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















2














When your command works from the command-line, e.g.



cd `ls -rtl | cut -d' ' -f9 | tail -1`


There are no quoting problems present. However, when you attempt to add that to your ssh command, you wrap your ssh command in single-quotes, but you also have included single-quotes within your command to enclose the ' ' (space) with the cut command -- causing problems.



The simplest solution is to leave the quoting around your ssh command to single-quotes and change the quote around the space to double-quotes within it, e.g.



ssh -t -X thor 'cd /stmp/username; cd `ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1` ; rm ~/tmp.file; tcsh -l'


(there are no variable or path-expansion issues as a result)



Make the change and let me know if you have further question.



note: you should also avoid command-substitution using backticks in favor of $(...) -- much more readable.






share|improve this answer


























  • This solution works. Thanks. You mentioned in the post that i should avoid using backticks, can you show an example using $(..)

    – nabilishes
    Jan 25 at 8:19













  • Use $(ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1) instead of `ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1`

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:19













  • I am just curious why did the ssh -t -X thor "cd ... " does not work?

    – nabilishes
    Jan 25 at 8:20






  • 1





    @nabilishes It makes backticks act locally.

    – Kamil Maciorowski
    Jan 25 at 8:21











  • Since the outer double quotes do not prevent expansion, command was expanding locally -- wrapping in single-quotes prevents all expansion

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:21











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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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active

oldest

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active

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2














When your command works from the command-line, e.g.



cd `ls -rtl | cut -d' ' -f9 | tail -1`


There are no quoting problems present. However, when you attempt to add that to your ssh command, you wrap your ssh command in single-quotes, but you also have included single-quotes within your command to enclose the ' ' (space) with the cut command -- causing problems.



The simplest solution is to leave the quoting around your ssh command to single-quotes and change the quote around the space to double-quotes within it, e.g.



ssh -t -X thor 'cd /stmp/username; cd `ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1` ; rm ~/tmp.file; tcsh -l'


(there are no variable or path-expansion issues as a result)



Make the change and let me know if you have further question.



note: you should also avoid command-substitution using backticks in favor of $(...) -- much more readable.






share|improve this answer


























  • This solution works. Thanks. You mentioned in the post that i should avoid using backticks, can you show an example using $(..)

    – nabilishes
    Jan 25 at 8:19













  • Use $(ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1) instead of `ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1`

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:19













  • I am just curious why did the ssh -t -X thor "cd ... " does not work?

    – nabilishes
    Jan 25 at 8:20






  • 1





    @nabilishes It makes backticks act locally.

    – Kamil Maciorowski
    Jan 25 at 8:21











  • Since the outer double quotes do not prevent expansion, command was expanding locally -- wrapping in single-quotes prevents all expansion

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:21
















2














When your command works from the command-line, e.g.



cd `ls -rtl | cut -d' ' -f9 | tail -1`


There are no quoting problems present. However, when you attempt to add that to your ssh command, you wrap your ssh command in single-quotes, but you also have included single-quotes within your command to enclose the ' ' (space) with the cut command -- causing problems.



The simplest solution is to leave the quoting around your ssh command to single-quotes and change the quote around the space to double-quotes within it, e.g.



ssh -t -X thor 'cd /stmp/username; cd `ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1` ; rm ~/tmp.file; tcsh -l'


(there are no variable or path-expansion issues as a result)



Make the change and let me know if you have further question.



note: you should also avoid command-substitution using backticks in favor of $(...) -- much more readable.






share|improve this answer


























  • This solution works. Thanks. You mentioned in the post that i should avoid using backticks, can you show an example using $(..)

    – nabilishes
    Jan 25 at 8:19













  • Use $(ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1) instead of `ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1`

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:19













  • I am just curious why did the ssh -t -X thor "cd ... " does not work?

    – nabilishes
    Jan 25 at 8:20






  • 1





    @nabilishes It makes backticks act locally.

    – Kamil Maciorowski
    Jan 25 at 8:21











  • Since the outer double quotes do not prevent expansion, command was expanding locally -- wrapping in single-quotes prevents all expansion

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:21














2












2








2







When your command works from the command-line, e.g.



cd `ls -rtl | cut -d' ' -f9 | tail -1`


There are no quoting problems present. However, when you attempt to add that to your ssh command, you wrap your ssh command in single-quotes, but you also have included single-quotes within your command to enclose the ' ' (space) with the cut command -- causing problems.



The simplest solution is to leave the quoting around your ssh command to single-quotes and change the quote around the space to double-quotes within it, e.g.



ssh -t -X thor 'cd /stmp/username; cd `ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1` ; rm ~/tmp.file; tcsh -l'


(there are no variable or path-expansion issues as a result)



Make the change and let me know if you have further question.



note: you should also avoid command-substitution using backticks in favor of $(...) -- much more readable.






share|improve this answer















When your command works from the command-line, e.g.



cd `ls -rtl | cut -d' ' -f9 | tail -1`


There are no quoting problems present. However, when you attempt to add that to your ssh command, you wrap your ssh command in single-quotes, but you also have included single-quotes within your command to enclose the ' ' (space) with the cut command -- causing problems.



The simplest solution is to leave the quoting around your ssh command to single-quotes and change the quote around the space to double-quotes within it, e.g.



ssh -t -X thor 'cd /stmp/username; cd `ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1` ; rm ~/tmp.file; tcsh -l'


(there are no variable or path-expansion issues as a result)



Make the change and let me know if you have further question.



note: you should also avoid command-substitution using backticks in favor of $(...) -- much more readable.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited Jan 25 at 8:18

























answered Jan 25 at 8:13









David C. RankinDavid C. Rankin

1539




1539













  • This solution works. Thanks. You mentioned in the post that i should avoid using backticks, can you show an example using $(..)

    – nabilishes
    Jan 25 at 8:19













  • Use $(ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1) instead of `ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1`

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:19













  • I am just curious why did the ssh -t -X thor "cd ... " does not work?

    – nabilishes
    Jan 25 at 8:20






  • 1





    @nabilishes It makes backticks act locally.

    – Kamil Maciorowski
    Jan 25 at 8:21











  • Since the outer double quotes do not prevent expansion, command was expanding locally -- wrapping in single-quotes prevents all expansion

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:21



















  • This solution works. Thanks. You mentioned in the post that i should avoid using backticks, can you show an example using $(..)

    – nabilishes
    Jan 25 at 8:19













  • Use $(ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1) instead of `ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1`

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:19













  • I am just curious why did the ssh -t -X thor "cd ... " does not work?

    – nabilishes
    Jan 25 at 8:20






  • 1





    @nabilishes It makes backticks act locally.

    – Kamil Maciorowski
    Jan 25 at 8:21











  • Since the outer double quotes do not prevent expansion, command was expanding locally -- wrapping in single-quotes prevents all expansion

    – David C. Rankin
    Jan 25 at 8:21

















This solution works. Thanks. You mentioned in the post that i should avoid using backticks, can you show an example using $(..)

– nabilishes
Jan 25 at 8:19







This solution works. Thanks. You mentioned in the post that i should avoid using backticks, can you show an example using $(..)

– nabilishes
Jan 25 at 8:19















Use $(ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1) instead of `ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1`

– David C. Rankin
Jan 25 at 8:19







Use $(ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1) instead of `ls -rtl |cut -d" " -f9 | tail -1`

– David C. Rankin
Jan 25 at 8:19















I am just curious why did the ssh -t -X thor "cd ... " does not work?

– nabilishes
Jan 25 at 8:20





I am just curious why did the ssh -t -X thor "cd ... " does not work?

– nabilishes
Jan 25 at 8:20




1




1





@nabilishes It makes backticks act locally.

– Kamil Maciorowski
Jan 25 at 8:21





@nabilishes It makes backticks act locally.

– Kamil Maciorowski
Jan 25 at 8:21













Since the outer double quotes do not prevent expansion, command was expanding locally -- wrapping in single-quotes prevents all expansion

– David C. Rankin
Jan 25 at 8:21





Since the outer double quotes do not prevent expansion, command was expanding locally -- wrapping in single-quotes prevents all expansion

– David C. Rankin
Jan 25 at 8:21


















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