PHP shell_exec() doesn't return the correct status

Question

I'm trying to run a sh script file from the php function shell_exec() but every time the return is uncorrect.

This is the sh file content:

if [[ -z $1 ]]
then
        echo "svn st: NULL"
else
        command=$(ssh -q USER@IP_OF_THE_REMOTE_NODE "svn st $1")
        if [[ -z $command ]]
        then
                test="svn st: OK"
        else
                test="svn st: KO"
        fi
        echo $test
fi

every time that I run this sh script from the shell the echo is ALWAYS correct. The "$1" contains the working directory that I have to check.

But if I run the same script in this way:

$w_path = $working_path['path'];
$com = "sh /tmp/my_script_test.sh $w_path";

echo "content com ".$com;

$res = shell_exec($com);

echo "content res ".$res;

the last echo print ALWAYS "svn st: OK", that is correct for some $w_path, but completely uncorrect for others! Why? How can I find the mistake?

I don't think that is a ssh key problem cause I used a guide to resolve that and now I don't need to insert the password for the remote server.

Thanks Regards

Is you php script executed by the same user that executes the script? Enter whoami at the top of you sh file, your php script is probably run as www-data or apache (who does not have access to the remote server using a keypair). — Green Black
– Green Black, Commented Mar 12, 2013 at 16:28
Hi John thanks for your help. Yes in the second way the user is "Apache" and not "root", but I put the ssh key in var/www/.shh of the local server in the remote /root/.shh/authorized_keys. Do I have to do other things? — michoprogrammer
– michoprogrammer, Commented Mar 12, 2013 at 16:32
Change the command to sh -x /tmp/my_script_test.sh $w_path, so you'll see all the variable expansions. — Barmar
– Barmar, Commented Mar 12, 2013 at 16:33
Hi Barmar thanks for your help. I did as you said in your comment. Via shell I can see all the steps of the sh, via php I cannot see the same things, the shell exec return only the "whoami" and the usual "svn st: OK". It is frustrating! :S — michoprogrammer
– michoprogrammer, Commented Mar 12, 2013 at 16:40

Armali · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-28 08:09:42Z

2

Change

        command=$(ssh -q USER@IP_OF_THE_REMOTE_NODE "svn st $1")
        if [[ -z $command ]]

to

        if ssh -q USER@IP_OF_THE_REMOTE_NODE "svn st $1"

and remember: Whenever something doesn't work, it's because it's too complicated (can't recall where I read that).

answered Aug 28, 2013 at 8:09

Armali

19.6k15 gold badges64 silver badges184 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

PHP shell_exec() doesn't return the correct status

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related