executing a command over ssh, and then running bash

Question

I'm trying to set up a script that opens a terminal, does an ssh to a remote server, and executes a command (tail -F logfile in my case).

What I have so far is the following

gnome-terminal -e 'ssh -t server "tail -F logfile"'

This works to some extent. -t ensures that signals like SIGINT are sent through the commands running remotely.

However, when I ctrl-c the tail, I would really like to drop down to a bash terminal on the remote server. Right now, if I ctrl-c the tail, then the tail is closed, which causes ssh to exit, which causes the whole terminal to be closed.

What I would like is for the tail to be terminated and be left with a bash shell on the remote server.

I have tried the following:

gnome-terminal -e 'ssh -t server "tail -F logfile; /bin/bash"'

but that doesn't seem to work. That is, if I run this without gnome-terminal, just ssh -t ..., then see the following:

some lines
from the log
^CConnection to server closed.

But, If I do

gnome-terminal -e 'ssh -t server "nonexistantcommand; /bin/bash"'

Then I get an error that nonexistantcommand is not found, and then I do drop down to a bash on a remote server...

Does anyone have any suggestions or hints on how to get this going? Thanks in advance.

chaos · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-10 17:03:50Z

2

Here, have a nasty hack:

gnome-terminal -e 'ssh -t server "echo \"tail -F logfile;rm /tmp/foo\" > /tmp/foo; bash --rcfile /tmp/foo"'

edited Feb 10, 2011 at 17:03

answered Feb 10, 2011 at 16:57

chaos

125k34 gold badges306 silver badges310 bronze badges

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

1 Comment

vmpstr Over a year ago

This seems to work. Thanks :) chx has more of an explanation in his answer as to why

chx · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-10 17:04:04Z

1

--init-file filename
--rcfile filename

Execute commands from filename (instead of `~/.bashrc') in an interactive shell.

so run bash with --rcfile pointing to a script running tail -F.

answered Feb 10, 2011 at 17:04

chx

11.9k8 gold badges64 silver badges144 bronze badges

Comments

ephemient · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-10 17:19:34Z

1

Why not do the obvious? "If you got a SIGINT, execute an interactive shell."

gnome-terminal -e 'ssh -t server "trap \"exec sh -i\" INT; tail -F logfile"'

answered Feb 10, 2011 at 17:19

ephemient

206k39 gold badges292 silver badges402 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

executing a command over ssh, and then running bash

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related