Python subprocess to execute remote server commands

Question

I have to execute python script that reside in remote machine and I am using below script:

from subprocess import call
ip = 1.1.1.1
call(["ssh", ip, "\"cd scripts; python -u get_details.py --web_server\""])

getting below error:

bash: cd scripts; python -u get_details.py --web_server: command not found

running in bash command line directly :

 ssh 1.1.1.1 "cd scripts; python -u get_details.py --web_server"

Asking below input and returning output

 1. USA
 2. UK
 Choose input: 1

 www.cisco_us.com is up

Please let me how fix or any other better way to achive this in python

Florian Weimer · Accepted Answer · 2018-10-01 12:02:16Z

2

You need to drop the quotation marks because the shell removes them. This:

ssh 1.1.1.1 "cd scripts; python -u get_details.py --web_server"

is equivalent to:

call(["ssh", ip, "cd scripts; python -u get_details.py --web_server"])

If you use call this way, there is no shell involved on the client side (which is a good thing), only on the server side.

answered Oct 1, 2018 at 12:02

Florian Weimer

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Comments

Léopold Houdin · Accepted Answer · 2018-10-01 12:04:51Z

0

A way to make sure that your arguments are always prepared correctly is to use python's shlex module. You can do the following:

import shlex
import subprocess

ip = '1.1.1.1'
cmd = "ssh {} 'cd scripts; python -u get_details.py --web_server'".format(ip)

subprocess.call(shlex.split(cmd))

It ensures your arguments are correctly prepared.

I'd also recommend you to have a look at Paramiko. It's a python's library that helps you managing SSH connections.

answered Oct 1, 2018 at 12:04

Léopold Houdin

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3 Comments

Dev Ops Ranga Over a year ago

which is best method and reliable ? Paramiko or configure ssh passwordless and use subprocess

Léopold Houdin Over a year ago

I would recommend Paramiko. You have more control, and it's probably more secure.

Dev Ops Ranga Over a year ago

Ok Let me try it

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