PHP

Run a Command on an SSH Session Channel

Demonstrates the Chilkat Ssh.SendReqExec method, which requests execution of a command on a session channel. The first argument is the channel number and the second is the command line. This example runs a command, reads the output until the channel closes, and prints it.

Background: exec is the workhorse for automation: run one command, collect its output, and finish — no interactive shell needed. Note carefully that a true return means the request was accepted, not that the command succeeded. To learn the command's outcome, read its output and check the channel exit status.

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<?php

use Chilkat2\Ssh;

// Demonstrates the Ssh.SendReqExec method, which requests execution of a command on a session
// channel.  The 1st argument is the channel number and the 2nd is the command line.

$ssh = new Ssh();

$sshPort = 22;
try {
    $ssh->Connect('ssh.example.com', $sshPort);

    // Normally you would not hard-code the password in source.  You should instead obtain it
    // from an interactive prompt, environment variable, or a secrets vault.
    $password = 'mySshPassword';

    $ssh->AuthenticatePw('mySshLogin', $password);
} catch (\Chilkat2\Exception $e) {
    echo $e->getMessage(), "\n";
    exit;
}

// Open a session channel.  A negative return value indicates failure.
$channelNum = $ssh->OpenSessionChannel();
if ($channelNum < 0) {
    echo $ssh->LastErrorText, "\n";
    exit;
}

// Request execution of a command.  A true return means the server accepted the request; it
// does not mean the command itself succeeded.
try {
    $ssh->SendReqExec($channelNum, 'ls -l /tmp');

    // IMPORTANT: Set a read timeout.  ReadTimeoutMs defaults to 0, which means no limit -- without
    // it, this call waits forever if the server never sends channel close.
    $ssh->ReadTimeoutMs = 15000;

    // Read the command output until the server closes the channel.
    $ssh->ChannelReceiveToClose($channelNum);

    $output = $ssh->GetReceivedText($channelNum, 'utf-8');
} catch (\Chilkat2\Exception $e) {
    echo $e->getMessage(), "\n";
    exit;
}

echo $output, "\n";

$ssh->Disconnect();