Sample code for 30+ languages & platforms
PureBasic

Set an Environment Variable on an SSH Channel

See more SSH Examples

Demonstrates the Chilkat Ssh.SendReqSetEnv method, which asks the server to set an environment variable for a session channel. The arguments are the channel number, the variable name, and its value. Send these requests before the exec, shell, or subsystem request.

Background: This is the clean way to pass configuration to a remote command without embedding it in the command line. Be aware that many SSH servers restrict which variables clients may set (OpenSSH's AcceptEnv), so a request can be silently ignored or rejected — do not rely on it without verifying the server's policy.

Chilkat PureBasic Downloads

PureBasic
IncludeFile "CkSsh.pb"

Procedure ChilkatExample()

    success.i = 0

    ;  Demonstrates the Ssh.SendReqSetEnv method, which asks the server to set an environment
    ;  variable for a session channel.  The 1st argument is the channel number, the 2nd is the
    ;  variable name, and the 3rd is its value.  Send it before the exec, shell, or subsystem
    ;  request.

    ssh.i = CkSsh::ckCreate()
    If ssh.i = 0
        Debug "Failed to create object."
        ProcedureReturn
    EndIf

    sshPort.i = 22
    success = CkSsh::ckConnect(ssh,"ssh.example.com",sshPort)
    If success = 0
        Debug CkSsh::ckLastErrorText(ssh)
        CkSsh::ckDispose(ssh)
        ProcedureReturn
    EndIf

    ;  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.s = "mySshPassword"

    success = CkSsh::ckAuthenticatePw(ssh,"mySshLogin",password)
    If success = 0
        Debug CkSsh::ckLastErrorText(ssh)
        CkSsh::ckDispose(ssh)
        ProcedureReturn
    EndIf

    ;  Open a session channel.  A negative return value indicates failure.
    channelNum.i = CkSsh::ckOpenSessionChannel(ssh)
    If channelNum < 0
        Debug CkSsh::ckLastErrorText(ssh)
        CkSsh::ckDispose(ssh)
        ProcedureReturn
    EndIf

    ;  Set environment variables for the channel.  Multiple variables may be requested.
    success = CkSsh::ckSendReqSetEnv(ssh,channelNum,"LANG","en_US.UTF-8")
    If success = 0
        Debug CkSsh::ckLastErrorText(ssh)
        CkSsh::ckDispose(ssh)
        ProcedureReturn
    EndIf

    success = CkSsh::ckSendReqSetEnv(ssh,channelNum,"MY_APP_MODE","production")
    If success = 0
        Debug CkSsh::ckLastErrorText(ssh)
        CkSsh::ckDispose(ssh)
        ProcedureReturn
    EndIf

    ;  Now run the command, which sees the requested environment.
    success = CkSsh::ckSendReqExec(ssh,channelNum,"echo $MY_APP_MODE")
    If success = 0
        Debug CkSsh::ckLastErrorText(ssh)
        CkSsh::ckDispose(ssh)
        ProcedureReturn
    EndIf

    ;  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.
    CkSsh::setCkReadTimeoutMs(ssh, 15000)

    success = CkSsh::ckChannelReceiveToClose(ssh,channelNum)
    If success = 0
        Debug CkSsh::ckLastErrorText(ssh)
        CkSsh::ckDispose(ssh)
        ProcedureReturn
    EndIf

    output.s = CkSsh::ckGetReceivedText(ssh,channelNum,"utf-8")
    If CkSsh::ckLastMethodSuccess(ssh) = 0
        Debug CkSsh::ckLastErrorText(ssh)
        CkSsh::ckDispose(ssh)
        ProcedureReturn
    EndIf

    Debug output

    CkSsh::ckDisconnect(ssh)


    CkSsh::ckDispose(ssh)


    ProcedureReturn
EndProcedure