Unicode C

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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#include <C_CkSshW.h>

void ChilkatSample(void)
    {
    BOOL success;
    HCkSshW ssh;
    int sshPort;
    const wchar_t *password;
    int channelNum;
    const wchar_t *output;

    success = FALSE;

    //  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 = CkSshW_Create();

    sshPort = 22;
    success = CkSshW_Connect(ssh,L"ssh.example.com",sshPort);
    if (success == FALSE) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",CkSshW_lastErrorText(ssh));
        CkSshW_Dispose(ssh);
        return;
    }

    //  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 = L"mySshPassword";

    success = CkSshW_AuthenticatePw(ssh,L"mySshLogin",password);
    if (success == FALSE) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",CkSshW_lastErrorText(ssh));
        CkSshW_Dispose(ssh);
        return;
    }

    //  Open a session channel.  A negative return value indicates failure.
    channelNum = CkSshW_OpenSessionChannel(ssh);
    if (channelNum < 0) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",CkSshW_lastErrorText(ssh));
        CkSshW_Dispose(ssh);
        return;
    }

    //  Request execution of a command.  A TRUE return means the server accepted the request; it
    //  does not mean the command itself succeeded.
    success = CkSshW_SendReqExec(ssh,channelNum,L"ls -l /tmp");
    if (success == FALSE) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",CkSshW_lastErrorText(ssh));
        CkSshW_Dispose(ssh);
        return;
    }

    //  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.
    CkSshW_putReadTimeoutMs(ssh,15000);

    //  Read the command output until the server closes the channel.
    success = CkSshW_ChannelReceiveToClose(ssh,channelNum);
    if (success == FALSE) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",CkSshW_lastErrorText(ssh));
        CkSshW_Dispose(ssh);
        return;
    }

    output = CkSshW_getReceivedText(ssh,channelNum,L"utf-8");
    if (CkSshW_getLastMethodSuccess(ssh) == FALSE) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",CkSshW_lastErrorText(ssh));
        CkSshW_Dispose(ssh);
        return;
    }

    wprintf(L"%s\n",output);

    CkSshW_Disconnect(ssh);


    CkSshW_Dispose(ssh);

    }