VB.NET

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.

Chilkat VB.NET Downloads

Download Chilkat for VB.NET

VB.NET

Dim success As Boolean = 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.

Dim ssh As New Chilkat.Ssh

Dim sshPort As Integer = 22
success = ssh.Connect("ssh.example.com",sshPort)
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


'  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.
Dim password As String = "mySshPassword"

success = ssh.AuthenticatePw("mySshLogin",password)
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


'  Open a session channel.  A negative return value indicates failure.
Dim channelNum As Integer = ssh.OpenSessionChannel()
If (channelNum < 0) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


'  Request execution of a command.  A True return means the server accepted the request; it
'  does not mean the command itself succeeded.
success = ssh.SendReqExec(channelNum,"ls -l /tmp")
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


'  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.
success = ssh.ChannelReceiveToClose(channelNum)
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


Dim output As String = ssh.GetReceivedText(channelNum,"utf-8")
If (ssh.LastMethodSuccess = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If

Debug.WriteLine(output)

ssh.Disconnect()