Sample code for 30+ languages & platforms
VB.NET

SSH ChannelReceiveUntilMatchN (Match Any of Several Prompts)

See more SSH Examples

Demonstrates ChannelReceiveUntilMatchN, which receives until any one of several patterns is matched. This is useful when driving an interactive session where the shell prompt differs from device to device.

Note: This example deliberately requests a PTY. Matching a shell prompt only works in an interactive session — without a PTY the shell runs non-interactively and never prints a prompt at all. For scripted use, omit the PTY and match on a marker your own command echoes.

Background: Real sessions have more than one possible next output, so waiting for one specific string risks hanging when something else appears. Matching a set lets the code proceed on whichever actually occurs — a user prompt, a root prompt, or a device-specific one. A "dumb" terminal type is requested so the remote side does not mix ANSI escape sequences into the output, which would otherwise complicate matching. Remember that retrieving text clears the receive buffer; leaving a prompt buffered would make the next receive match immediately and return the wrong output.

Chilkat VB.NET Downloads

VB.NET
Dim success As Boolean = False

'  This example requires the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
'  See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

'  Demonstrates ChannelReceiveUntilMatchN, which receives until ANY one of several patterns is
'  matched.  This is useful when driving an interactive session where the shell prompt varies
'  from device to device.
'  
'  Note: This example deliberately DOES request a PTY.  Matching a shell prompt only works in an
'  interactive session -- without a PTY the shell runs non-interactively and never prints a
'  prompt at all.  For scripted use where no prompt is needed, omit the PTY and match on a
'  marker your own command echoes instead.

Dim ssh As New Chilkat.Ssh

'  The remote shell prompt may be any of these, depending on the device.
Dim saPrompts As New Chilkat.StringArray
saPrompts.Append("~$")
saPrompts.Append("mars#")
saPrompts.Append("jupiter%")
saPrompts.Append("chilkat$")
saPrompts.Append("admin>")

Dim hostname As String = "ssh.example.com"
Dim port As Integer = 22
success = ssh.Connect(hostname,port)
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


Dim channelNum As Integer = ssh.OpenSessionChannel()
If (channelNum < 0) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


'  Request a pseudo-terminal so the shell runs interactively and prints prompts.  A "dumb"
'  terminal is used so that ANSI escape sequences are not mixed into the output.
Dim termType As String = "dumb"
Dim widthInChars As Integer = 120
Dim heightInChars As Integer = 40
Dim pixWidth As Integer = 0
Dim pixHeight As Integer = 0
success = ssh.SendReqPty(channelNum,termType,widthInChars,heightInChars,pixWidth,pixHeight)
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


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


'  IMPORTANT: Set a read timeout before receiving until a match.  ReadTimeoutMs defaults to 0,
'  which means no limit -- without it, this call waits forever if the received data never
'  contains a match.
ssh.ReadTimeoutMs = 15000

Dim caseSensitive As Boolean = True

'  Read the initial login text up to the first prompt.
success = ssh.ChannelReceiveUntilMatchN(channelNum,saPrompts,"utf-8",caseSensitive)
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


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

Debug.WriteLine(cmdOutput)

'  ---- 1st command ----
success = ssh.ChannelSendString(channelNum,"cd /tmp" & vbLf,"utf-8")
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


success = ssh.ChannelReceiveUntilMatchN(channelNum,saPrompts,"utf-8",caseSensitive)
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


'  Retrieving the text also clears the receive buffer, which matters: if a prompt were left
'  buffered, the next receive would match it immediately and return the wrong output.
cmdOutput = ssh.GetReceivedText(channelNum,"utf-8")
If (ssh.LastMethodSuccess = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If

Debug.WriteLine(cmdOutput)

'  ---- 2nd command ----
success = ssh.ChannelSendString(channelNum,"ls" & vbLf,"utf-8")
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


success = ssh.ChannelReceiveUntilMatchN(channelNum,saPrompts,"utf-8",caseSensitive)
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


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

Debug.WriteLine(cmdOutput)

'  Finish the session.
success = ssh.ChannelSendEof(channelNum)
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


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


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

Debug.WriteLine(cmdOutput)

ssh.Disconnect()