Shell Programming and Scripting

How do I use the ssh command to connect to another server without the password prompt?

I use: ssh user@host and it prompts for the password.

how do I include the password in the ssh command?


alternatively, how do you execute 1 command from server A on server B?

thanks,

Lavanya

You have to use passwordless login.

You don't. Google 'passwordless ssh' and you'll find many, many examples on setting up automatic logins with shared keys, a safe and secure noninteractive authentication method. Just having the right files in the right places on both ends allows you to run ssh username@host and have it go through with no prompting. Try this tutorial.

This is much, much better than storing a password where anyone can read it! ssh -- and any other sane authentication system -- is designed to prevent you using stored passwords for security reasons.

so is there no option for the ssh command so that you can specify a password then?

something like: ssh user@host -option password

I have to specify a password, and I don't have root access so I can't create public keys.

As I said, ssh is specifically designed to prevent you from using passwords like that. It's a security nightmare. Do you realize that anyone on the system would be able to run ps and see the password in plaintext? You don't need root access. All you need is access to your own home dir and the remote hosts' home dir. If you have a legit password, you have enough access to set up keys on any sane system.