UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi.
Is it possible to remotely access another unix box via an enviroment variable, on another machine?

I am trying to create an environment variable $MIPSDATA which will point to a folder on another machine.

I have setup the .rhosts file and got that working on both machines (tested via a rsh).

I was trying to use this ...

setenv MIPSDATA misapptst:/data/qldmips

where 'misapptst' is referring to the remote machine...

i.e.

In .rhosts I have this line, which works via the rsh command.

misapptst mipsq

but if I try and do an $ls $MIPSDATA I get ...

ls: misapptst:/data/qldmips: No such file or directory

The directory exists, I know that for sure and it has all the permissions open for anyone to view it.

Any advice? Thanks

what is the exact rsh syntax you're tryig to execute? i'm not sure if you can directly do a remote command without invoking something like rsh, rexec, or ssh command.

the syntax it appears you're trying to use seems to match those that would be used for scp, rcp, and commands like that.

*shrugs*... i think.

ScatterBrain is right. Are you using the rsh command before the running the ls command? Also, you may have to specify the user to connect to on the remote system.

The syntax of the rsh command would be something like:
rsh -l <user> <command>

Thanks for the responses guys, but I've decided to change my question.

How do I use the concept of the .rhosts file properly? How is it meant to be used?

This is what I have for example ...

Server A (misapptst.melb.hpa):
10.2.64.44 mipsq

Server B (10.2.64.44):
misapptst.melb.hpa mipsq

I can easily do the 'rsh' from server A to server B

ie: $rsh 10.2.64.44 ls

But when I try and do the same from server B to server A, I get this ...

$rsh misapptst.melb.hpa ls
permission denied

Why?

Also, going back to server A... if I try and to a remote copy from server a to server B (since the server B to server A attempt won't allow me)... I get this ...

$rcp 10.2.64.44:/data/qldmips/invoice* .
10.2.64.44:/data/qldmips/: No such file or directory

I know that is NOT true, as that remote folder path does exist!



Thanks again for all your time and effort helping me out.

man... it's been a while since i last worked with this kinda stuff...

if i recall correctly (and some of this is a little bit of guessing since it's been a little while since i've seen this stuff so some of the info may be out of whack), the .rhosts file usually lists the hosts and/or users that are allowed to access the machine.

the first thing you may wanna try doing is looking at the .rhosts file on the destination server (that works).... in your case, server B. this .rhosts file apparently allows server A access. if you look at the .rhosts file on server B, it's very possible that the hostname is not mentioned in the .rhosts file... OR the hostname may not be resolvable... or something cazy like that.

also, you may also want to look at the /etc/hosts.equiv file. i THINK the hosts accessing that machine must also be mentioned in that file. note: i THINK the /etc/hosts.equiv file can only be modified by root.

hehe... sorry for all the speculation.