UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Here is the slightly modified version of the script I am using and what it gives me.

Code:

#! /usr/bin/ksh

pmqutil=/mqadmin/patrol/util/

LIST="kccdeda13 kdacct01 kdniat01"

USER=darthur

print -n "unixforme1"
stty -echo
read PASSWORD
stty echo
print

exec 4>&1
ftp -nv >&4 2>&4 |&

for SYSTEM in $LIST ; do
       print -p open $SYSTEM
       print -p user $USER "$PASSWORD"
       print -p cd $pmqutil
       print -p ls -l 
       print -p close
done

print -p bye
wait
exit 0

$ ftptest
unixforme1
Connected to kccdeda13.dev.rinkydink.com.
220 kccdeda13 FTP server (Version 4.1 Tue May 15 16:38:46 CDT 2001) ready.
331 Password required for darthur.
Password:


It still prompts me. I am running the script from an AIX 4.3.3 system attempting to ftp to a Solaris, HP-UX, and AIX systems and they all do the same thing.

added code tags for readability --oombera

If this is a file that needs to be updated on a regular basis, you might want to check out the rdist command. It's designed to do exactly what you're trying to do and is a standard UNIX command.


man rdist

Darthur, I think you got this mixed up. If your password is "unixforme1" then we need to get that string into the variable called PASSWORD. One way to do that would be:
PASSWORD="unixforme1"

But another way would be to have the script ask for the password. That is the idea with:
print -n "Enter password -"
stty -echo
read PASSWORD
stty echo
print
When the script runs, it will type out "Enter password -". Then the user will type in "unixforme1". The "stty -echo" makes sure that the password isn't visible while it is typed in.

It looks like you changed the prompt to your password. And then who knows what you typed in when the script tried to read PASSWORD.

Just a thought... have you considered using "rdist"?

This program is specifically designed to maintain identical copies
of files over multiple hosts. It preserves the owner, group, mode,
and mtime of files if possible and can update programs that are
executing.

Check out...
http://www.magnicomp.com/rdist/

Warning!!!
Also check out the security vulnerabilities...
http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-1996-14.html

Used properly and with care, it works great and can save you
lots of time and effort.

Is rdist it similar to rcp and what are the advantages?