UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

How can I execute a script on a unix server via ftp from a Windows machine?? Can't use cron/at to schedule the execution and don't want to open up a telnet session just to do it. I want to be able to kick it off after I send the script over on a nightly basis. Reason is script parameter changes nightly and is created on windows side.

Any ideas? Is this even possible?

Thanks.

directly via ftp, no it isnt. however you can download to your local machine whatever file is executed when you log in to the machine in your home directory, and edit that and include it to execute your script. hope that helps. though telnet, or better, ssh would be the best way to do it, IMO.

If this is a nightly process starting at approximately the same time, you can use cron. Just send a second file after the first from the Windows system (blank file is fine).

You then set up your cron job to start at say 21:00. The first thing it does is a loop waiting for that second file (if you do it to the first then it attempts to run when the file may not be done ftping over). Once the file is found (utilizing sleep command to wait to look again...and a counter to 'bomb' out if it doesn't arrive within a certain time frame) your job continues your processing while you sleep, party, whatever. Email notification on completion (failure or success).

For what its worth, they make software to do exactly what the poster is asking for, called Connect:Direct also commonly known as NDM (network data mover) Made by Sterling Software. We have it and use it all the time. Its basically just secure FTP. Commonly used to transfer data securely from unix to unix, unix to Win, and unix to mainframe (and vice versa). It has a step called SYSOPTS which allows you to kick off unix commands, scripts,post dependencies to CA-7, etc...

http://www.sterlingcommerce.com/solu...ct/direct.html

It is possible to send command via FTP using command "AC QUOTE ". I'm looking for documentation, but I remember I used this solution some time ago...

Do somebody know somethings about that ?