How do I find the exit status of a remote command executed via ssh?
After writing about "Execute Commands on Multiple Linux or UNIX Servers", I received couple of emails asking about "how to find out the exit status of a remote command executed via ssh command." Well I never ever used exit status of a remote command executed via ssh. However, here is simple way to find out exit status:
$ ssh user@ras.nixcraft.in date;echo $?
Sun Feb 5 19:01:01 IST 2006 0
First line is nothing but output of date command, zero (0) is exit status of date command. Try another command
$ ssh user@ras.nixcraft.in today;echo $?
bash: today: command not found 127
Please note that ssh exits with the exit status of the remote command or with 255 if an error occurred. For example:
$ ssh user@ras.nixcraft.in today
$ echo $?
bash: today: command not found 127
Since today is not a valid command bash exited with 127 exit code. However, you cannot use conditional control operator:
- && : Execute command only if command returns an exit status of zero
- || : Execute command only if command returns an exit status of non zero
So following command will never display Command failed message:
$ ssh root@192.168.1.16 today;echo $? || echo "Command failed"
What you can do is create a shell script wrapper that will execute a remote command and returns the status locally. So if you are using scripts then last line will be always using to determine the exit status of a remote command executed via ssh.
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You may also be interested in other helpful articles:
- BASH Shell: How to run several commands in Sequence or all at once
- Howto display error message instantly when command fails
- nohup execute commands after you exit from a shell prompt
- Debian / Ubuntu Package Troubleshooting: subprocess post-removal script returned error exit status xx
- Running Commands on a Remote Linux / UNIX Host
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Suppose I put a job to run on remote server (in the background and logged. How can I check later whether the job is done or not.
Suppose if i know the Job ID ??
Use ps and jobs commands