Take action or execute a command based upon shell script name

You would like to run different commands or task based upon a single shell script name. For example script name is backup Instead of writing 3 different script write one script and softlink using ln command:

=> backup – original script

=> backup.nas – Script to backup data to NAS device

=> backup.ftp – Script to backup data to FTP Server

=> backup.scp – Script to backup data to Remote SSH server

Use ln command to make link between backup and other files
$ ln -s backup backup.nas
$ ln -s backup backup.ftp
$ ln -s backup backup.scp


Now use basename command strip directory and suffix from script name. $0 variable always print scriptname.
#!/bin/bash
echo My name is $(basename $0)

Output:

My name is backup

Let us store output to variable
#!/bin/bash
ME=$(basename $0)

Now simply use the case statement to get script name. The case statement allows you to match several values against $ME variable. Here is final script:

#!/bin/bash
ME=$(basename $0)
case $ME in
        backup.nas)
           echo "Write code to mount NAS using smbmount, use cp to copy data to NAS"
           ;;
        backup.ftp)
           echo "Write code to copy data using FTP"
           ;;
        backup.scp)
           echo "Write code to copy data using OpenSSH scp command"
           ;;
        *)
           echo "Syntax error - show some help"
           echo "Use $ME.nas or $ME.ftp or $ME.ftp"
           ;;
esac

To backup data to NAS just type
backup.nas

To backup data to FTP server just type
backup.ftp

Benefits

• Ease of use
• Saves time
• Your work looks quite professional

See also:

• Shell script to backup data using FTP
• Access NAS using FTP/NFS/Linux & BSD command line