How do I automate ssh sessions with a Router Ericsson IPOS?

Question

I am trying to automate the healthcheck process of a router by running a centralised script from a linux server. I am so far able to access the router server without password prompt using ssh and rsa key pairs, and send in some commands from the server.

For example, I could run this automation script (to overwrite a file):

ssh -t -t  admin@$server << EOF
del output.txt
y
show port | save output.txt
exit
EOF

However, when I send a command "start shell" to initialise the bash shell in the router, i was not able to run a script saved in the router automatically. Instead, i have to type in the command to run the script manually, that is ./script.sh.

ssh -t -t  admin@$server << EOF
del output.txt
y
start shell <<EOF
./script.sh  # <-------------This doesn't get received by bash
EOF

I'm not sure what i can do. If there are any other ways i can run that script and receive the output without manually typing in the command, with or without using ssh or rsa key pairs, im all ears.

Answer 1

This occurs generally when a script wait till next keyword like last character "#" to pass next command and finish running command result. In this case till start shell last character "#" after that last character is "$". Therefore, need to change in script for waiting command will see $ instead of #.

For example, using VB script.

Screen.Send "del output.txt" & Chr(13)
crt.Screen.WaitForString "#"
crt.Screen.Send "y" & Chr(13)
crt.Screen.WaitForString "#"
crt.Screen.Send "start shell" & Chr(13)
crt.Screen.WaitForString "$"
crt.Screen.Send "./script.sh" & Chr(13)
crt.Screen.WaitForString "$"

Answer 2

I'm not sure what i can do. If there are any other ways i can run that script and receive the I/O without manually typing in the command, with or without using ssh or rsa key pairs, im all ears.

Do not attempt to drive interactive pty sessions with bash shell... it's like trying to turn a screw with the pointy-end of a hammer claw.... no worky. Use the Expect language, or Python / Ruby / Perl.

I wrote a presentation on one way to drive automated router sessions in python (with pexpect). This is only one of several techniques you could use. This presentation also includes a simple Expect script if you wanted to go that route.

If you want to use Windows, one popular option is scripting in SecureCRT