ssh control from Python

[Chuck Esterbrook]

I'm trying to control ssh from Python using pty. I have made some progress. 
For example, if I send the wrong password, I get a message back saying so. 
However, after sending the correct password, sent commands just get echoed 
back to me.

I verified that I can use ssh from the command prompt, both by specifying 
the remote command as an extra arg to ssh and through the interactive shell.

I'm really close, but obviously still missing something.

I'm using Python 2.1 and Linux Mandrake 7.2 (kernel 2.2.17 I think).


#!/usr/bin/env python
# original version by Alex (the_brain at mit.edu) per 2000/10/24 c.l.p
import os, pty, time, signal

def remote_ex(hostname, password, cmd):
     pid, fd = pty.fork()
     if pid==0:
         os.execv("/usr/bin/ssh", ['/usr/bin/ssh', hostname])
     else:
         password += '\n'
         cmd += '\n'
         delay = 3
         time.sleep(delay)
         print ">> 1 Child says %r" % os.read(fd,1024).strip()
         print ">> 2 Child took %d password bytes." % os.write(fd, password)
         time.sleep(delay)  # being over cautious
         print ">> 3 Child took %d command bytes" % os.write(fd, cmd)
         print ">> 4 Child says %r" % os.read(fd,1024).strip()
         print ">> 5 Child took %d exit bytes." % os.write(fd, "exit\n")
         print ">> 6 Child says %r" % os.read(fd,1024).strip()
         # st ()
         os.kill(pid, signal.SIGKILL)

def main():
     cmd = 'echo $HOST > foo.text'
     host = 'my.host.com'
     pass = 'password'
     remote_ex(host, pass, cmd)

if __name__ == "__main__":
     main()


The output:
$ ./ssh.py
 >> 1 Child says "user at my.host.com's password:"
 >> 2 Child took 7 password bytes.
 >> 3 Child took 22 command bytes
 >> 4 Child says 'echo $HOST > foo.text'
 >> 5 Child took 5 exit bytes.
 >> 6 Child says 'exit'


If I send the wrong password:
 >> 1 Child says "user at my.host.com's password:"
 >> 2 Child took 8 password bytes.
 >> 3 Child took 22 command bytes
 >> 4 Child says "Permission denied, please try 
again.\r\r\nuser at my.host.com's password:"
 >> 5 Child took 5 exit bytes.
 >> 6 Child says ''


So sent commands are echoed back to me instead of being executed with their 
output sent back.

Any ideas?


-Chuck