Windows SSH (remote execution of commands) - Python Automation

[Cameron Laird]

In article <mailman.6325.1230551707.3487.python-list at python.org>,
Tino Wildenhain  <tino at wildenhain.de> wrote:
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>> I am looking for some information on how to automate remote login to a 
>> UNIX machine using ssh from a windows XP box.
>>  
>> Possible way:
>>  
>> 1. Use putty (or any other ssh client from windows XP). -- Can be 
>> automated with command line parameters. The problem is that I am able to 
>> login - Putty window opens up as well. But obviously I am unable to run 
>> any commands in that. I need to find something like a handle to that 
>> Putty window so that I can execute commands there.
>
>Obviously putty is one (of several) terminal emulators (or in short gui 
>clients) for ssh protocol. This means they are made for interactive work
>with mouse and keyboard rather then for command automation.
>
>Its easy if you just use one of the many command line ssh clients. You
>can use os.popen() and friends or the command module to work with them.
>
>There is also another solution:
>
>http://www.lag.net/paramiko/
>
>which implements the ssh protocol in python so you can do more and
>have finer control over the processes and channels (for example
>file transfer and command control w/o resort to multiple connections)
>
>This is a little bit harder of course.
>
>Also, sometimes its more easy and relieable to just use cron on unix 
>side. This works much much better then Task scheduler on windows btw.
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Good advice, all around.  I'll reinforce a few of your 
points:
A.  I entirely agree that Mr. Raghu would likely
    do well to learn about cron(8); automation of
    the sort that seems to be involved here is 
    generally more convenient with standard Linux
    tools than from the Windows side.
B.  One of the Windows command-line automaters 
    to which you alluded is a sibling of putty:
    plink <URL: 
    http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/0.58/htmldoc/Chapter7.html >.
    It shares configuration and infrastructure 
    elements with putty, and might require the
    least adjustment.
C.  'You think paramiko is harder?  I find it a
    nice solution in many situations.