Python Paramiko between Linux and Windows Server -- no output obtained from Windows for "dir" or "cd" commands

[Peter Otten]

Pythonista wrote:

> Hello There:
> 
> I am using Python 2.7.6 and Paramiko module (on a Linux server) to connect
> to a Windows server and send some commands and get output. I have a
> connect function which takes IP, username and password of the remote
> Windows server and I get an sshobj when that happens. How do I use it to
> send remote calls is my question?
> 
> If it were a local system, I would just say "os.system" but not sure about
> the remote calls. Can someone help?
> 
> My code looks like below: sys.path.append("/home/me/code")
> 
> import libs.ssh_connect as ssh
> ssh_obj = ssh.new_conn(IP, username, password)
> 
> stdin, stdout, stderr = ssh_obj.exec_command("dir") #since the remote   
> system I am SSHing into is Windows.
> 
> my "new_conn" looks like this:
> 
> import paramiko
> def new_conn(IP, username, password):
>     ssh_obj = paramiko.SSHClient()
>     ssh_conn.set_missing_host_key_policy(paramiko.AutoAddPolicy())
>     ssh_conn.connect(IP, username, password), timeout=30)
>     return ssh_obj
> 
>  
> if I replaced "dir" with "ipconfig" it works fine. I wonder how I can make
> "dir" work - or for that matter.. with "cd /path/to/dir"?


dir is an internal command of the windows shell. Try

ssh_obj.exec_command("cmd /c dir")

This will execute the dir command and then close the shell.

cd is also internal, but I don't think it makes sense to invoke it and then 
close the shell...


> I know for paramiko's ssh connection to work, i need cygwin installed on a
> Windows. Objective is to run commands remotely from a Linux to a Windows
> server and then process the output again on Linux server or on Windows
> itself.
> 
> I am confused because, "ipconfig" sent from Linux to Windows using
> "ssh_obj.exec_command("ipconfig")" works but not
> "ssh_obj.exec_command("dir")" - tried giving the path like "cd
> C:\Users\Administrator" for cmd or "cd C:" followed by "cd
> Users/Administrator" like in Cygwin. Neither of them work.