[mdlug] Run scrip on file arrival

[Aaron Kulkis]

Stan Green wrote:
> On Tuesday 01 March 2011 09:57:04 am you wrote:
>> Stan Green wrote:
>>> I have two Debian systems; one user system and one server. The first
>>> system is used to create files. It includes a script that copies the
>>> video file to the other system for processing and storage. The copy is
>>> done over NFS. The hard part seems to be staring the processing on the
>>> file only after is is fully on the other box. I would rather not do a
>>> time based process due to issues with the file being still being copied.
>>> My thought was to create a small file and send it after I send the main
>>> file. This way the script could run every 5min and wait for the small
>>> file to arrive. It could then process all the video files and delete the
>>> small file. I have seen this type of setup used before and it seems to
>>> work. However is there a better way to accomplish this task?
>> scp  file  remotehost:/some/path/to/file
>> ssh remotehost /some/script/to/run
> 
> OK, so this is a side topic.
> 
> I would not what the user to have to interact with the script. They have a hard 
> enough time with the concept of logging off! (They are always trying to 
> shutdown!)


You might want to write a wrapper program in C which does
sudo to the desired username and runs the desired shellscript.
[This, of course, would be installed on the remote system,
not on the user's computer, and also edit /etc/sudoers on
the remote computer appropriately.]


Q:  Why is the user in question misbehaving by trying to shut down?
What's going on with management/supervision that they are not
taking any corrective action?

> With ssh, to keep the user from interacting with the script,  wouldn't I need to 
> put the user's password in the script?

No.  Big security hole. 

> I've seen many different ways to handle 
> this, but I have never been 100% happy with any of them. Is there a "best 
> practice" for putting passwords in scripts.

Either use sudo, or the user will have to BEHAVE LIKE 
A RESPONSIBLE ADULT WHO EARNS THEIR PAY, and type in
their own password.

If they can't handle this, then seriously, what other
basic work tasks are they also screwing up?