RCMDSH(3) | Library Functions Manual | RCMDSH(3)

# NAME

`rcmdsh` — return a stream to a remote command without superuser

# SYNOPSIS

`#include <unistd.h>`

int
`rcmdsh`(char **ahost, int inport, const char *locuser, const char *remuser, const char *cmd, char *rshprog);

# DESCRIPTION

The `rcmdsh`() function is used by normal users to execute a command on a remote machine using an authentication scheme based on reserved port numbers using ssh(1) or the value of rshprog (if non-null). rshprog may be a fully-qualified path, a non-qualified command, or a command containing space-separated command line arguments.

The `rcmdsh`() function looks up the host *ahost using getaddrinfo(3) and, if the host exists, *ahost is set to the canonical name of the host. A connection is then established to a server residing at the well-known Internet port `shell/tcp` (or whatever port is used by rshprog). The parameter inport is ignored; it is only included to provide an interface similar to rcmd(3).

If the connection succeeds, a socket in the UNIX-domain of type `SOCK_STREAM` is returned to the caller, and given to the remote command as stdin and stdout, and stderr.

# DIAGNOSTICS

The `rcmdsh`() function returns a valid socket descriptor on success. It returns -1 on error and prints a diagnostic message on the standard error.

# SEE ALSO

ssh(1), socketpair(2), rcmd(3)

# HISTORY

The `rcmdsh`() function first appeared in OpenBSD 2.0.

# BUGS

If ssh(1) encounters an error, a file descriptor is still returned instead of -1.

May 28, 2016 | Debian