Question

I have a script that is using a ssh key for connecting to a remote server for a specific user. However, id the user information is changed and the keys are not updated, the script will hang waiting for a password.

How can I trap this and throw DIE when prompted for a password?

For example, if I use:

system("ssh -C [e-mail] -i /.ssh/USER.key ...");

and USER is not the same USER in USER.key, it hangs waiting for a password. I would rather have it die.

What is the best way to handle this without using a perl module?

Answer 1

Try this:

system('ssh -o BatchMode=yes -C [e-mail] -i /.ssh/USER.key ...');

The BatchMode option will prevent ssh from prompting for passwords, and will simply terminate if a password is required.