How do I send a password to a command I start with Perl's Expect.pm?

Question

I have the following script,

#!/usr/bin/perl

use strict;
use warnings;
use Net::SSH::Perl;
use Expect;

my $logs = "logs";
open(LOG,'>>',"$logs") or die "can't logs $!\n";

my $domain = 'domain.com';
my @host = qw/host/;

foreach my $host (@host) {
   my $cmd = "passwd user1";
   my $sshost = join('.', $host, $domain);
   my $ssh = Net::SSH::Perl->new("$sshost");
   $ssh->login('root');
   $ssh->debug();
   my ($stdout, $stderr, $exit) = $ssh->cmd($cmd);
   print LOG $stdout,"\n";
}

Now my problem is I don't know how to use Expect to send the password after the $cmd is executed and it's time to key in the password. $stdin won't work in this case since we're using HPUX.

Appreciate any guidance and sample, reading the Expect docs don't result something for me.

Answer 1

I don't think that's possible unfortunately. However, Net::SSH::Expect seems to be able to do what you want.

Answer 2

I summarize: you need Expect, and the ssh module has no use.

I'll be more precise: if I understand your source code, your requirement, in human terms, is something like this: log in to a collection of Unix hosts and use passwd(1) to update root's password on each. Do I have that right?

I expect there's frustration in all directions, because variations of this question have been answered authoritatively for at least two decades. That's no reflection on you, because I recognize how difficult it is to find the correct answer.

While Net::SSH is a fine and valuable module, it contributes nothing to the solution of what I understand to be your requirements. You need Expect.

As it turns out, the standard distribution of the Tcl-based Expect includes an example which addresses your situation. Look in http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/aix/library/au-expect/ > for the description of passmass.

Identical functionality can be coded in Expect.pm, of course. Before I exhibit that, though, I ask that original questioner lupin confirm I'm on track in addressing his true requirements.