remsh hangs up when running in background and window locks

[Dave Ferkinhoff]

We use remsh with .rhosts to execute processes distributed across platforms. If the originating script is started in the background the remshell sessions hang when the screen saver comes up. We are using HP-UX 11.00 on J282 workstations. Any suggestions on what to look for?

[TwoProc]

To stop that problem: use ssh.

To have a safer and more secure system - use ssh. - And stop using remsh with .rhosts files.

Here's a place to get it:

http://hpux.cs.utah.edu/hppd/hpux/Networking/Admin/openssh-4.3p2/

[Greg Vaidman]

If you initiate any background tasks in a remsh session, the session doesn't close until the background task finishes, UNLESS you redirect the STDIN, STDOUT & STDERR for the background task.

For example, any command run in the background in a remsh should look something like:
command < /dev/null > file.log 2> file.err &
or
command < /dev/null > /dev/null 2>&1 &

[Victor Fridyev]

Hi,

Do you use -n parameter in remsh ?

SYNOPSIS
remsh host [-l username] [-n] command

Usually this helps.

BTW, I agree re ssh, it's more secure, but you have to install a version without bugs, which is difficult 8))))

HTH

[Dave Ferkinhoff]

Thanks! I'll try the -n. I agree ssh is more secure, but we can't make the switch for that build product at this time for variious reasons.