SCP without entering password

[ganapa2000]

Hi,

Is there a way to specify password in the script for SCP to copy VMs from one ESXi

​scp -r root@192.168.1.100:/vmfs/volumes/VNX_DS_Uni_Dev_Vol/app42/ .

[LucD]

Which script are you talking about?

[ganapa2000]

LucD,

I dont have any script currently, I am manually performing the migration by logging into esxi host.

Is there a way to login to esxi host through script and execute this command

scp -r root@192.168.1.100:/vmfs/volumes/VNX_DS_Uni_Dev_Vol/app42/ .

Please help.

[LucD]

Sure, I would suggest to use the Posh-SSH module.

See also my Use Posh-SSH instead of PuTTY post.

[ganapa2000]

Hi LucD,

Thanks for your suggestion.

I have arrived to the below script

$esx = '192.168.10.10'

$Username = 'root'

$password = 'password'

$secpasswd = ConvertTo-SecureString -AsPlainText $password -Force

$Credentials = New-Object System.Management.Automation.PSCredential ($Username, $secpasswd)

$cmdSub1 = 'cd /vmfs/volumes/FASLUN01'

$cmdSub2 = 'scp -r /vmfs/volumes/FASLUN02/ISO/en_windows_server_2012_r2_with_update_x64_dvd_6052708.iso .'

$session = New-SSHSession -ComputerName $esx -Credential $Credentials -AcceptKey

Invoke-SSHCommand -SSHSession $session -Command $cmdSub1 | select -ExpandProperty output

Invoke-SSHCommand -SSHSession $session -Command $cmdSub2 | select -ExpandProperty output

The above scripts runs and I get a prompt. the issue, how do I know the status of copy ?

please help...

[LucD]

Can't you just do an ls after the copy?

$cmdSub1 = 'cd /vmfs/volumes/FASLUN01'

$cmdSub2 = 'scp -r /vmfs/volumes/FASLUN02/ISO/en_windows_server_2012_r2_with_update_x64_dvd_6052708.iso .'

$cmdSub3 = 'ls -l /vmfs/volumes/FASLUN02/ISO'

$session = New-SSHSession -ComputerName $esx -Credential $Credentials -AcceptKey

Invoke-SSHCommand -SSHSession $session -Command $cmdSub1 | select -ExpandProperty output

Invoke-SSHCommand -SSHSession $session -Command $cmdSub2 | select -ExpandProperty output

Invoke-SSHCommand -SSHSession $session -Command $cmdSub3 | select -ExpandProperty output

[ganapa2000]

LucD,

I think, copying is not happening.  I made the below changes

$cmdSub1 = 'cd /vmfs/volumes/FASLUN01'

$cmdSub2 = 'scp -r /vmfs/volumes/FASLUN02/ISO/en_windows_server_2012_r2_with_update_x64_dvd_6052708.iso .'

$cmdSub3 = 'ls -l /vmfs/volumes/FASLUN02/ISO'

$session = New-SSHSession -ComputerName $esx -Credential $Credentials -AcceptKey

$res = Invoke-SSHCommand -SSHSession $session -Command $cmdSub1 | select -ExpandProperty output

$res = Invoke-SSHCommand -SSHSession $session -Command $cmdSub2 | select -ExpandProperty output

$res = Invoke-SSHCommand -SSHSession $session -Command $cmdSub3 | select -ExpandProperty output

$res

Output Error

scp: ambiguous target

[LucD]

If I understand your command correctly, you are copying a file on the same ESXi node between 2 directories.

Why do you use scp in that case?

Can't you just use 'cp'?

[ganapa2000]

LucD,

I tried even copying from different esxi host, still the same error

$cmdSub1 = 'cd /vmfs/volumes/FASLUN01'

$cmdSub2 = 'scp -r root@192.168.1.11:/vmfs/volumes/FASLUN02/ISO/en_windows_server_2012_r2_with_update_x64_dvd_6052708.iso .'

$cmdSub3 = 'ls -l /vmfs/volumes/FASLUN02/ISO'

$session = New-SSHSession -ComputerName $esx -Credential $Credentials -AcceptKey

$res = Invoke-SSHCommand -SSHSession $session -Command $cmdSub1 | select -ExpandProperty output

$res = Invoke-SSHCommand -SSHSession $session -Command $cmdSub2 | select -ExpandProperty output

$res = Invoke-SSHCommand -SSHSession $session -Command $cmdSub3 | select -ExpandProperty output

$res

Error

scp: ambiguous target

[LucD]

Try like this.
Each new call to Invoke-SSHCommand is as if you opened a new terminal.

$lines = 'cd /vmfs/volumes/FASLUN01',

              'scp -r /vmfs/volumes/FASLUN02/ISO/en_windows_server_2012_r2_with_update_x64_dvd_6052708.iso .'

              'ls -l /vmfs/volumes/FASLUN01'

$cmdSub = $lines -join ';'

$Credentials = Get-Credential

$session = New-SSHSession -ComputerName esx1.local.lab -Credential $Credentials -AcceptKey

Invoke-SSHCommand -SSHSession $session -Command $cmdSub

[ganapa2000]

LucD,

The above works but I am getting the below error. Also how can get the status of the copy like 10% complete, 20% complete etc.....

[LucD]

Looks like you might be hitting a timeout.

Two things to try:

• do the same, but with a much smaller file (just to check that the concept works)
• use the TimeOut parameter on the Invoke-SshCommand cmdlet. The value is in seconds, and there is apparently no default value

[ganapa2000]

LucD,

I tried with the small file, it works without any issues but for bigger files still I am not able to see the status of the copy (% of copy complete)

[LucD]

Did you try specifying a TimeOut value?

[ganapa2000]

yes, but still the same. attached the file.

[LucD]

What did you specify as the TimeOut value?

My previous comment was incorrect, the default is 3600 seconds.
Does that copy take more than 1 hour?

[ganapa2000]

LucD,

the default for 60, I changed to 3600, but still the same. I changed in two places from default 60 to 3600

[LucD]

How big is that ISO file?

[ganapa2000]

ISO file is around 3 GB and takes around 7 - 8 mins to copy

even though, it says timeout error, copy is in progress at the backend and after sometime I see file was copied.

how can I avoid that timeout error ?

[LucD · Accepted solution]

I was able to replicate that timeout error you are getting.

The following seems to avoid that error and works for me.

Note that I use a timeout value in 2 locations!

$lines = 'cd /vmfs/volumes/FASLUN01',

         'scp -rv -o ConnectTimeout=3600 /vmfs/volumes/FASLUN02/ISO/en_windows_server_2012_r2_with_update_x64_dvd_6052708.iso .',

         'ls -l /vmfs/volumes/FASLUN01'

$cmdSub = $lines -join ';'

$Credentials = Get-Credential

$session = New-SSHSession -ComputerName esx1.local.lab -Credential $Credentials -AcceptKey

Invoke-SSHCommand -SSHSession $session -Command $cmdSub -TimeOut 3600

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