NAME

rstart - a sample implementation of a Remote Start client

SYNOPSIS

rstart [-c _c_o_n_t_e_x_t] [-g] [-l _u_s_e_r_n_a_m_e] [-v] _h_o_s_t_n_a_m_e _c_o_m_m_a_n_d _a_r_g_s _._._.

DESCRIPTION

_R_s_t_a_r_t is a simple implementation of a Remote Start client as defined in "A Flexible Remote Execution Protocol Based on rrsshh". It uses _r_s_h as its underlying remote execution mechanism.

OPTIONS

-c _c_o_n_t_e_x_t
This option specifies the _c_o_n_t_e_x_t in which the command is to be run. A _c_o_n_t_e_x_t specifies a general environment the program is to be run in. The details of this environment are host-specific; the intent is that the client need not know how the environment must be configured. If omitted, the context defaults to XX. This should be suitable for running X programs from the host's "usual" X installation.
-g
Interprets _c_o_m_m_a_n_d as a _g_e_n_e_r_i_c _c_o_m_m_a_n_d, as discussed in the protocol document. This is intended to allow common applications to be invoked without knowing what they are called on the remote system. Currently, the only generic commands defined are TTeerrmmiinnaall, LLooaaddMMoonniittoorr, LLiissttCCoonntteexxttss, and LLiissttGGeenneerriiccCCoommmmaannddss.
-l _u_s_e_r_n_a_m_e
This option is passed to the underlying _r_s_h; it requests that the command be run as the specified user.
-v
This option requests that _r_s_t_a_r_t be verbose in its operation. Without this option, _r_s_t_a_r_t discards output from the remote's _r_s_t_a_r_t helper, and directs the _r_s_t_a_r_t helper to detach the program from the _r_s_h connection used to start it. With this option, responses from the helper are displayed and the resulting program is not detached from the connection.

NOTES

This is a trivial implementation. Far more sophisticated implementations are possible and should be developed.

Error handling is nonexistent. Without --vv, error reports from the remote are discarded silently. With --vv, error reports are displayed.

The $DISPLAY environment variable is passed. If it starts with a colon, the local hostname is prepended. The local domain name should be appended to unqualified host names, but isn't.

The $SESSION_MANAGER environment variable should be passed, but isn't.

X11 authority information is passed for the current display.

ICE authority information should be passed, but isn't. It isn't completely clear how _r_s_t_a_r_t should select what ICE authority information to pass.

Even without --vv, the sample _r_s_t_a_r_t helper will leave a shell waiting for the program to complete. This causes no real harm and consumes relatively few resources, but if it is undesirable it can be avoided by explicitly specifying the "exec" command to the shell, eg


     rstart somehost exec xterm
     


This is obviously dependent on the command interpreter being used on the remote system; the example given will work for the Bourne and C shells.

SEE ALSO

rstartd(1), rsh(1), A Flexible Remote Execution Protocol Based on rrsshh

AUTHOR

Jordan Brown, Quarterdeck Office Systems