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