PHP web interface for shell script or command

I am looking for a web interface for shell commands or shell scripts.
Does anyone know of any exexisting php scripts which would solve this
requirement?

PHP form accepts input from a user, then passes these as arguments to
a configurable shell script or OS command. I would like for the
output generated from the shell script/command shall be displayed in a
new javascript window once the form is submitted. Optimally a user
should not not be able to make the program run more than once from
within the javascript window by reloading the window. program
execution shall only be caused by submitting the original form.

-Inet

On Jun 12, 4:15 pm, Michael Vilain <vil...@NOspamcop.net> wrote:
> In article
> <c1620cd5-0506-440a-b259-f0e815e64...@a70g2000hsh.googlegroups.com>,
>
> inetquestion<inetquest...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > I am looking for a web interface for shell commands or shell scripts.
> > Does anyone know of any exexisting php scripts which would solve this
> > requirement?
>
> > PHP form accepts input from a user, then passes these as arguments to
> > a configurable shell script or OS command. I would like for the
> > output generated from the shell script/command shall be displayed in a
> > new javascript window once the form is submitted. Optimally a user
> > should not not be able to make the program run more than once from
> > within the javascript window by reloading the window. program
> > execution shall only be caused by submitting the original form.
>
> > -Inet
>
> Sounds like a homework assignment or something assigned in a beginner's
> PHP class. Why not try to write you own version and when you get stuck,
> post your problems to this group. You might learn something. Just a
> thought.
>
> Alternately, you can look at some of stuff in various php libraries.
> Lots of php developers from various countries have posted code to
> various PHP sites (hint: it starts with "g" and ends with "e").





Lots of the requirements were simplified down to make the request seem
simplistic and consumable to a broader base. I assure you I'm long
past homework problems. :)

The root problem I'm trying to work around is I have a shell script
that SSH's out to many servers using ssh key-pairs and performs
various commands on each one (based on the input options/arguments)
This needs to run as a specific user and needs for the environment
from which it runs to be setup properly. when I setup a php based
form to execute these commands, the shell it runs under is...limited
at best. I have even tried sourcing the user's .profile as part of
this routine, but that didn't' get me much farther. Is there a way to
control what user the script will actually run as? Now back to my
original questions... Are there any php utilities anyone knows of
which can serve as an interface to a shell script or command line?

-Inet

inetquestion wrote:
> On Jun 12, 4:15 pm, Michael Vilain <vil...@NOspamcop.net> wrote:
>> In article
>> <c1620cd5-0506-440a-b259-f0e815e64...@a70g2000hsh.googlegroups.com>,
>>
>> inetquestion<inetquest...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> I am looking for a web interface for shell commands or shell scripts.
>>> Does anyone know of any exexisting php scripts which would solve this
>>> requirement?
>>> PHP form accepts input from a user, then passes these as arguments to
>>> a configurable shell script or OS command. I would like for the
>>> output generated from the shell script/command shall be displayed in a
>>> new javascript window once the form is submitted. Optimally a user
>>> should not not be able to make the program run more than once from
>>> within the javascript window by reloading the window. program
>>> execution shall only be caused by submitting the original form.
>>> -Inet
>> Sounds like a homework assignment or something assigned in a beginner's
>> PHP class. Why not try to write you own version and when you get stuck,
>> post your problems to this group. You might learn something. Just a
>> thought.
>>
>> Alternately, you can look at some of stuff in various php libraries.
>> Lots of php developers from various countries have posted code to
>> various PHP sites (hint: it starts with "g" and ends with "e").
>
>
>
>
>
> Lots of the requirements were simplified down to make the request seem
> simplistic and consumable to a broader base. I assure you I'm long
> past homework problems. :)
>
> The root problem I'm trying to work around is I have a shell script
> that SSH's out to many servers using ssh key-pairs and performs
> various commands on each one (based on the input options/arguments)
> This needs to run as a specific user and needs for the environment
> from which it runs to be setup properly. when I setup a php based
> form to execute these commands, the shell it runs under is...limited
> at best. I have even tried sourcing the user's .profile as part of
> this routine, but that didn't' get me much farther. Is there a way to
> control what user the script will actually run as? Now back to my
> original questions... Are there any php utilities anyone knows of
> which can serve as an interface to a shell script or command line?
>
> -Inet
>

No utilities I know of - just the standard system(), exec(), etc. commands.

The command will run as the PHP user - this is how the OS works, and PHP
has no control over it. If you're running under Linux, you can use sudo
to change the user. Also, you *could* use posix_setuid() to change the
user id, but this requires special privileges on the PHP executable and
is *very dangerous*.

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attglobal.net
==================

I have considered the following conditions, but ran into problems with
each...

1. The Web server runs as 'nobody' which cannot be modified. php
scripts executed will be executed as nobody...and script doesn't
work. For what I'm trying to do setuid probably isn't a good fit due
to security concerns.

2. web interface could write form inputs to a file. A daemon would
read items off the file and execute the intended script running as the
proper user. (seems clunky to me, but would work...)

3. Any other suggestions?

-Inet

On Jun 12, 10:21 pm, inetquestion <inetquest...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I have considered the following conditions, but ran into problems with
> each...
>
> 1. The Web server runs as 'nobody' which cannot be modified. php
> scripts executed will be executed as nobody...and script doesn't
> work. For what I'm trying to do setuid probably isn't a good fit due
> to security concerns.
>
> 2. web interface could write form inputs to a file. A daemon would
> read items off the file and execute the intended script running as the
> proper user. (seems clunky to me, but would work...)
>
> 3. Any other suggestions?
>
> -Inet

I wish I would have saved my code!! prior to my current job as a web
developer I use to work Help Desk. I was using php from the command
line to 'code myself out of a job' . I don't remember much from it but
what I can recall you won't have much with system_exec("ssh -u root
blah blah vlah") because you won't be able to interact with it after
that.

You need to play around with sockets, google for php telnet sockets or
something to that nature . I may have the bookmarks somewhere. I think
I may have printed out what code I did have and filed it under CS at
my desk. I think they way I was going to do it was have a listing
service that the front end connect to. The service keeps the
connection alive/open new ones. I'll see what I have/remember when I
get back to work Monday, I think you get the gist of the idea. I wish
I had more for you as I was going down this route before.

On Jun 13, 4:36 pm, The Hajj <hajji.hims...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jun 12, 10:21 pm,inetquestion<inetquest...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I have considered the following conditions, but ran into problems with
> > each...
>
> > 1. The Web server runs as 'nobody' which cannot be modified. php
> > scripts executed will be executed as nobody...and script doesn't
> > work. For what I'm trying to do setuid probably isn't a good fit due
> > to security concerns.
>
> > 2. web interface could write form inputs to a file. A daemon would
> > read items off the file and execute the intended script running as the
> > proper user. (seems clunky to me, but would work...)
>
> > 3. Any other suggestions?
>
> > -Inet
>
> I wish I would have saved my code!! prior to my current job as a web
> developer I use to work Help Desk. I was using php from the command
> line to 'code myself out of a job' . I don't remember much from it but
> what I can recall you won't have much with system_exec("ssh -u root
> blah blah vlah") because you won't be able to interact with it after
> that.
>
> You need to play around with sockets, google for php telnet sockets or
> something to that nature . I may have the bookmarks somewhere. I think
> I may have printed out what code I did have and filed it under CS at
> my desk. I think they way I was going to do it was have a listing
> service that the front end connect to. The service keeps the
> connection alive/open new ones. I'll see what I have/remember when I
> get back to work Monday, I think you get the gist of the idea. I wish
> I had more for you as I was going down this route before.

Any examples you have would be great. In the meantime I will checkout
your suggestion.