kendroid has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hi All,

I'm trying to write a script that backs up router configs. I'm able to use Net::Telnet::Cisco to log into and enable the routers. My problem is, whenever I try to remotely copy the config files (copy startup-config tftp), it waits for more input (remote host & destination filename) and doesn't give a prompt back to me.

My inclination is to use Expect.pm. In fact, if I weren't inclined to use Perl for this -- it needs to be scalabe -- I'd just use plain vanilla expect. Unfortunately, the Expect.pm documentation is *very* crummy.

Any suggestions?

Thanks muchly,
Kendrick.

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Seeking Help w/ Expect.pm...
by nardo (Friar) on Apr 20, 2001 at 10:25 UTC
    I've never used Expect.pm, but I have used expect. I've taken a brief perusal of the Expect.pm documentation, but keep in mind this is the first time I've actually written code for it. I notice that the documentation does not have a send() function, only a send_slow(), which seems a bit odd, so there may be another preferred way of sending data with Expect.pm without a pause between characters, but I'm going to use send_slow().

    $expectobj = Expect->spawn('telnet', $cisco_hostname)
$expectobj->expect($timeout, 'ogin:');
#the above line assumes the router will give you a login
#prompt which ends in 'ogin:', you may need to modify it
#to fit your needs
$expectobj->send_slow(0, $login_name, "\r\n");
$expectobj->expect($timeout, 'ord:');
$expectobj->send_slow(0, $password, "\r\n");
$expectobj->expect($timeout, $shell_prompt);
#$shell_prompt should be something like '$' or '#' or whatever
#let's you know that you can start typing commands
$expectobj->send_slow(0, "copy startup-config tftp\r\n");
sleep(1); #just to make sure the previous command has been processed
$expectobj->send_slow(0, $remainder_of_data_to_send);

    [download]
    That's it, you should get the idea from there. The documentation for expect should help you understand the Expect.pm documentation as most Expect.pm functions have an expect function of the same name.
[reply]
[d/l]
      Thanks nardo -- I was anxious to use the Net::Telnet::Cisco module (I'm relatively new to Perl, so I'm always anxious to learn new modules), but anything that gets the task done is a Good Thing. :)

      Kendrick.

[reply]
Re: Seeking Help w/ Expect.pm...
by kendroid (Beadle) on Apr 20, 2001 at 01:38 UTC
    Oops -- s/scalabe/scalable :)
[reply]

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