How to do an ssh and execute a shell script's function remotely

Question

I have a script test.sh and I am trying to ssh and call that scrip't function in the same script:

#!/bin/sh

testme()
{
   echo "hello world"
}

ssh myserver "/opt/scripts/test.sh; testme"

But I keep getting testme command not found

What is the correct way of calling a function from a script after ssh?

You need to source the script, not execute it, so that the function is defined in the current shell. — chepner
– chepner, Commented Mar 11, 2019 at 15:58
Also, is the script actually on the remote host, or just the local host? In general, you can't "send" function definitions over the ssh connection. — chepner
– chepner, Commented Mar 11, 2019 at 15:59
try ssh remoteServer '/bin/bash -x -s ' < <(cat /path/on/local/server/test.sh; echo "testme") — Lety
– Lety, Commented Mar 11, 2019 at 16:10

that other guy · Accepted Answer · 2019-03-11 18:15:11Z

1

If you use Bash on both sides, you can have it serialize the function for you:

#!/bin/bash

testme()
{
   echo "hello world"
}

ssh myserver "$(declare -f testme); testme"

If you need sh compatibility, this is not an option.

answered Mar 11, 2019 at 18:15

that other guy

125k12 gold badges187 silver badges214 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Answer 1