Execute if condition using ssh to get exit value

Question

I'm trying to execute this command on a remote computer using ssh.

ssh user@host "if [ $(ls -la /folder | wc -l) -eq 83 ]; then true; else false; fi;"

How can I make this part $(ls -la /folder | wc -l) to be executed on the remote computer instead of locally?

William Pursell · Accepted Answer · 2022-09-29 17:24:39Z

1

To prevent $() from being expanded locally, put it in single quotes:

ssh user@host 'if [ $(ls -la /path | wc -l) -eq 83 ]; then true; else false; fi;'

But you don't need the if/else, just do:

ssh user@host '[ $(ls -la /path | wc -l) -eq 83 ]'

answered Sep 29, 2022 at 17:24

William Pursell

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