Need Help with DOS batch file ..

arul20 · 05-16-2005, 05:35 PM

Hi I am writing a batch file to automatically run some commands by telnetting to a network device. Everything goes fine until the device asks for input from the user.

E.g "Press any key to continue .. "
Or
"Press enter to continue .. "

etc

The program then waits for the user input.

So I am forced to manually press the keyboard in order for the batch file to continue.

What I want to know is:

How do I simulate the "Enter" key press in my batch program?

P.S: I did googling today on this subject but they all recommend using the "CON" command with fc command. I am running windows 2000 and my DOS does not support the "CON" command.

Thanks for all the help in advance.

Byteman · 05-16-2005, 08:17 PM

Just take the "pause" statement out of the batch. Or tell us what command is being used that asks for input.

arul20 · 05-17-2005, 04:08 AM

Thanks for the prompt reply Byteman.

I did not have any pause command in my batch file.

The device I am tenetting to (similar to a router) asks me to "type <enter> to proceed"

I have to type it myself as I do not know how to make the batch file simulate the <enter> key being pressed.

That is the problem.

I want to know how to output 'carriage return' or 'enter' using the batch file.

Thanks for any help you guys.

Byteman · 05-17-2005, 03:33 PM

that's a toughy, don't know if it's possible, haven't tried. Here's a link to all telnet commands. I would think if you can start a telnet session from a cmd prompt you would be able to type the telnet "enter" command in as well... (just a guess)

arul20 · 05-18-2005, 03:40 AM

Byteman,

I have about 20 network devices to manage.

Whenever there is some common change in setting, I have to log on to each and every device and reconfigure.

What I am trying to do is (cos i'm lazy), I want to create a script to automatically log in to a device and execute commands and then log off and login to the next device .. etc .. all auto.

So using batch file, I am able to start telnet. BUT as I learnt over the past few days, DOS is not optimised for interfacing with devices. Thus I cannot execute telnet commands.

So I also tried Hyperterminal. You can prepare text files with the necessary commands before hand and after logging in to a device, let the file run. It is WAY faster than typing by hand all your usual commands.

However, I still have to create a new connection each time. I want to automate that too.

Currently I am researching telnet clients with scripting facility. CRT is popular in my office, however it has limited scripting ability. Then I found TN 3270 yesterday. It seems to be meeting my expectations, but I haven't wrote the script yet.

I'll welcome any suggestions. Thanks.

Byteman · 05-18-2005, 03:11 PM

do you have servers that these machines authenticate too? Logon scripts would be the way to go in that case. If you don't, then your guess is a good as mine, haven't done much in what your'e trying to accomplish the way your'e trying to accomplish it.

arul20 · 05-26-2005, 10:52 AM

Hi guys .. worked on it yesterday and today and it works.
I used three files. One Batch file, two script files for the telnet client
Thanks for all the help ..

::How it works:
::
:: .Batch file is run
:: .Batch File runs TN3270
:: .Opens Telnet connection to one address and calls a script (passwords.txt)
::
:: .Passwords.txt contains individual commands for each connection
:: Besides password, other specific commands such as banner can be specified here
:: .TN3270 runs passwords.txt
:: .looks up the list of passwords and logs in to the open connection
:: .calls the 'common commands script' -> cmds.txt
::
:: .Cmds.txt contains the common commands to be executed for ALL the devices
:: .TN3270 executes the commands found in cmds.txt
:: .execution is passed back to passwords.txt which exits TN3270
:: .excution is passed back to batch file
::
:: .Batch file opens the second connection using TN3270
:: .The process is repeated
:: .When all devices have been contacted, the batch file closes DOS window.

05-16-2005, 05:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
arul20 New Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 10	Need Help with DOS batch file .. Hi I am writing a batch file to automatically run some commands by telnetting to a network device. Everything goes fine until the device asks for input from the user. E.g "Press any key to continue .. " Or "Press enter to continue .. " etc The program then waits for the user input. So I am forced to manually press the keyboard in order for the batch file to continue. What I want to know is: How do I simulate the "Enter" key press in my batch program? P.S: I did googling today on this subject but they all recommend using the "CON" command with fc command. I am running windows 2000 and my DOS does not support the "CON" command. Thanks for all the help in advance.

05-16-2005, 08:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Byteman Malware Destroyer Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Hurricane Heaven... still Posts: 1,095	Just take the "pause" statement out of the batch. Or tell us what command is being used that asks for input. __________________ Don't byte off more than you can chew...

05-17-2005, 03:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
Byteman Malware Destroyer Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Hurricane Heaven... still Posts: 1,095	that's a toughy, don't know if it's possible, haven't tried. Here's a link to all telnet commands. I would think if you can start a telnet session from a cmd prompt you would be able to type the telnet "enter" command in as well... (just a guess) __________________ Don't byte off more than you can chew...

05-18-2005, 03:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
Byteman Malware Destroyer Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Hurricane Heaven... still Posts: 1,095	do you have servers that these machines authenticate too? Logon scripts would be the way to go in that case. If you don't, then your guess is a good as mine, haven't done much in what your'e trying to accomplish the way your'e trying to accomplish it. __________________ Don't byte off more than you can chew...

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05-17-2005, 04:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
arul20 New Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 10	Thanks for the prompt reply Byteman. I did not have any pause command in my batch file. The device I am tenetting to (similar to a router) asks me to "type <enter> to proceed" I have to type it myself as I do not know how to make the batch file simulate the <enter> key being pressed. That is the problem. I want to know how to output 'carriage return' or 'enter' using the batch file. Thanks for any help you guys.

05-18-2005, 03:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
arul20 New Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 10	Byteman, I have about 20 network devices to manage. Whenever there is some common change in setting, I have to log on to each and every device and reconfigure. What I am trying to do is (cos i'm lazy), I want to create a script to automatically log in to a device and execute commands and then log off and login to the next device .. etc .. all auto. So using batch file, I am able to start telnet. BUT as I learnt over the past few days, DOS is not optimised for interfacing with devices. Thus I cannot execute telnet commands. So I also tried Hyperterminal. You can prepare text files with the necessary commands before hand and after logging in to a device, let the file run. It is WAY faster than typing by hand all your usual commands. However, I still have to create a new connection each time. I want to automate that too. Currently I am researching telnet clients with scripting facility. CRT is popular in my office, however it has limited scripting ability. Then I found TN 3270 yesterday. It seems to be meeting my expectations, but I haven't wrote the script yet. I'll welcome any suggestions. Thanks.

05-26-2005, 10:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
arul20 New Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 10	Hi guys .. worked on it yesterday and today and it works. I used three files. One Batch file, two script files for the telnet client Thanks for all the help .. ::How it works: :: :: .Batch file is run :: .Batch File runs TN3270 :: .Opens Telnet connection to one address and calls a script (passwords.txt) :: :: .Passwords.txt contains individual commands for each connection :: Besides password, other specific commands such as banner can be specified here :: .TN3270 runs passwords.txt :: .looks up the list of passwords and logs in to the open connection :: .calls the 'common commands script' -> cmds.txt :: :: .Cmds.txt contains the common commands to be executed for ALL the devices :: .TN3270 executes the commands found in cmds.txt :: .execution is passed back to passwords.txt which exits TN3270 :: .excution is passed back to batch file :: :: .Batch file opens the second connection using TN3270 :: .The process is repeated :: .When all devices have been contacted, the batch file closes DOS window.