Need Help with DOS batch file ..

[arul20]

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]

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

 

[arul20]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.