Stdoutread use

[jp10558]

I'm trying to just dump a cmd window's output to a log file, however the file's coming up blank.

The code I have is:

$stIO = Run(@ComSpec & " /c " & '"psexec.exe \\' & $list[$counter] & " -s C:\TEMP\" & $program & '"',@WorkingDir,@SW_HIDE,2)
    FileWrite(@YEAR & "_" & @MON & "_" & @MDAY & "_" & @HOUR & "h_" & @MIN & "m_" & @SEC & "s_" & "InstallLog.txt", StdoutRead($stIO))

Anyidea what I'm doing incorrect? Also - Scite doesn't seem to recognize the StdoutRead/write/error functions.

[jvanegmond]

The output is buffered as the program is being run. You will have to constantly poll StdoutRead, instead of just once right after the program started.

$stIO = Run(@ComSpec & " /c " & '"psexec.exe \\' & $list[$counter] & " -s C:\TEMP\" & $program & '"',@WorkingDir,@SW_HIDE,2)
While 1
    $var = StdoutRead($stIO)
    If @error Then ExitLoop
    FileWrite("temp.txt", $var)
Wend
FileMove("temp.txt", @YEAR & "_" & @MON & "_" & @MDAY & "_" & @HOUR & "h_" & @MIN & "m_" & @SEC & "s_" & "InstallLog.txt")

Edited September 20, 2006 by Manadar

[PsaltyDS]

The output is buffered as the program is being run. You will have to constantly poll StdoutRead, instead of just once right after the program started.

$stIO = Run(@ComSpec & " /c " & '"psexec.exe \\' & $list[$counter] & " -s C:\TEMP\" & $program & '"',@WorkingDir,@SW_HIDE,2)
While 1
    $var = StdoutRead($stIO)
    If @error Then ExitLoop
    FileWrite("temp.txt", $var)
Wend
FileMove("temp.txt", @YEAR & "_" & @MON & "_" & @MDAY & "_" & @HOUR & "h_" & @MIN & "m_" & @SEC & "s_" & "InstallLog.txt")
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Edit: Tweak to open/close file correctly.

Edited September 20, 2006 by PsaltyDS

[jp10558]

Mmmm, I'm still not getting anything - here's what I've got now:

$logname = @YEAR & "_" & @MON & "_" & @MDAY & "_" & @HOUR & "h_" & @MIN & "m_" & @SEC & "s_" & "InstallLog.txt"; set up logfile
FileWrite($logname,"Log for installing " & $program)
$file = FileOpen($logname,1); Open the logfile for appending
#cs
Do the install one machine at a time. This is not necessarily efficient if it doesn't actually fail to copy the first time.
I should add a file exists at some point before the second try.
#ce
For $counter = 0 to $length - 1; 
;MsgBox(0,"Status","Starting file copy")
    $temp2 = FileCopy( $path, "\\" & $list[$counter] & "\C$\TEMP", 9); have to try twice - I think the first time authenticates but does nothing
    Sleep(1000)
    $temp2 = FileCopy( $path, "\\" & $list[$counter] & "\C$\TEMP", 9); second time copies the installer, if it worked the first time, it just overwrites.
    
;MsgBox(0,"Status","File Copy finished " & $temp2) 
    $stIO = Run(@ComSpec & " /c " & '"psexec.exe \\' & $list[$counter] & " -s C:\TEMP\" & $program & '"',@WorkingDir,@SW_HIDE,2); run the program using psexec.exe
    #cs
    Now we try and write the log file. Actually, the above ,2 at the end tells it to return a handle to STDIO for reading and place the handle
    in $stIO. Usually a Run() doesn't return anything.
    
    The below is some help from the support forums - how to actually use StdoutRead(). We poll the IO and buffer in $var. Then I append to the opened file.
    #ce
    $var = "";buffer for input output
    While 1
        $var &= StdoutRead($stIO)
        If @error Then ExitLoop
        Sleep(100)
    WEnd
    FileWrite($file, $var)
;MsgBox(0,"Status","Running psexec.exe")
Next
FileClose($file)

I get the first line from the initial setup, but none of the output. Will this actually get all the output that shows in the DOS window?

[PsaltyDS]

Mmmm, I'm still not getting anything - here's what I've got now:

$logname = @YEAR & "_" & @MON & "_" & @MDAY & "_" & @HOUR & "h_" & @MIN & "m_" & @SEC & "s_" & "InstallLog.txt"; set up logfile
FileWrite($logname,"Log for installing " & $program)
$file = FileOpen($logname,1); Open the logfile for appending
#cs
Do the install one machine at a time. This is not necessarily efficient if it doesn't actually fail to copy the first time.
I should add a file exists at some point before the second try.
#ce
For $counter = 0 to $length - 1; 
;MsgBox(0,"Status","Starting file copy")
    $temp2 = FileCopy( $path, "\\" & $list[$counter] & "\C$\TEMP", 9); have to try twice - I think the first time authenticates but does nothing
    Sleep(1000)
    $temp2 = FileCopy( $path, "\\" & $list[$counter] & "\C$\TEMP", 9); second time copies the installer, if it worked the first time, it just overwrites.
    
;MsgBox(0,"Status","File Copy finished " & $temp2) 
    $stIO = Run(@ComSpec & " /c " & '"psexec.exe \\' & $list[$counter] & " -s C:\TEMP\" & $program & '"',@WorkingDir,@SW_HIDE,2); run the program using psexec.exe
    #cs
    Now we try and write the log file. Actually, the above ,2 at the end tells it to return a handle to STDIO for reading and place the handle
    in $stIO. Usually a Run() doesn't return anything.
    
    The below is some help from the support forums - how to actually use StdoutRead(). We poll the IO and buffer in $var. Then I append to the opened file.
    #ce
    $var = "";buffer for input output
    While 1
        $var &= StdoutRead($stIO)
        If @error Then ExitLoop
        Sleep(100)
    WEnd
    FileWrite($file, $var)
;MsgBox(0,"Status","Running psexec.exe")
Next
FileClose($file)

I get the first line from the initial setup, but none of the output. Will this actually get all the output that shows in the DOS window?

For one thing, open the file in write mode before writing to it, and use the handle, not the file name once you open it:

$logname = @YEAR & "_" & @MON & "_" & @MDAY & "_" & @HOUR & "h_" & @MIN & "m_" & @SEC & "s_" & "InstallLog.txt"; set up logfile
$file = FileOpen($logname, 1); Open the logfile for appending
FileWrite($file, "Log for installing " & $program)
oÝ÷ ØôÂ¥u©l¢Z ¶ºw(f§vX§z;¬¶ÚzË«y©Ý~í®ë!¢b
n®,zÆ®¶­sbb33c´WD6ÖBÒ6öÕ7V2fײgV÷C²ö2gV÷C²fײb33²gV÷C·6WV2æWRb3#²b3#²b33²fײb33c¶Æ7E²b33c¶6÷VçFW%ÒfײgV÷C²×23¢b3#µDTÕb3#²gV÷C²fײb33c·&öw&Òfײb33²gV÷C²b33°¤fÆUw&FRb33c¶fÆRÂgV÷Cµ'Vææær6öÖÖæC¢gV÷C²fײb33c´WD6ÖB¢b33c·7DòÒ'Vâb33c´WD6ÖBÂv÷&¶ætF"Â5uôDRÂ"²'VâFR&öw&ÒW6ær6WV2æW

Edited September 20, 2006 by PsaltyDS

[MHz]

Looks like one big switch being passed to @ComSpec. You may need to break your parameters up into separate parameters.

I consider I ironed out the issue.

$logname = @YEAR & "_" & @MON & "_" & @MDAY & "_" & @HOUR & "h_" & @MIN & "m_" & @SEC & "s_" & "InstallLog.txt"; set up logfile
FileWrite($logname,"Log for installing " & $program)
$file = FileOpen($logname,1); Open the logfile for appending
#cs
Do the install one machine at a time. This is not necessarily efficient if it doesn't actually fail to copy the first time.
I should add a file exists at some point before the second try.
#ce
For $counter = 0 to $length - 1; 
;MsgBox(0,"Status","Starting file copy")
    $temp2 = FileCopy( $path, "\\" & $list[$counter] & "\C$\TEMP", 9); have to try twice - I think the first time authenticates but does nothing
    Sleep(1000)
    $temp2 = FileCopy( $path, "\\" & $list[$counter] & "\C$\TEMP", 9); second time copies the installer, if it worked the first time, it just overwrites.
    
;MsgBox(0,"Status","File Copy finished " & $temp2) 
    $stIO = Run(@ComSpec & ' /c psexec.exe "\\' & $list[$counter] & '" -s "C:\TEMP\' & $program & '"', @WorkingDir, @SW_HIDE, 2); run the program using psexec.exe
    #cs
    Now we try and write the log file. Actually, the above ,2 at the end tells it to return a handle to STDIO for reading and place the handle
    in $stIO. Usually a Run() does'nt return anything.
    
    The below is some help from the support forums - how to actually use StdoutRead(). We poll the IO and buffer in $var. Then I append to the opened file.
    #ce
    $var = "";buffer for input output
    Do
        $var &= StdoutRead($stIO)
    Until @error
    FileWrite($file, $var)
;MsgBox(0,"Status","Running psexec.exe")
Next
FileClose($file)

[jp10558]

For one thing, open the file in write mode before writing to it, and use the handle, not the file name once you open it:

$logname = @YEAR & "_" & @MON & "_" & @MDAY & "_" & @HOUR & "h_" & @MIN & "m_" & @SEC & "s_" & "InstallLog.txt"; set up logfile
$file = FileOpen($logname, 1); Open the logfile for appending
FileWrite($file, "Log for installing " & $program)
oÝ÷ ØôÂ¥u©l¢Z ¶ºw(f§vX§z;¬¶ÚzË«y©Ý~í®ë!¢b
n®,zÆ®¶­sbb33c´WD6ÖBÒ6öÕ7V2fײgV÷C²ö2gV÷C²fײb33²gV÷C·6WV2æWRb3#²b3#²b33²fײb33c¶Æ7E²b33c¶6÷VçFW%ÒfײgV÷C²×23¢b3#µDTÕb3#²gV÷C²fײb33c·&öw&Òfײb33²gV÷C²b33°¤fÆUw&FRb33c¶fÆRÂgV÷Cµ'Vææær6öÖÖæC¢gV÷C²fײb33c´WD6ÖB¢b33c·7DòÒ'Vâb33c´WD6ÖBÂv÷&¶ætF"Â5uôDRÂ"²'VâFR&öw&ÒW6ær6WV2æW

Will that create the file though? I thought the only way to create the file was to use the filename to quickly open and close the file, and then reopen normally for more writing.

For logging the run command it shouldn't be necessary, the psexec.exe from sysinternals is very verbose in it's output, which if I could log to the file I could then see everything it did or failed to do. It's not necessary to log the run command as I put the file $program in at the top, and the rest stays the same all the time.

Edited September 20, 2006 by jp10558

[PsaltyDS]

Will that create the file though? I thought the only way to create the file was to use the filename to quickly open and close the file, and then reopen normally for more writing.

For logging the run command it shouldn't be necessary, the psexec.exe from sysinternals is very verbose in it's output, which if I could log to the file I could then see everything it did or failed to do. It's not necessary to log the run command as I put the file $program in at the top, and the rest stays the same all the time.

FileOpen() will create the file (quoting help file):

mode Mode (read or write) to open the file in.

Can be a combination of the following:

0 = Read mode

1 = Write mode (append to end of file)

2 = Write mode (erase previous contents)

4 = Read raw mode

8 = Create directory structure if it doesn't exist (See Remarks).

Both write modes will create the file if it does not already exist. The folder path must already exist (except using mode '8' - See Remarks).

How (and how much) to log are just personal preferences. I like to err on the "/rv" (ridiculously verbose) side.

[jp10558]

FileOpen() will create the file (quoting help file):

How (and how much) to log are just personal preferences. I like to err on the "/rv" (ridiculously verbose) side.

Thanks. It looks like I've wasted my time here though, SAV decided just now that all my installer scripts this was going to deploy are trojans, and deletes them on sight.

[PsaltyDS]

Thanks. It looks like I've wasted my time here though, SAV decided just now that all my installer scripts this was going to deploy are trojans, and deletes them on sight.

What version of AutoIT are you running? The latest production version is 3.2.0.1 and it digitally signs its files, which may help with that.

[jp10558]

What version of AutoIT are you running? The latest production version is 3.2.0.1 and it digitally signs its files, which may help with that.

I have 3.2.01. If it uses the same keyfile for everyone, it really doesn't prove anything. Is there any way we could use our own signing cert?

[PsaltyDS]

I have 3.2.01. If it uses the same keyfile for everyone, it really doesn't prove anything. Is there any way we could use our own signing cert?

That's not the problem I was thinking of, where it just asks if you really want to run that. Sounds like you're getting an actual false positive. There's another report in a newer thread already.

P.S. ...and another.

Edited September 20, 2006 by PsaltyDS

[jp10558]

Cool, it's been fixed by symantec.

Anyway, I still can't seem to figure out why I'm not getting any output. Does anyone know if psexec.exe's command line output isn't stout? Is there anyway to capture the output and write it to a log file?

I still don't get anything, this is what I have now:

$logname = @YEAR & "_" & @MON & "_" & @MDAY & "_" & @HOUR & "h_" & @MIN & "m_" & @SEC & "s_" & "InstallLog.txt"; set up logfile
$file = FileOpen($logname,1); Open the logfile for appending
FileWrite($file,"Log for installing " & $program)
#cs
Do the install one machine at a time. This is not necessarily efficient if it doesn't actually fail to copy the first time.
I should add a file exists at some point before the second try.
#ce
For $counter = 0 to $length - 1; 
;MsgBox(0,"Status","Starting file copy")
    $temp2 = FileCopy( $path, "\\" & $list[$counter] & "\C$\TEMP", 9); have to try twice - I think the first time authenticates but does nothing
    Sleep(1000)
    $temp2 = FileCopy( $path, "\\" & $list[$counter] & "\C$\TEMP", 9); second time copies the installer, if it worked the first time, it just overwrites.
    
    
    $stIO = Run(@ComSpec & " /c " & '"psexec.exe \\' & $list[$counter] & " -s C:\TEMP\" & $program & '"',@WorkingDir,@SW_HIDE,2); run the program using psexec.exe
    #cs
    Now we try and write the log file. Actually, the above ,2 at the end tells it to return a handle to STDIO for reading and place the handle
    in $stIO. Usually a Run() doesn't return anything.
    
    The below is some help from the support forums - how to actually use StdoutRead(). We poll the IO and buffer in $var. Then I append to the opened file.
    #ce
    $var = "";buffer for input output
    While 1
        $var &= StdoutRead($stIO)
        If @error Then ExitLoop
        Sleep(100)
    WEnd
    
    FileWrite($file, $var)
    
;MsgBox(0,"Status","Running psexec.exe")
Next
FileClose($file)

Edited September 21, 2006 by jp10558

[PsaltyDS]

Cool, it's been fixed by symantec.

Anyway, I still can't seem to figure out why I'm not getting any output. Does anyone know if psexec.exe's command line output isn't stout? Is there anyway to capture the output and write it to a log file?

I still don't get anything, this is what I have now:

$logname = @YEAR & "_" & @MON & "_" & @MDAY & "_" & @HOUR & "h_" & @MIN & "m_" & @SEC & "s_" & "InstallLog.txt"; set up logfile
$file = FileOpen($logname,1); Open the logfile for appending
FileWrite($file,"Log for installing " & $program)
#cs
Do the install one machine at a time. This is not necessarily efficient if it doesn't actually fail to copy the first time.
I should add a file exists at some point before the second try.
#ce
For $counter = 0 to $length - 1; 
;MsgBox(0,"Status","Starting file copy")
    $temp2 = FileCopy( $path, "\\" & $list[$counter] & "\C$\TEMP", 9); have to try twice - I think the first time authenticates but does nothing
    Sleep(1000)
    $temp2 = FileCopy( $path, "\\" & $list[$counter] & "\C$\TEMP", 9); second time copies the installer, if it worked the first time, it just overwrites.
    
    
    $stIO = Run(@ComSpec & " /c " & '"psexec.exe \\' & $list[$counter] & " -s C:\TEMP\" & $program & '"',@WorkingDir,@SW_HIDE,2); run the program using psexec.exe
    #cs
    Now we try and write the log file. Actually, the above ,2 at the end tells it to return a handle to STDIO for reading and place the handle
    in $stIO. Usually a Run() doesn't return anything.
    
    The below is some help from the support forums - how to actually use StdoutRead(). We poll the IO and buffer in $var. Then I append to the opened file.
    #ce
    $var = "";buffer for input output
    While 1
        $var &= StdoutRead($stIO)
        If @error Then ExitLoop
        Sleep(100)
    WEnd
    
    FileWrite($file, $var)
    
;MsgBox(0,"Status","Running psexec.exe")
Next
FileClose($file)

You can get StdErr also by running with:

$stIO = Run(@ComSpec & " /c " & '"psexec.exe \\' & $list[$counter] & " -s C:\TEMP\" & $program & '"', @WorkingDir, @SW_HIDE, 2+4) ; 2+4 = get handles to StdOut and StdErroÝ÷ Ø  ݶ§­æx"·­«­¢+Ø$ÀÌØí=ÕÑYÈôÅÕ½ÐìÅÕ½ÐììÕȽÈMÑ=ÕнÕÑÁÕÐ($ÀÌØíÉÉYÈôÅÕ½ÐìÅÕ½ÐììÕȽÈÉÉ=ÕнÕÑÁÕÐ(%]¡¥±Ä($$ÀÌØí=ÕÑYȵÀìôMѽÕÑI ÀÌØíÍÑ%

See what gets written from $var that way...

[jp10558]

You can get StdErr also by running with:

$stIO = Run(@ComSpec & " /c " & '"psexec.exe \\' & $list[$counter] & " -s C:\TEMP\" & $program & '"', @WorkingDir, @SW_HIDE, 2+4) ; 2+4 = get handles to StdOut and StdErroÝ÷ Ø  ݶ§­æx"·­«­¢+Ø$ÀÌØí=ÕÑYÈôÅÕ½ÐìÅÕ½ÐììÕȽÈMÑ=ÕнÕÑÁÕÐ($ÀÌØíÉÉYÈôÅÕ½ÐìÅÕ½ÐììÕȽÈÉÉ=ÕнÕÑÁÕÐ(%]¡¥±Ä($$ÀÌØí=ÕÑYȵÀìôMѽÕÑI ÀÌØíÍÑ%

See what gets written from $var that way...

Thanks, I had tried stderr already by itself, and that was always 0 - even when on the open command line box (set to show the cmd box) there was info saying program failed to find foo to run.

[jp10558]

You can get StdErr also by running with:

$stIO = Run(@ComSpec & " /c " & '"psexec.exe \\' & $list[$counter] & " -s C:\TEMP\" & $program & '"', @WorkingDir, @SW_HIDE, 2+4) ; 2+4 = get handles to StdOut and StdErroÝ÷ Ø  ݶ§­æx"·­«­¢+Ø$ÀÌØí=ÕÑYÈôÅÕ½ÐìÅÕ½ÐììÕȽÈMÑ=ÕнÕÑÁÕÐ($ÀÌØíÉÉYÈôÅÕ½ÐìÅÕ½ÐììÕȽÈÉÉ=ÕнÕÑÁÕÐ(%]¡¥±Ä($$ÀÌØí=ÕÑYȵÀìôMѽÕÑI ÀÌØíÍÑ%

See what gets written from $var that way...

I tried that - I also have a msgbox popping up for the handle - it's getting a random #, which I would guess is the handle. But both in the var dialog, and file, are blank.

Is there any other way to capture data from the windows CLI other than stout?

Edited September 22, 2006 by jp10558

[jp10558]

I tried that - I also have a msgbox popping up for the handle - it's getting a random #, which I would guess is the handle. But both in the var dialog, and file, are blank.

Is there any other way to capture data from the windows CLI other than stout?

It actually looks like my script may be exiting before the info get's written to stdout. In the read loop - I get the msgbox with the supposed stdout in it - blank, but on a longer run of psexec - the cmd box for debug is still open with psexec still running when the script stops running. . .

When does @error get set? Maybe it's getting set before anything is written. Too bad that we can't do a runwait with this... Any ideas?

[PeteW]

Hello jp10558,

I'm in the process of amending my 'Remote Updater' util to get it to restart a list of servers. I see you've posted a comment (thanks) - sorry for the lack of response; after 7 months & no feedback I assumed nobody was interested! When I've time, I'll upload an update.

Anyway, I too found PSExec (BTW, I'm using 1.72), wasn't providing useful results: STDOUT empty & STDERR gave 'C:\Program not found'.

I'm executing PSExec from a longfilename path, passing PSExec a working dir enclosed in quotes and also using quotes in the command PSExec is executing - a 2003 server shutdown comment:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe /c "C:\Program Files\Utils\_RUpdater\psexec.exe" \\server -i -n 120 -w "\\server\Admin$\Temp" shutdown.exe /f /r /c "Restart following critical update..." /d p:2:18

I later checked 'cmd /?' i.e. RTFM

If /C or /K is specified, then the remainder of the command line after

the switch is processed as a command line, where the following logic is

used to process quote (") characters:

1. If all of the following conditions are met, then quote characters

on the command line are preserved:

- no /S switch

- exactly two quote characters

- no special characters between the two quote characters,

where special is one of: &<>()@^|

- there are one or more whitespace characters between the

the two quote characters

- the string between the two quote characters is the name

of an executable file.

Found 2 ways round this - there maybe better methods:

1) Instead of Run(@Comspec " /c " $psexec), use Run($psexec) - this gives what PSExec outputs to the console in STDERR.

2) More simply, convert the $psexec filepath to a shortfilename - allowing you to ignore it's surrounding quotes.

The Run() command is now:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe /c C:\Progra~1\Utils\_RUpdater\psexec.exe \\server -i -n 120 -w "\\server\Admin$\Temp" shutdown.exe /f /r /c "Restart following critical update..." /d p:2:18

Assuming PSExec ran the command, you should get STDERR text which includes "'command' exited on 'server' with error code 'n'." I use this to obtain success/failure results.

Not sure if you've similar problems, but hope the above helps/makes sense!

Cheers,

Pete

[jp10558]

Hello jp10558,

I'm in the process of amending my 'Remote Updater' util to get it to restart a list of servers. I see you've posted a comment (thanks) - sorry for the lack of response; after 7 months & no feedback I assumed nobody was interested! When I've time, I'll upload an update.

Anyway, I too found PSExec (BTW, I'm using 1.72), wasn't providing useful results: STDOUT empty & STDERR gave 'C:\Program not found'.

I'm executing PSExec from a longfilename path, passing PSExec a working dir enclosed in quotes and also using quotes in the command PSExec is executing - a 2003 server shutdown comment:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe /c "C:\Program Files\Utils\_RUpdater\psexec.exe" \\server -i -n 120 -w "\\server\Admin$\Temp" shutdown.exe /f /r /c "Restart following critical update..." /d p:2:18

I later checked 'cmd /?' i.e. RTFM

Found 2 ways round this - there maybe better methods:

1) Instead of Run(@Comspec " /c " $psexec), use Run($psexec) - this gives what PSExec outputs to the console in STDERR.

2) More simply, convert the $psexec filepath to a shortfilename - allowing you to ignore it's surrounding quotes.

The Run() command is now:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe /c C:\Progra~1\Utils\_RUpdater\psexec.exe \\server -i -n 120 -w "\\server\Admin$\Temp" shutdown.exe /f /r /c "Restart following critical update..." /d p:2:18

Assuming PSExec ran the command, you should get STDERR text which includes "'command' exited on 'server' with error code 'n'." I use this to obtain success/failure results.

Not sure if you've similar problems, but hope the above helps/makes sense!

Cheers,

Pete

Thanks, that's very helpful. I already worked around the issue by just using a cli redirect e.g. 2>>log.txt with a little more logic, and probably more opening + closing of the file handle than was necessary, but hey, it works now, and I'm mostly happy.

I think your program would be a lot more versitile - but I would need better documentation of the ini file, OR a ini file creator to really use it.