delete a file remotely

paulm · 5th June 2008, 03:39 AM

I need to proceeduraly delete a file from my site from a remote location, but cannot think of a mechanism (that works) for doing this. The file in question is a messaging file that is retrieve using curl, but need to delete it from the UH server once I have it.
Ideally, I could use ssh with exchanged keys, but this isnt working, possibly because I'm connecting via dialup so have a dynamic IP.
This is part of an automated system, so typing a password in response to a prompt is out of the question.

I feel the solution is right there, but it's eluding me.

Thanks.
paul

percepts · 5th June 2008, 04:35 AM

you can start an ftp session to your site directly from a dos command prompt and therefore you can fetch or put or delete anything you like from your site using a simple bat file on your pc.

desquinn · 5th June 2008, 08:44 AM

the other option is to schedule a job on the server using cron to delete the file or indeed the whole copy and delete process. However percepts scripted ftp session would be nice and simple.

paulm · 5th June 2008, 08:46 AM

Unfortunately the remote computer is unix and it's ftp client doesnt support arbitrary connect scripts. I could achieve this result using the .netrc file, but this is a system wide setting, so the connect script would run every time the computer connects to the UH server. I could disable this for interactive ftp sessions using the -n option, but this starts to look pretty hokey, and it'll only be a matter of time before the file gets deleted accidentaly.

Desquinn -
I was under the impression that cron was unavailable. When I type 'crontab -e' I get 'command not found'. Is there something I'm missing.
Using cron is not particularly elegant - I'd have to upload a flag file saying "Ok, I have the file now, you can delete it", but it would work.

Terra · 5th June 2008, 09:34 AM

Cron jobs are available via Support Ticket - you just need to send UH the details & they'll set it up for you. It's something only server admins can do. And if you have any problems with cron jobs, UH-Tony is your man - he's even managed to get all my wonky scripts to work via cron job

pursuit · 5th June 2008, 10:05 AM

i cant think of the logic why the deleting action could not be part of the retrieving process either manually or using scripts. at the end of the retrieving the file, if successful, could it not be deleted maunually (if retrieve maually), or by adding some scripts to the end of retrieving process to delete it automatically?

desquinn · 5th June 2008, 10:28 AM

if you have access then you can use ncftpget as it does allow scripting and is quite popular. Also the scripting could be done with winscp or ftp.exe on a windows box.

with the cron I was thinking of it doing the whole thing and therefore being in control of the whole process. It could push the file out and then delete.

This is one of those things that can be done many ways. SSH does work with keys and your local ip changing should not hamper it at all. There is a post with myself and Simon contributing on it at one point last year that covers it on UH IIRC.

paulm · 5th June 2008, 11:54 AM

I'll definitely hunt out that thread as the ssh route would certainly be the best. Can yo recall if it was on this forum (webmaster)?

Just to be clear about what Im trying to achieve - this will be fully automated so manualy doing anything is not an option, Its all done from the remote end - the file is pulled off the UH server not pushed, and since the control process is running remotely - how can I invoke a script to perform the delete?

percepts · 5th June 2008, 05:51 PM

you set up a php script on the UH server which deletes the file. Your client/remote service would just need to make an http request for the php script and it would be executed.

UH-Tony · 5th June 2008, 09:12 PM

To save much time and stress over this, send a support ticket in with a detailed explanation of what you would like to accomplish and I will be happy to provide suggestions as to effective ways to accomplish it.