Using Python to handle return code from Shell scripts

Question

I have a Shell script that handles Satellite server and Redhat IDM registrations. I don't have rights to update the script. The -i argument in the command below is for IDM registration and -s for Satellite server registration.

/usr/local/sbin/new-clone.sh -i aws -s aws-prod

Error handling is done as follows: Satellite registration:

  if [ "${RETURN_VALUE}" -ne 0 ]; then
   echo -e "\n\nSatellite registration failed. Please correct and re-run this script.\n\n"
   exit 2
  fi

IDM registration:

idm_failed ()
{
 echo -e "\n- IDM registration failed to $1. This script did not complete. Please check network connection between this system and $1 servers. Re-run this script after troubleshooting. Exiting.."
 exit 2
}

I am executing the Shell script from Python as follows. The server.execute_script command is proprietary to a COTS application.

registration_command = "/usr/local/sbin/new-clone.sh -i aws -s aws-pro"

join_script = """#!/bin/bash
{}
yum clean all
yum -y upgrade 
systemctl reboot && exit 0
""".format(registration_command)
    try:
      server.execute_script(script_contents=join_script, runas_username='ec2-user', run_with_sudo=True,timeout=1200)
    except:
      logger.info('Failed with SEC satellite or IDM')

I want to update the logic in this try-catch statement so that it's more specific to whether the issue was with IDM registration or the Satellite registration. Since both these functions have a return code of 2, I was wondering it's possible to use the output of the echo command to implement. I would love to hear from the community on what makes sense here.

Please stay safe and be kind.

Does this answer your question? [Calling an external command from Python](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/89228/calling-an-external-command-from-python) — Jongware, Apr 02 '20 at 14:51

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 02 '20 at 14:46

1

I think that the subprocess module would be perfect for you. If you run:

import subprocess
res = subprocess.run('your command',shell=True, capture_output=True, check=True)
# try to run it with 'ls -l' and check the returned response.

You will be able to get the returncode, stdout, stderr using: res.returncode, res.stdout, res.stderr and if the command fails, it will throw exception.

answered Apr 02 '20 at 14:46

Gabio

9,126
3
12
32

Unfortunately, I have to rely on `server.execute_script` to execute the command. This command handles authentication to the remote server. `server.execute_script` returns the output from the from the script's execution. So, is it possible to parse it in Python? – Raj Apr 02 '20 at 14:55
Could you share the output please? – Gabio Apr 02 '20 at 14:56
Here it is: ``` ➤ bash new-clone.sh -i aws -s aws-prod - Registering to AWS IDM servers. - IDM registration failed to SP IDM. This script did not complete. Please check network connection between this system and SP IDM servers. Re-run this script after troubleshooting. Exiting.. ➤ bash new-clone.sh -s aws-prod Satellite registration failed. Please correct and re-run this script. ``` – Raj Apr 02 '20 at 15:08

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 02 '20 at 14:51

1

You could change one of the exit codes and have it printed with:

    try:
      server.execute_script(script_contents=join_script, runas_username='ec2-user', run_with_sudo=True,timeout=1200)
    except Exception as e:
      logger.info('Failed with error:\n{}'.format(e))

Normally this will print the error message with the exit code.

answered Apr 02 '20 at 14:51

dzang

2,160
2
12
21

Unfortunately, I can't update the Shell script since it's not owned by my team. – Raj Apr 02 '20 at 14:56

Using Python to handle return code from Shell scripts

2 Answers2