MSS Intro | Multiple MSSes | /public Data | Wrapper Scripts | Tips and Traps

The mssChmod Command

Since NFS to the new MSSes have been turned off, mssChmod is provided as a convenience wrapper around rsh/chmod or ssh/chmod with an NFS-like appearance.

Command Use and Options

mssChmod -- change the permissions of files on the new MSSes

mssChmod [ --ssh ] [ --user <user> ] [ --verbose ] [ --help ] \
            <chmodArgs>

where:

--ssh  --  use ssh instead of rsh for remotely spawning the chmod command.

--user <user>  --  run all rsh or ssh commands under the auspices of the user <user>. Each path argument may be preceded with '<user>@', which overrides the command-line specification.

--verbose  --  print (to the standard output device) the wrapped rsh/ssh/chmod command line(s) prior to executing it (them).

--help  --  print (to the standard output device) this help text.

<chmodArgs>  --  any chmod or rsh/ssh options and arguments. Since as of now no remote current working directory mechanism is supported, each path argument must be absolute, starting with '/mss', '/mss2', etc. '/mss' refers to all MSSes (except the earliest, DSRS-based MSS). Each path argument may be preceded with '<host>:', which overrides the derivation from the path's root directory segment.

Caveats

-  file globbing (wildcarding) characters are supported, but must be quoted/escaped to protect them from the shell.

-  all user/group authorization is done remotely by rsh/ssh to the MSSes. Please send mail to hpcshelp.fsl@noaa.gov or contact Lee Cohen (x6052) if you run into authorization problems. MSS or other mssChmod problems can be directed to Glen Pankow (x7028).

-  the underlying chmod used is the one selected from your MSS environments (probably /bin/chmod if you haven't done anything special). The command-line options you specify with mssChmod should match those of the underlying chmod.

-  the wrapping requires several dozen characters of its own, which will limit command line lengths. There is currently no trapping of command line length violations.

Examples

$ mssChmod 644 /mss/fsl/fd/yes.txt
$ mssLs -l /mss/fsl/fd/yes.txt
-rw-r--r--  1  pankow  fd  2000  Oct 25 23:36  yes.txt
$ mssChmod u+s /mss/fsl/fd/yes.txt
mssChmod: UX:chmod: WARNING: Execute permission required for set-ID
mssChmod:    on execution for /mss/fsl/fd/yes.txt
$ echo $status
1

Terms

chmod  --  change the permissions mode of files
rsh  --  remote shell
ssh  --  secure shell.
sh  --  standard and job control shell and command interpreter (for file globbing)

Human Resources

hpcshelp.fsl@noaa.gov  --  preferred question/problem access point
Glen Pankow (x7028), Lee Cohen (x6052)  --  MSS usage and internals
Ed Moxley (x6844)  --  MSS system administrator


Author: Glen Pankow, 10/25/01
Last Modified: 4/4/11