Quick Shell question

MikeHunt79 · 7 Jun 2011 at 06:23

Ok, I have a remote Linux machine, and I can putty into it.

Is there a command I can run in order to find out what shell (eg BASH) the machine is running? THanks.

Mpemba Effect · 7 Jun 2011 at 07:20

echo $SHELL

tntcoder · 7 Jun 2011 at 07:20

99.4% chance it will be Bash

Command: ps -p $$

MikeHunt79 · 7 Jun 2011 at 08:08

Mpemba Effect said:
echo $SHELL

I get this:

/bin/sh

tntcoder said:
99.4% chance it will be Bash

Command: ps -p $$

I get this:

ps: invalid option -- p
BusyBox v1.13.2 (2010-09-05 19:40:10 CEST) multi-call binary

Usage: ps

Report process status

Options:
w Wide output

Ok, this did me some more info but I'm afraid I'm still none the wiser as to what version shell this machine has. I'm trying to do a little shellscript and I'm finding some certain things do not work so I thought I would try and find what version of shell I'm using to start with...

memyselfandi · 7 Jun 2011 at 08:19

From your post the system you are running is using Busybox instead of a full Linux environment. In which case it's using the "ash" shell.

ref: busybox ash shell

MikeHunt79 · 7 Jun 2011 at 09:30

memyselfandi said:
From your post the system you are running is using Busybox instead of a full Linux environment. In which case it's using the "ash" shell.

ref: busybox ash shell

Thanks, I must admit I have limited Linux experience so I've only ever heard of bash shell until now.

I've managed to tweak my shellscript a little now and it's not working properly.