Search code examples
linuxunixsshcentosputty

Change directory in PuTTY connection

I use PuTTY to connect to a UNIX server with several sites with the same user login. So I use several PuTTY connection with SSH - Remote command as

cd /var/www/path_to_the_site ; /bin/bash

It works fine, besides some CentOS commands are unknown. E.g.:

$ service
bash: service: command not found

If I've logged in without "remote command", everything is fine, the command exists:

$ service
Usage: service < option > | --status-all | [ service_name [ command | --full-restart ] ]

What is wrong with "/bin/bash" executing, it can't find some commands?

I use the same login, so I can't just set home directory for user. E.g. in WinSCP plugin in FAR I can set initial directory for any connection and it works fine.

Solution

  • Try adding the --login option:

    cd /var/www/path_to_the_site ; /bin/bash --login

    That makes bash behave as if it were a login shell, which means that it reads the files /etc/profile and ~/.profile - I suspect one of those files sets up the path as needed to invoke service.