Bash scripting assign ALL output from command to variable

Question

I'm trying to get both successful and unsuccessful responses from a ping in a bash script but am unable to thus far.

My code looks like this...

ping_results=$(ping -c 4 -q google.com)

This works when the ping is successful, but if I don't have an internet connection and I get the result

ping: unknown host google.com

It is printed to the console, and my script appears to exit.

I want both the ping result or error to be stored in the ping_results variable.

Any help will be appreciated.

That is because errors go to stderr use something like 2&>1 t osend output to stdout — Fredrik Pihl
– Fredrik Pihl, Commented Mar 16, 2013 at 22:55

pepper · Accepted Answer · 2014-09-07 03:53:20Z

11

Okay, the simple answer to your question is to redirect stderr to stdout. as what Fredik Phil mentioned in the comments.

instead of:

ping_results=$(ping -c 4 -q google.com);

use:

 ping_results=$(ping -c 4 -q google.com 2>&1);

or something similar...

However, depending on what you're doing, it might be better to test if the exit code of the ping command is 1 (indicating that the ping is ending in an error), or 0 (indicating that the ping is successful). the exit code is stored in the variable "$?".

edited Sep 7, 2014 at 3:53

answered Mar 16, 2013 at 23:19

pepper

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