Passing inputs to program prompt in a batch file

Question

I am running simulations in parallel using mpich2. I've got rather stringent security on my workstation, and must register using a new password each time I run a simulation. I have to enter:

mpiexec -register

which then prompt me for a username, and then prompt me for a password. Unfortunately, there seem to be no way to pass the user/pass to mpiexec on a single line, e.g.

mpiexec -register user:pass

does not work.

I'm trying to prepare a batch file that can automatically pass the username and password to the mpiexec prompts, but I cannot seem to get it to work. I've tried various things like timeout /t 5 but that doesn't work.

Can anyone tell me how to pass these inputs to the mpiexec program prompts in a batch file?

Thanks!

EDIT: I think I am getting closer. I've tried

(
echo username 
echo password 
echo password 
) | mpiexec -register

which appears to be passing the username and password inputs to the mpiexec prompts. Program is still hanging at the next step however - not sure if that's a problem with the way I'm passing these or not.

Try this ((echo user)& (echo pass)) | mpiexec -register. But this will only work when mpiexec reads from stdin — jeb
– jeb, Commented May 10, 2017 at 14:45
Hey jeb, thanks! I'm not sure what stdin is. I will give this a try but is it different from the EDIT that I entered above? Thanks! — Thomas
– Thomas, Commented May 10, 2017 at 14:48

jeb · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-10 15:15:34Z

2

You could redirect or pipe into mpiexec.
With redirection it's gets a bit nasty for user/password entries, as there are often unwanted (and unvisible) spaces at the line ends.

(
echo user
echo pwd
) | more > fetch.txt

Creates in fetch.txt

user<space>
pwd<space>

When you want to suppress the spaces use a file redirection instead

(
echo user
echo pwd
) > file.tmp
< file.tmp mpiexec -register

In both cases (redirection or pipe), you need to serve all inputs for the program, not only username and password.
You can't enter inputs from keyboard anymore.

answered May 10, 2017 at 15:15

jeb

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