System calls using JSP

Question

Hi all,
I have the following code in a class file:
Process process = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("pscp <file> <destination>");
process.waitFor();
Now when this class is executed on command line, it executes fine, but when it is called in a class (executed via a jsp page), it does not execute at all.
Anyone have this scenario happen to them before?

Answer 1

Is the pscp command available in the executable path? Maybe your Servlet-Container changes the path during startup?
Try to execute a basic command like "cmd.exe /c dir" (assuming you use windows) and capture the output to see if that works:
<%!
  public String escape(char c) {
    switch(c) {
      case '<':
        return "<";
      case '>':
        return ">";
      default:
        return "" + c;
%>
<pre>
<%
  Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("cmd.exe /c dir");
  java.io.InputStream is = p.getInputStream();
  int i = 0;
  while((i = is.read()) != -1) {
    out.print(escape((char)i));
  p.waitFor();
%>
</pre>