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I want to use multitail over ssh. But following command fails:

$ multitail "ssh dev-04 tail -f /opt/app/app.log"
Error opening file ssh docdev-04 tail -f /opt/alfresco/share.log (No such file or directory)

However just ssh with tail works fine and displays the content of the file:

$ ssh dev-04 tail -f /opt/app/app.log            
Enter passphrase for key '/home/username/.ssh/id_rsa': 
2016-08-03 09:40:27,926 INFO  [org.springframework.extensions.webscripts.DeclarativeRegistry] [localhost-startStop-1] Registered 8 Package Description Documents (+0 failed)

I would guess that the problem is in the password request. But anyway I don't know how to make it work

streetturtle
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1 Answers1

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According to the manpage of multitail you need the -l flag:

-l command Command to execute in a window. Parameter is the command. Do not forget to use "'s if the external command needs parameter! (e.g. -l "ping host").

So, in your case, try: multitail -l "ssh dev-04 tail -f /opt/app/app.log"

In your current form, multitail expects the argument "ssh dev-04 tail -f /opt/app/app.log" to be a file, not an application to execute and capture.

I don't know how well the password input would work, but if that also fails, try ssh authentication by keys. (see, for instance: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/SSH_keys)

madeddie
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    Or more particularly the section on [ssh-agent](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/SSH_keys#SSH_agents) since the OP's screen copy-paste indicates he is already using SSH keys, just without `ssh-agent`. – user4556274 Aug 10 '16 at 13:45
  • My bad - should read documentation, I thought `-l` is used if there is more that one window. Actually with `-l` and ssh-agent it works perfectly! Thanks @madeddie and @user4556274! – streetturtle Aug 10 '16 at 13:49
  • How could I run sudo before tailing the file? – Somaiah Kumbera Oct 30 '19 at 13:17
  • Do you mean run tail with sudo? Using the example above it would simply be `multitail -l "ssh dev-04 sudo tail -f /opt/app/app.log"`. Mind you this would need sudo privileges with NOPASSWD – madeddie Nov 06 '19 at 01:41