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Tramp with dired-mode can use the authinfo file to automatically login. This avoids setting up keys in the .ssh directory and also on the remote server.

Q:  How can I modify the behavior of eshell to access the authinfo file to automatically login to a remote server.

[CAVEAT: I do not want to piggy-back by opening a Tramp dired-mode buffer and then launching eshell -- i.e., I want eshell to access the authinfo file without the help of dired-mode.]

[I am aware of the option to use a utility called sshpass, but I'd like to use the authinfo file.]

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All operations in eshell dedicated for a remote server are mapped to Tramp. If you are in a local directory, you could switch to a remote directory like this:

Welcome to the Emacs shell

~ $ cd /sudo::
/sudo:root@detlef:/root $

This will ask you for the password via Tramp, meaning authinfo. What exactly does not work for you?

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  • I would like to type at a command prompt in a local directory (e.g., on my home computer): ssh username@ip-address -p 2222 and login to the remote server (e.g., in cyberspace) without being prompted for a password, such that eshell accesses the authinfo file for the password if it can find one -- if no password is found, then prompt me. – lawlist Feb 25 '17 at 19:25
  • That's not supported, AFAIK. But why do you need this? Tramp functionality is available in eshell. Try the following commands in your eshell prompt: cd /ssh:username@ip-address#2222: and then hostname. You will see, that the hostname command has been executed on the remote host. – Michael Albinus Feb 26 '17 at 17:52
  • Thank you -- I'll give this a try in a day or so and I'll look at eshell/cd to see what makes it tick in terms of activating the functions that use the authinfo file (e.g., tramp-read-password). I previously created a custom eshell-send-input function that can accept a fourth argument in the form of a string such as "ls -la /". My ultimate goal will be to create a function that will launch eshell (or find it if it's already open) and login to the remote server (under the hood of eshell) and then update the buffer with a new prompt for the remote once logged in using authinfo. – lawlist Feb 26 '17 at 18:39
  • If you want to make it programmatically, it is sufficient to bind default-directory to the remote server. Something like (let ((default-directory "/ssh:username@ip-address#2222")) <call your eshell functions>) . Tramp comes in, and does the password ping-pong with you. – Michael Albinus Feb 27 '17 at 8:13
  • Wow! That little tip is an Emacs life-changing event for me. To avoid Host name must not match method "ssh", I added the path on the remote server (shared account): (let ((default-directory "/ssh:username@ip-address#2222:/home/username")) (eshell)) Thank you. :) – lawlist Feb 27 '17 at 15:27

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