[2005] Using the system console to run a command

[Anjow]

Just a simple question:

I'm wanting to run a traceroute in my program. I have methods in place to interpret the output, but I couldn't get to this bit before because I was in university accommodation which blocks traceroutes.

Anyhow, how can I do one within my program? The plan is to do it without showing a command prompt, then pass the output to my parsing method. I also can't afford to pay for some third party implementation of it - someone suggested before that I can use the system console or words to a similar effect, I just don't know how.

Thanks.

[RobDog888]

Yes, you can use the cmd and pass the dos commands as arguments with an output to a textfile. Or even with a bit more work you can redirect the output to eliminate the extra file need. Gigemboy has a codebank thread on redirecting outputs.

[Anjow]

Thanks for the response.

What I was actually after was the way to actually do this within the code - what I have to type to, say, execute "tracert 140.191.222.5" for example. That's just the bit I'm stuck on, since I've never actually done it before.

I don't think I need to redirect the output since I plan to be storing it in text files anyway.

[stanav]

It should look something like this

Dim proc As New Process()
        With proc.StartInfo
            .FileName = "tracert.exe"
            .Arguments = "140.191.222.5"
            .CreateNoWindow = True
            .UseShellExecute = False
            .RedirectStandardOutput = True
        End With
        proc.Start()
        proc.WaitForExit()
        Dim output As String = proc.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd()
        Dim writer As New IO.StreamWriter("your output file path here")
        writer.Write(output)
        writer.Close()
        proc.Close()

[Anjow]

Thanks very much, I'll give that a go.

I feel a bit bad asking such rudimentary questions, I have bought 2 books but I can't seem to find anything about that specific thing in either

[RobDog888]

Yes stanav but with one more argument for the output file as it makes it easier.

.Arguments = "140.191.222.5 > c:\MyFile.txt"

[Anjow]

Okay, this is what I have:

    Private Function traceRoute(ByVal ip As String, ByVal outputFile As String)
        Dim proc As New Process()
        With proc.StartInfo
            .FileName = "tracert.exe"
            .Arguments = ip
            .CreateNoWindow = True
            .UseShellExecute = False
            .RedirectStandardOutput = True
        End With
        proc.Start()
        proc.WaitForExit()
        Dim output As String = proc.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd()
        Dim writer As New IO.StreamWriter(outputFile)
        writer.Write(output)
        writer.Close()
        proc.Close()
    End Function

This is what I use in the button that calls it:

traceRoute("72.14.207.99", "C:\TESTTracert.txt")

What happens is I see tracert pop up in process explorer, so it is indeed starting, but it seems like nothing happens after that - the program stops responding. Traceroute doesn't complete and the file I passed over is not created.

Is this a problem with my using blackslash in the file path? I can't remember if there were issues in this language with doing that - I know there are in some others. I have tried using \\.

[RobDog888]

You need to use the argument as I posted because the ">" character tells dos to output the results to the file specified.

[Anjow]

Ahh of course - I was typing that in when I was doing them manually but I suffered a 'brain disengaged' error when trying to implement it.

Right. This time around it starts the tracert process but doesn't create any file. It doesn't hang this time.

This is my current function:

    Private Function traceRoute(ByVal ip As String, ByVal outputFile As String)
        Dim proc As New Process()
        With proc.StartInfo
            .FileName = "tracert.exe"
            .Arguments = ip & " > " & outputFile
            .CreateNoWindow = True
            .UseShellExecute = False
            '.RedirectStandardOutput = True
        End With
        proc.Start()
        proc.WaitForExit()
        'Dim output As String = proc.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd()
        'Dim writer As New IO.StreamWriter(outputFile)
        'writer.Write(output)
        'writer.Close()
        proc.Close()
    End Function

I didn't think I could use your exact argument text since I need to be able to specify the output file and IP in variables, but I assume this is meant to have the same effect?

[Anjow]

Any thoughts?

[RobDog888]

What is the values of your argument if you output them to the console window?

[Anjow]

Sorry about the delay, the topic was temporarily buried so I thought it had died.

I have tried sending the argument as .Arguments = "72.14.207.99 > c:\test.txt" and it doesn't work. However, when I enter that as the argument manually in a command prompt outside of this program it works fine. Sending just the IP and no filepath works fine within the program too.

[RobDog888]

I figured out the argument issue in this thread:
http://vbforums.com/showthread.php?p...38#post2828238

Setting the working directory is the key so you dont need to pass the entire path of the output file.

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
    Dim oPSI As New System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo
    Dim oProcess As System.Diagnostics.Process
    With oPSI
        .FileName = "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe"
        .CreateNoWindow = True
        .WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden
        .WorkingDirectory = "C:\Users\VB-Guru\"
        .UseShellExecute = True
        .Arguments = "/C Ping google.com > PingResults.txt"
    End With
    oProcess = System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(oPSI)
    oProcess.WaitForExit()
    System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(oPSI.WorkingDirectory & "PingResults.txt")
End Sub

[Anjow]

I can't say I'm exactly sure what you mean, but I had a look at the linked thread and now the inside of my 'with' bit looks like this:

            .FileName = "tracert.exe"
            .WorkingDirectory = "C:\"
            .Arguments = "72.14.207.99 > test.txt"
            .CreateNoWindow = True
            .UseShellExecute = False

Which seems to yield the same problems.

[RobDog888]

It works just fine for me using your provided ip address, tracert.exe and the code I posted.

Tracing route to eh-in-f99.google.com [72.14.207.99]

over a maximum of 30 hops:



1 1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.1.1

2 25 ms 24 ms 24 ms netblock-66-159-208-1.dslextreme.com [66.159.208.1]

3 25 ms 24 ms 25 ms LAX1.CR1.Gig9-0-3.dslextreme.com [66.51.203.33]

4 24 ms 25 ms 24 ms ge-5-1-115.ipcolo1.LosAngeles1.Level3.net [63.209.70.133]

5 35 ms 35 ms 35 ms ae-31-53.ebr1.LosAngeles1.Level3.net [4.68.102.94]

6 38 ms 36 ms 35 ms ae-2.ebr1.SanJose1.Level3.net [4.69.132.9]

7 36 ms 35 ms 36 ms ae-1-100.ebr2.SanJose1.Level3.net [4.69.132.2]

8 67 ms 73 ms 70 ms ae-3.ebr1.Denver1.Level3.net [4.69.132.58]

9 70 ms 72 ms 71 ms ae-1-100.ebr2.Denver1.Level3.net [4.69.132.38]

10 90 ms * * ae-3.ebr1.Chicago1.Level3.net [4.69.132.62]

11 116 ms 110 ms 111 ms ae-2.ebr2.NewYork1.Level3.net [4.69.132.66]

12 101 ms 101 ms 100 ms ae-21-54.car1.NewYork1.Level3.net [4.68.97.116]

13 105 ms 107 ms 106 ms GOOGLE-INC.car1.NewYork1.Level3.net [4.71.172.86]

14 106 ms 106 ms 106 ms 72.14.236.213

15 116 ms 116 ms 118 ms 72.14.233.115

16 120 ms 116 ms 118 ms 66.249.94.90

17 119 ms 118 ms 120 ms 66.249.94.50

18 117 ms 116 ms 119 ms eh-in-f99.google.com [72.14.207.99]



Trace complete.

[RobDog888]

Exactly as I tested it. Did you also add the cmd.exe as shown in my previous code post too?

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
    Dim oPSI As New System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo
    Dim oProcess As System.Diagnostics.Process
    With oPSI
        .FileName = "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe"
        .CreateNoWindow = True
        .WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden
        .WorkingDirectory = "C:\Users\VB-Guru\"
        .UseShellExecute = True
        .Arguments = "/C tracert.exe 72.14.207.99 > PingResults.txt"
    End With
    oProcess = System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(oPSI)
    oProcess.WaitForExit()
    System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(oPSI.WorkingDirectory & "PingResults.txt")
End Sub

[Anjow]

I hadn't added that bit. I have now, and it seems to be working perfectly.

Thanks very much for your assistance

[RobDog888]

No prob. Glad to help.

Ps, dont forget to Resolve your thread so other members will know its solved.