Script based on input mail

Shell Programming and Scripting
1

Hi,

I am looking for examples of scripts which monitor for a mail from an id , say abc@xyz.com and if that comes, would reply with the contents of a file. The file is a dynamic status of some automated task.

Also as variations, I would send the a string as the content of the mail. That would executed and o/p would be replied. Ex:- 'df -k .' would get me the disk status.

Any examples are most welcome.

Thanks,

2

Sounds like procmail or mailfilter depending on whichever happens to be already installed, or more to your liking. Here's Procmail, for better or for worse:

# Match on envelope sender line (might not work if your MTA is different from mine)
:0
* ^From abc@xyz\.com\>
{
   # save a copy for archiving / auditing
   :0c:
   fromabc

   # respond with df -k . output
   :0
   | ( formail -r ; df -k . ) | $SENDMAIL -t
}

This is very bare-bones and doesn't do any loop control; you'll find safer, better examples in the procmailex manual page.