Shell script pointers

Hi folks, I have two systems running Unix and two systems running "that other" operating system. At the moment I am concentrating on learning as much as i can about unix. On of the things I have been doing that i find helpful is booting system 1 (solaris 8(intel)) then booting system 2 (mandrake 8.0) Then, from Linux, telnet into my solaris machine, cd to a directory 'logs/' then opening vi, and writing a small log file outlining what i hope to do this session and where i got last session. Don't ask me why, but it seems to help me stay focused and on track as i am doing all of this on my own and working construction full time so i cant attend classes or anything. But enough of that, what i want is a script to run on my linux box, as soon as i log in that will telnet into solaris and cd to the log/ directory, then open Vi with the filename in the date format (ie 04.27.2001),naturally, i would have to input usr/pass.

I use bash on both machines if that helps.

What i am not looking for is for someone to write it for me, but to give me some help as i go.

for example, everyone tells me not to use telnet because of poor security, to use SSh instead, can i use this with solaris? is there a better way? I am wondering if i can mount the log/ directory as a network mounted filesystem shared by both machines?

anyway, your thoughts are appreciated.

L Hutz

[Edited by lionel_hutz on 04-27-2001 at 05:52 PM]

Telnet is fine across a local area network. You can install SSH for Solaris, check out http://www.sunfreeware.com To fire off a connection when you log in, there are a couple ways. The first would bypass the password, you form a trust between the hosts with a .rhosts file in your home dir or by modifying the /etc/hosts.equiv file This bypasses the password prompt. Be careful and do some reading on this if they are exposed directly to the Internet. Either way you will need to add some code to the end of your .bashrc file in your home, probably by execing an xterm with the appropriate telnet or rsh (if you set up the trust). I would have to play with it to make it work, but that is the principal. Please post what you do to make this work.
Good luck