Request: Ability to pass arguments to Local Shell

[blixem]

Request to add the ability to add either arguments, or custom commands to the "Local Shell" configuration.

In my scenario I use WSL often as a local shell. SecureCRT allows this by setting a new session with the local shell: "C:\Windows\System32\wsl.exe" Unfortunately wsl launches this local shell with the "Windows" users home directory instead of the linux user home dir. The fix for this on the command line is to pass the path to the directory you wish to start wsl working directory as after wsl.exe. E.g. "wsl.exe ~" will launch properly with proper home directory.

As of 8.7.1 the Local Shell will not let you add that argument to the command, and displays the error: "Local shell path is not a console application"

[blixem]

FYI, low priority as the current work around is to have a logon action that just executes "cd ~" when I connect and the prompt is what I would see with the windows user directory instead of the wsl home dir.

[bgagnon]

Hi blixem,

I have added this thread to a feature request in our product enhancement database to add the ability to pass command line arguments to local shell process. Should a future release of SecureCRT include this feature, notification will be posted here.

If you prefer direct email notification, send an email to support@vandyke.com and include Feature Request - Forum Thread #14184 in the subject line or use this form from the support page of our website.

As of 8.7.1 the Local Shell will not let you add that argument to the command, and displays the error: "Local shell path is not a console application"

Are you saying this worked in versions prior to v8.7.1?

[blixem]

Originally Posted by bgagnon

Are you saying this worked in versions prior to v8.7.1?

No, this is an request to enhance the Local Shell feature.

[ross]

When I try to launch an elevated (Administrator) shell, by setting the Local Shell to:

C:\tools\NirLauncher\NirSoft\nircmdc.exe elevate cmd.exe /k

SecureCRT 8.7.2 fails to accept this value, and pops up an error dialog box, that says:

Local shell path is not a console application:

C:\tools\NirLauncher\NirSoft\nircmdc.exe elevate cmd.exe /k

Perhaps it's not possible, but it would be really useful if this could be done.

For now, I have to run SecureCRT itself in an elevated session, which is not really optimal.

[bgagnon]

Hi ross,

In my earlier post I indicated it was not possible presently and is a feature request.

[ross]

Originally Posted by bgagnon

Hi ross,

In my earlier post I indicated it was not possible presently and is a feature request.

My request is slightly different. I'm requesting that SecureCRT allow me to run an elevated cmd.exe shell. I don't know if this is technically possible, without running SecureCRT itself in an elevated shell, but I wanted to throw the idea out there.

[bgagnon]

Hi ross,

Thanks for the clarification, but alas, that is also a feature request.

I have added this thread to a feature request in our product enhancement database for the ability to run local shell application as Administrator. Should a future release of SecureCRT include this feature, notification will be posted here.

If you prefer direct email notification, send an email to support@vandyke.com and include Feature Request - Forum Thread #14184 in the subject line or use this form from the support page of our website.

[ross]

Another reason to allow command line options is if I want to run a non-default distribution under WSL/WSL2. To run the default instance, I just type

C:\Windows\System32\wsl.exe

To run another distribution other than the default one, say Ubuntu 20.04, I would type:

C:\Windows\System32\wsl.exe -d Ubuntu-20.04

I can't do this in SecureCRT 9.01, as it doesn't allow command line options.

Is there a workaround, until this issue is addressed?

[bgagnon]

Hi ross,

I know of no workaround, sorry.

I have added this thread to a feature request in our product enhancement database to add the ability to pass command line arguments to local shell process. Should a future release of SecureCRT include this feature, notification will be posted here.

If you prefer direct email notification, send an email to support@vandyke.com and include Forum Thread #14184 - Command Line/Local Shell in the subject line or use this form from the support page of our website.

[bgagnon]

Hi ross,

A colleague just let me know if you wrap your desired commands in a batch file then you should be able to point to the batch file as the local shell path.