linux - check if file exists on remote host with ssh

Question

I would like to check if a certain file exists on the remote host. I tried this:

$ if [ ssh user@localhost -p 19999 -e /home/user/Dropbox/path/Research_and_Development/Puffer_and_Traps/Repeaters_Network/UBC_LOGS/log1349544129.tar.bz2 ] then echo "okidoke"; else "not okay!" fi
-sh: syntax error: unexpected "else" (expecting "then") 

question from:https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12845206/check-if-file-exists-on-remote-host-with-ssh

Answer 1

Here is a simple approach:

#!/bin/bash
USE_IP='-o StrictHostKeyChecking=no [email protected]'

FILE_NAME=/home/user/file.txt

SSH_PASS='sshpass -p password-for-remote-machine'

if $SSH_PASS ssh $USE_IP stat $FILE_NAME > /dev/null 2>&1
            then
                    echo "File exists"
            else
                    echo "File does not exist"

fi

You need to install sshpass on your machine to work it.