python: How to run command on local machine from an EC2 instance

Question

I am trying to automate the process of creating a postgres database from production dump using a python script. I am running this script on an EC2 instance that hosts an RoR app server.

I am able to create the DB using psychopg. But in the same script I want to do the following:

- do a deploy using capistrano from local machine

I came across paramiko - SSHClient in my research. I think it can be used. But I'm not sure how I can SSH from an EC2 instance to my local machine. I found out my IP(say a.b.c.d) and tried ssh a.b.c.d from the EC2 instance but it says:

ssh: connect to host a.b.c.d port 22: Connection refused

So my question is: - If this method (using paramiko) is correct, how can I set up a ssh connection from EC2 instance to my local machine OR If paramiko cannot achieve this, how can I run the deploy from my script that is on the EC2 instance

You can set a reverse ssh tunneling (google it ;))

Aida Paul
– Aida Paul

2013-10-30 09:22:49 +00:00
Commented Oct 30, 2013 at 9:22 — Aida Paul
– Aida Paul, Commented Oct 30, 2013 at 9:22

favoretti · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-30 09:24:08Z

1

For one, paramiko is a bit low-level, you could try using Fabric, it will make a lot of things much easier.

Secondly, check whether your local machine is

accessible from the internet, i.e. has public IP address
running SSH (assuming you run *NIX-like OS, run ps -ef | grep sshd, if you see a process matching, then you should be able to connect)

Then, if you wanna automate a postgres DB creation on a EC2 instance, why do you need a connection from it to your local machine. Wouldn't it be more logical to reverse the process? I.e. SSH from local machine to EC2 instance.

answered Oct 30, 2013 at 9:24

favoretti

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3 Comments

nish Over a year ago

Thanks for a very useful answer. Regarding your 3rd point : when I started writing the script, I didn't realize that I'll have to add the deploy feature. Since the DB was required in the EC2 I wrote the script in the EC2. Surprisingly the same script soesn't work on my local machine. Not sure why

favoretti Over a year ago

Cause your local machine doesn't run SSH I suppose? Which OS are you using?

nish Over a year ago

I just checked using the command you mentioned. Its showing running processes. I'm using ubuntu 12.04

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