Linux: How to Run Local Bash Aliases over SSH Session

This post will guide you how to run local bash aliases over ssh session to remote server in Linux system. How do I load local shell aliases to ssh session in SSH Client.

Run Local Bash Aliases over SSH Session

When you log in to a remote machine using ssh, and you wish to run local bash aliases and functions. if you passed it to ssh command directly, it will prompt “bash: ll: command not found” error message.

[myuser@osetc~]# ssh -t osetc.com 'll'
myuser@osetc.com's password:
bash: ll: command not found

So How to load the local bash aliases over ssh session. you can use the -t  and -ic options, just like below command:

ssh -t username@hostname /bin/bash -ic 'aliases command'

Note:

The -i option tells bash to run an interactive shell. Aliases are enabled by default only in interactive shells.
The -t options tells ssh to allocate a pseudo-tty. Without this, bash emits a warning message when started in interactive mode. This also enables ls colors. Without it, you’d have to use –color=always, see man ls.

Let’s see the following example:

# ssh -t myuser@osetc.com /bin/bash -ic 'll'

Outputs:

[root@osetc.com ~]# ssh -t @myuserosetc.com /bin/bash -ic 'll '
myuser@osetc.com's password:
total 85672
-rw-------. 1 root root 1628 Nov 29 14:50 anaconda-ks.cfg
-rw-------. 1 root root 580 Nov 29 14:50 original-ks.cfg
Connection to osetc.com closed.