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What would be the best method of using nohup in a batch script with multiple calls inside the script.

For example, I have a script called filebuilder.sh and it contains something like:

/usr/bin/python buildFile.py fileA
/usr/bin/python buildFile.py fileB
/usr/bin/python buildFile.py fileC

What I want to do is make ensure that if I run my script, it will continue even if my SSH session is terminated. Should I just call the script like so:

nohup filebuilder.sh

or place nohup before every entry in the file such as:

nohup /usr/bin/python buildFile.py fileA
nohup /usr/bin/python buildFile.py fileB
nohup /usr/bin/python buildFile.py fileC 

or Both? If I place it only on the script, is it possible that one of the python calls could still fail on a termination signal? What is the best practice and which solution will accomplish my requirements? Is there a better alternative?

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1 Answer 1

up vote 0 down vote accepted

Putting nohup on each line is not the answer.  If you do that, and the session is terminated, the currently-running program will run to completion, but then the script will terminate without finishing.  nohup filebuilder.sh will work, but then you have to remember to do it every time.  A couple of solutions:

  1. Write filebuilder.sh to say

    exec nohup name_of_the_real_filebuilder.sh

  2. Put

    trap "" 1

at the beginning of your script.  (1 is the numeric value of the “hangup” signal.)

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thanks for the response. Is that a do both situation or an either or situation for your solutions? –  Dave Johnshon Oct 24 '12 at 3:08
@Dave: Either (1) or (2). –  Scott Oct 24 '12 at 17:06

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