ssh-copy-id in one line with password, possible?

Question

I'm trying to setup an automated script in Ansible to set a new server, and i'm using ssh-copy-id to add the Ansible master server to the new server's authorized ssh keys.

I created a script which uses ssh-copy-id, but that command is asking for the new server's password.

Is it possible to give it that password in the same line of calling it so i can automate it in a script?

Solution 1

Yes, you can do it with a loop using expect.

Solution 2

Here's a method I use to provision new Debian hosts without known ssh keys. Host needs to have python and python-apt packages installed for this playbook to work out of the box. If you want to test it on a VM, you can run Debian installer with boot parameter url=drybjed.github.io - installer will download a preseed file with python and python-apt packages selected (among others). After installation, default password for root account will be debian and you will be forced to change it upon first login.

After installation and first login:

1. Make sure that you can ssh into the root@host using password (accept host fingerprint, etc.).

2. Create init.yml:

   hosts: all
     user: root
     sudo: no
     tags: init
     vars:
     - ssh_user: $ENV(USER)
   
     tasks:
     - name: INIT | Create admin system group
       group: name=admins system=yes state=present
       tags: init
   
     - name: INIT | Create admin account from current user
       user: name=$ssh_user state=present shell=/bin/bash groups=admins
       tags: init
   
     - name: INIT | Make sure essential software is installed
       apt: pkg=$item state=latest install_recommends=no
       with_items:
       - python
       - python-apt
       - sudo
       tags: init
   
     - name: INIT | Install ssh public key from current account
       authorized_key: user=$ssh_user key="$FILE(~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub)"
       tags: init
   
     - name: INIT | Install sudoers file for admin accounts
       lineinfile: "dest=/etc/sudoers.d/admins state=present create=yes regexp='^%admins' line='%admins ALL=(ALL:ALL) NOPASSWD: SETENV: ALL' owner=root group=root mode=0440"
       tags: init
   

3. Run Ansible with: ansible-playbook -k -l host init.yml. Ansible will ask for root password, create a system admins group with access to sudo, create an user account based on your current user, copy your ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub to your new account, and add it to the admins group.

From now you can use Ansible through your user account using sudo.

Comments

[shaharmor]

Can you give me an example of using "expect" with "ssh-copy-id"?

[dawud]

Check the links in @Petter H's answer

[metakermit]

Almost worked for me. Had to do this for the ssh key: authorized_key: user={{ ansible_user_id }} key="{{ lookup('file', '~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub') }}"