Run an interactive shell from a bash script

Question

I'm currently writing a Bash script that creates an SSH tunnel. Once this is done, I would like the script to open a new local (!) interactive shell so that I can work on my system with the SSH tunnel open.

Once I type exit the local shell should be closed, and the original script continues to run.

My current approach basically looks like this:

#!/usr/bin/env bash

set -e

ssh -N user@ip -L xxx:xxx &
SSH_CONNECTION=${!}

trap "kill ${SSH_CONNECTION}" ERR

sleep 3
bash -i

kill ${SSH_CONNECTION}

So far, everything works - except running the local shell. I actually get a shell, and I can even type in it, but nothing happens when I hit <Return>.

Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

Answer 1

You need to use -f so the connection will go to background once it will be established. Then you will not need the &:

ssh -Nf  -L xxx:xxx user@ip

and the processing should get into your bash.