---
name: "pica"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "pica"
version: "0.4.1-10"
release: "Debian 6.0 (Squeeze)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pica"
---

# pica(1)

Copy files and execute commands remotely

## NAME

pica - Copy files and execute commands remotely

## SYNOPSIS

**pica** (**-i**\|**-t**\|**-f**\|**-x**) \[**-n**\]\[**-d**\]\[**-v**\] **+F** files **+H** hosts

## DESCRIPTION

PICA  is  a  program  for system administration. It copies files, after preprocess them, to remote hosts, and execute commands remotely.

It  has  three  configuration files: *pica.conf*, *hosts.conf* and *objects.conf*, where information  about  external programs,  the  hosts  to manage  and the objects defined is given.

For full documentation and examples, please refer  to  the PICA manual, available in LaTeX and Postscript.

## ACTIONS

- **-i**

  Installs  (copies)  the  specified object(s) in the specified host(s).

- **-t**

  Deletes the specified object(s) from the  specified host(s).

- **-f**

  Calculates  and  prints the differences between the currently installed version of the object(s) in the specified  hosts(s)  and the version that should be installed.

- **-x**

  Executes remotely the specified command(s)  in  the specified host(s).

## OPTIONS

- **-d**

  Debug mode: simply prints what it's supposed to do, without actually doing it, and prints lots of debug information.

- **-n**

  Do  nothing.  Prints commands to execute instead of actually execute them, a la make.

- **-v**

  Verbose mode. Prints some more text, but not debug- ging information like **-d**.

## PPP (PERL PREPROCESSOR)

Every config file and distribution file is preprocessed by PICA before parsing or distributing it. The  Perl  Preprocessor  allows  the user to dynamically build the file by means of conditionals and random Perl code. The basic syntax is that of the C preprocessor, but adapted to Perl.

In  general, every expression is an arbitrary Perl expression, and besides internal variables and  functions,  distribution  files  always  have *$picahost*  and *$picaobject* variables available. The special directives understood  by PPP are:

- **#include "**expression**"**

  Includes  a  file, after preprocess it. Searchs for the file in the current file's directory.

- **#include \<**expression**\>**

  Includes a file, after preprocess it.  Searchs  for the  file in the include directories (picainclude).

- **#if (**expression**)**/**#elsif (**expression**)**/**#else**/**#fi**

  Treats that portion of the file conditionally.

- **#perl**/**#lrep**

  Executes the Perl code enclosed and prints  in  the output  file the returned value. Everything printed in this environment will be printed at preprocessing time to the screen.

- **\<#**/**#\>**

  Similar  to  the **#perl**/**#lrep** environment, only this is a one-liner version.

## EXAMPLES

To install the object `"named"` in the hostgroup `"dnsservers"`:

```
    pica -i +F named +H dnsservers
```

To install the objects `"motd"` and `"proftpd"` in  the  hosts  in the group `"ftpservers"` except to the host `"nt"` just type:

```
    pica -i +F motd proftpd +H ftpservers -H nt
```

To  execute  the command `"killall -9 netscape"` in the single host `"solaris-1"`:

```
    pica -x +F "killall -9 netscape" +H solaris-1
```

## FILES

- */etc/pica/pica.conf*

  - */etc/pica/hosts.conf*

  - */etc/pica/objects.conf*

  ## ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

- **PICAARGS**

  contains arguments to automatically append to every **pica** call.

## AUTHORS

- Miguel Angel Armas del Rio \<kuko@maarmas.com\>

  - Esteban Manchado Velazquez \<zoso@demiurgo.org\>

  ## SEE ALSO

[**ssh**(1)](/ssh/1.md) **perl** (1)