hiting url from linux machine

**luckoftheirish** · 08-13-2008

Hi guys,

im new to linux and i want to be able hit a URL in a browser from my linux box. The purpose of hiting the url is to synchronize some data i have between databases.

I have looked at a couple of options like wget and CURL but when i try these out with some random URL i just get a message -- connecting.. and i dont know id my linux box has hit the url or not.

I dont need to display the page i just want to be sure that the request makes it to the browser so my synch method is kicked off.

Any suggestions? Maybe i need to do something more intensive like creating a perl script or something to do this? cheers!

**GNU-Fan** · 08-13-2008

What is a "hit"? A HTTP GET request?

If so, create a file

Code:

GET / HTTP1.1
Host: dontmind

Pipe that file to netcat:
cat requestfile | nc thehost 80

This should "hit" this host.

**luckoftheirish** · 08-14-2008

cool thanks, ya its a Get request i want to send, sorry for not being abit more specific.

**luckoftheirish** · 08-14-2008

ok so just to be 100% sure , what should i be using after the nc command for the "thehost" string?

**GNU-Fan** · 08-14-2008

The host's IP address of course, or a hostname that can be resolved to such an IP.

Say you wanted to obtain the page

Code:

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

Then you would put

Code:

GET philosophy/free-sw.html HTTP1.1
Host: www.gnu.org

cat requestfile | nc gnu.org 80

This is essentially the same your browser sends to the side if you visit it.

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