Copy files via SSH command text when you don't have direct access to the host, e.g. in a bastion or virtual setup like Convox

convox_instance_ssh_copy.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash
if [[ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" != "${0}" ]]; then
    echo "Fatal: Sourcing detected. Cannot source ${BASH_SOURCE[0]}."
    return
    exit 1
fi
set -e
set -o pipefail
script_root="$(cd $(dirname ${BASH_SOURCE[0]}) && pwd)"
cd "$script_root"


# Create the tarball
tar -cvzh -f payload.tar.gz payload

# Read the tarball as a base64 string
tar_base64=$(\
cat payload.tar.gz \
| openssl base64 -e\
| tr '\n' ' '\
)

# Send the base64 to host as bash command and decode it
instances=$(convox instances | grep '^i-' | cut -f1 -d ' ')
instance_list=($instances)

index=$1 # Defaults to 0, the first instance

convox instances ssh "${instance_list[$index]}" ":;
echo '$tar_base64' | tr ' ' '\n' | openssl base64 -d > payload.tar.gz;
tar -xvz -f payload.tar.gz;
sudo yum -y install rsync;
rsync -avh payload/ .;
bash;
:;"