uux

uux is a utility that originated with the UUCP (Unix-to-Unix Copy) software suite and is used to execute commands on remote Unix systems through the UUCP network. It fits into the batch-oriented, asynchronous model of UUCP, where users submit requests that are queued, transferred, and run on remote machines rather than being executed in real time on the submitting host.

Operation and role in UUCP: uux processes remote command requests by creating or reading control information in the local spool and handing the instructions to the UUCP scheduling system. The remote system’s uucico daemon then retrieves the request, launches the specified command on the remote host, and returns any results or output as part of the normal UUCP file transfer workflow. In this way, uux enables distributed tasks, such as running administrative commands, initiating remote processes, or coordinating batch jobs across a network of UUCP-enabled hosts.

Typical usage: Historically, a user would prepare a control file describing the command to be run on a remote system and invoke uux to submit the request. The command is queued locally, transmitted to the target host, and executed there when the remote system’s scheduler processes it. Output and results are typically sent back along the UUCP channels for local retrieval. The exact syntax and conventions vary by UUCP implementation and version.

Historical context and status: uux is part of an older, networked model of Unix systems sharing files and executing commands before modern persistent remote access tools became widespread. Today, UUCP and its components, including uux, are largely of historical interest or appear only in legacy or highly specialized environments. In contemporary practice, secure remote command execution is typically handled by SSH-based tools and modern orchestration systems.