Why Does Wget Try to Access Wrong Target?

Why Does Wget Try to Access Wrong Target?

I am trying to mirror a site which I manage for backup purposes.

Here is my wget command:

wget \
 --mirror \ # Download the whole site, updating local files as needed.
 --page-requisites \ # Get all assets/elements (CSS/JS/images).
 --adjust-extension \ # Save files with .html on the end.
 --span-hosts \ # Include necessary assets from offsite as well.
 --convert-links \ # Update links to still work in the static version.
 --backup-converted \ # Backup original HTML files before converting links
 --restrict-file-names=windows \ # Modify filenames to work in Windows as well.
 --domains=********.*** \ # Do not follow links outside this domain.
 --no-parent \ # Don't follow links outside the directory you pass in.
 --append-output=wget.log \ # Send output to log file
 --rejected-log=wget-rejected.log \ # separate log file for rejected requests
 --reject=SwitchToAdmin,SignOut
 --show-progress \ # Show progress bar
 --random-wait \ # Roandomize wait  time (0.5 - 1.5 * wait)
 --wait=2 \ # median wait time in seconds
  # The URL to download

and here are the results:

--2021-05-03 14:14:20--  
Resolving   ( )... failed: Temporary failure in name resolution.
wget: unable to resolve host address ‘ ’
--2021-05-03 14:14:20--  
Resolving download (download)... failed: Temporary failure in name resolution.
wget: unable to resolve host address ‘download’
--2021-05-03 14:14:20--  
Resolving the (the)... failed: Temporary failure in name resolution.
wget: unable to resolve host address ‘the’
--2021-05-03 14:14:20--  
Resolving whole (whole)... failed: Temporary failure in name resolution.
wget: unable to resolve host address ‘whole’
--2021-05-03 14:14:20--  
Resolving site, (site,)... failed: Temporary failure in name resolution.
wget: unable to resolve host address ‘site,’
--2021-05-03 14:14:20--  
Resolving updating (updating)... failed: Temporary failure in name resolution.
wget: unable to resolve host address ‘updating’
--2021-05-03 14:14:20--  
Resolving local (local)... failed: Temporary failure in name resolution.
wget: unable to resolve host address ‘local’
--2021-05-03 14:14:20--  
Resolving files (files)... failed: Temporary failure in name resolution.
wget: unable to resolve host address ‘files’
--2021-05-03 14:14:20--  
Resolving as (as)... failed: Temporary failure in name resolution.
wget: unable to resolve host address ‘as’
--2021-05-03 14:14:20--  
Resolving needed. (needed.)... failed: Temporary failure in name resolution.
wget: unable to resolve host address ‘needed.’
wget.sh: line 9: syntax error near unexpected token `('
wget.sh: line 9: `     --page-requisites \ # Get all assets/elements (CSS/JS/images).'

Why is wget trying to access when I asked it to access

1

1 Answer

In bash, \ is used to escape the following character.

It is often used (and probably this is what you want) to escape the newline character to enable a multi-line command.

wget \
-arg1 \
-arg2

If you want the \ to escape the newline character, it must be placed directly in front of it, otherwise it won't work:

wget \ # some comment
-arg1 \
-arg2

... will escape the space and the following will be executed (check set -x):

+ wget ' #' some comment

Further, as your next line(s) is/are not connected anymore, you will likely get an error saying something like:

`-arg1`: command not found.
2

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Sarah Jenkins
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Sarah Jenkins

Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.