> > How about > # MOUNTER=`ssh $i "mount | grep data | awk '{print \$1,\$2,\$3}'"` alas no MOUNTER=`ssh $i 'mount | grep data | awk "{print \$1, \$2, \$3}"'` results in awk: {print , , } awk: ^ syntax error awk: {print , , } awk: ^ syntax error awk: {print , , } awk: ^ syntax error awk: cmd. line:1: {print , , } awk: cmd. line:1: ^ unexpected newline or end of string