How can I prevent sending a command that is pre-filled by the cisco device in the CLI?

[dowiz]

Hello! I have a task to get the available features from a cisco device.
I found a way to get them using a command with a question mark at the end.
But I have a problem that occurs periodically, for example, when sending a request:

device = {
        'device_type': 'cisco_ios',
        'ip':   ip,
        'port': port,
        'username': username,
        'password': password,
        'secret': password,
    }

connection = ConnectHandler(**device)

connection.enable()

info = connection.send_command("show vlan ?")

connection.disconnect()

print(info)

I get the responses (either 1 or 2):
1:

brief VTP all VLAN status in brief
group VLAN group(s) information
id VTP VLAN status by VLAN id
ifindex SNMP ifIndex
internal VLAN internal usage
mtu VLAN MTU information
name VTP VLAN status by VLAN name
remote-span Remote SPAN VLANs
summary VLAN summary information
| Output modifiers

sw2.school#show vlan

2:

brief VTP all VLAN status in brief
group VLAN group(s) information
id VTP VLAN status by VLAN id
ifindex SNMP ifIndex
internal VLAN internal usage
mtu VLAN MTU information
name VTP VLAN status by VLAN name
remote-span Remote SPAN VLANs
summary VLAN summary information
| Output modifiers

sw2.school#show vlan

VLAN Name Status Ports

---

1 default active Fa0/1, Fa0/2, Fa0/3, Fa0/4, Fa0/5, Fa0/6, Fa0/7, Fa0/8, Fa0/9, Fa0/10, Fa0/11, Fa0/12, Fa0/13, Fa0/14, Fa0/15, Fa0/16, Fa0/17, Fa0/18, Fa0/20
5 Wi-Fi-School active Fa0/19, Fa0/21, Fa0/22, Fa0/23, Fa0/24
1002 fddi-default act/unsup
1003 token-ring-default act/unsup
1004 fddinet-default act/unsup
1005 trnet-default act/unsup

VLAN Type SAID MTU Parent RingNo BridgeNo Stp BrdgMode Trans1 Trans2

---

1 enet 100001 1500 - - - - - 0 0
5 enet 100005 1500 - - - - - 0 0
1002 fddi 101002 1500 - - - - - 0 0
1003 tr 101003 1500 - - - - - 0 0
1004 fdnet 101004 1500 - - - ieee - 0 0
1005 trnet 101005 1500 - - - ibm - 0 0

Remote SPAN VLANs

Primary Secondary Type Ports

---

The appearance of the second answer is very dangerous, if I don't start such a query with "show", I can get into serious trouble!

How can I prevent sending a command that is pre-filled by the device in the CLI?

[ktbyers]

You should use write_channel and read_channel, using the ? the way you are is not what send_command is intended for.

Another option is possibly to use send_command, but add the expect_string argument to indicate the terminating pattern. This might also fix your issue.