* tramp.texi (Remote processes): New subsection "Running shell on

a remote host".

2 files changed, 30 insertions, 4 deletions

diff --git a/doc/misc/ChangeLog b/doc/misc/ChangeLog
index db3a944c160..ecb6cceda91 100644
--- a/doc/misc/ChangeLog
+++ b/doc/misc/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+2011-03-14  Michael Albinus <michael.albinus@gmx.de>
+
+        * tramp.texi (Remote processes): New subsection "Running shell on
+        a remote host".
+
 2011-03-12  Teodor Zlatanov  <tzz@lifelogs.com>
 
         * auth.texi (Help for developers): Update docs to explain that the
diff --git a/doc/misc/tramp.texi b/doc/misc/tramp.texi
index bdbba437af7..e1c4a806de2 100644
--- a/doc/misc/tramp.texi
+++ b/doc/misc/tramp.texi
@@ -2540,7 +2540,28 @@ Another trick might be that you put @code{ForwardX11 yes} or
 that host.
 
 
-@subsection Running shell-command on a remote host
+@subsection Running @code{shell} on a remote host
+@cindex shell
+
+Calling @code{M-x shell} in a buffer related to a remote host runs the
+local shell as defined in @option{shell-file-name}.  This might be
+also a valid path name for a shell to be applied on the remote host,
+but it will fail at least when your local and remote hosts belong to
+different system types, like @samp{windows-nt} and @samp{gnu/linux}.
+
+You must set the variable @option{explicit-shell-file-name} to the
+shell path name on the remote host, in order to start that shell on
+the remote host.
+
+@ifset emacs
+Starting with Emacs 24 this won't be necessary, if you call
+@code{shell} interactively.  You will be asked for the remote shell
+path, if you are on a remote buffer, and if
+@option{explicit-shell-file-name} is equal to @code{nil}.
+@end ifset
+
+
+@subsection Running @code{shell-command} on a remote host
 @cindex shell-command
 
 @code{shell-command} allows to execute commands in a shell, either
@@ -2556,13 +2577,13 @@ You will see the buffer @file{*Async Shell Command*}, containing the
 continuous output of the @command{tail} command.
 
 
-@subsection Running eshell on a remote host
+@subsection Running @code{eshell} on a remote host
 @cindex eshell
 
 @value{tramp} is integrated into @file{eshell.el}.  That is, you can
 open an interactive shell on your remote host, and run commands there.
-After you have started @code{eshell}, you could perform commands like
-this:
+After you have started @code{M-x eshell}, you could perform commands
+like this:
 
 @example
 @b{~ $} cd @trampfn{sudo, , , /etc} @key{RET}